Amador supervisors ask state transportation commission to restore funding, seek transfer of SR‑88 Pine Grove project to Caltrans

The Amador County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28 voted unanimously to direct staff to request a fact‑based time extension from the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to restore previously lapsed allocations for the State Route 88 Pine Grove corridor improvement project and to pursue transfer of the project to Caltrans District 10 for implementation.

The request, described in the board packet and presented by Richard Vila, Amador County Public Works director, and John Gedney (ACTC/ACPC), asks the CTC to reinstate funding that lapsed after the county missed an extension deadline. Gedney said CTC staff offered a process — a “post‑lapsed, fact‑based time extension” — that could place the item on the March CTC agenda for consideration. Gedney said the county would then have roughly 20 months to work out details, after which Caltrans District 10 would assume lead‑agency responsibility for the work.

The board’s motion directed staff to approach the CTC and request the extension. No additional county funding was requested at this time; supervisors described the step as necessary to restore the project’s prior allocation so it could be transferred intact to Caltrans. The board voted 5‑0 to approve the motion.

Why it matters: the SR‑88 Pine Grove corridor project already has environmental clearance, 100% design, and right‑of‑way acquisition completed and had reached the stage of being authorized to proceed to construction before the funding lapsed. County staff said the lapse occurred after administrative deadlines were missed while the project changed managers, leaving the allocation rescinded under the CTC guidelines.

Details from the meeting: County staff and CTC staff told supervisors that once funds are allocated at the programming stage they must be spent on the programmed project or they are rescinded; however, CTC staff indicated they would carry the county’s request to restore the allocation to a future CTC meeting. Speakers explained the county would not proceed to bid as lead agency; the intended path is to restore the allocation and then transfer the project to Caltrans District 10, which would act as lead agency and implement construction.

Public comment included local residents urging the board to seek a solution because Pine Grove serves many residents and through‑traffic to the lake during summer months.

Next steps: staff will prepare the fact‑based time extension request and present materials to the CTC in March; if the CTC restores the funds, county staff will continue negotiations with Caltrans District 10 about assuming lead agency and implementing the project.