The Sierra County Board of Supervisors voted to accept State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funding for the Smith Neck Road Rehabilitation Project and directed Public Works to continue design work while committing the county to provide the local match required when construction proceeds.

Public Works Director Brian Davey told the board the project has been the Transportation Commission's top priority for years but rising construction costs and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review requirements have complicated delivery. He said the county is considering scaling back the project scope — in particular removing a proposed bike path — to reduce NEPA requirements and cost.

Davey described the funding picture: the Transportation Commission approved programming approximately $1.6 million in unobligated STIP funds toward the project, which would fund roughly 88.5% of the construction costs through STIP but requires an 11.5% local match. Based on current estimates, he said the county's additional contribution to complete the project would total about $439,000 beyond amounts already allocated (including $300,000 previously allocated and $100,000 spent on design).

Board members discussed prioritizing contiguous limits for construction so that completed sections are useful to the traveling public rather than partial segments. After questions about limits and NEPA timing, the board made a motion to proceed: accept the STIP programming as recommended by the Transportation Commission, continue design work, and commit to meeting the project's matching requirement when funds are needed.

The board voted unanimously to approve the motion; the clerk recorded ayes from the supervisors. Director Davey was directed to continue NEPA and design work and to return with implementation details and phasing options once bids and final funding amounts are known.