Council authorizes $30,000 in Measure K funds for school-area pedestrian and bike safety

Escalon — The City Council approved authorization to submit a claim and execute paperwork to use roughly $30,000 in Measure K transportation sales-tax funds for local bicycle and pedestrian capital improvements, staff said during the July 21 meeting.

Officials said the Measure K allocation under discussion is a noncompetitive portion of the voter-approved transportation sales tax that does not require interjurisdictional competition. Staff told the council the city intends to direct the funds to pedestrian-safety improvements near school sites and that the planned work is part of a larger project; the $30,000 will be applied as a contribution toward that project.

Council member Gabriela (first name used in meeting) asked whether the funds were the same pot used for the Dent sidewalk project; staff replied that Measure K was used in part for Dent but said the current money is a different portion of Measure K dollars. Residents asked whether the money could be used to add another marked crosswalk between El Portale and McHenry on First Street; staff said an additional crosswalk on First Street is one of the projects under consideration.

Why it matters: The Measure K funds are dedicated to transportation safety projects by voter approval, and the noncompetitive allocation gives the city a direct funding source for a short-term, school-area safety project. The council’s action authorizes staff to submit the claim paperwork and apply the funding to the identified capital-improvement project.

Next steps: Staff will submit required claim documents and apply the $30,000 toward the identified project; the city will provide more detailed project scope and schedule in later staff reports.

Ending: The council approved the authorization and will return with project scheduling and more detail on scope and locations of pedestrian improvements.