Madera County adopts Connecting Oakhurst mobility study to pursue Caltrans and federal grants

The Madera County Board of Supervisors on June 2 accepted the final Connecting Oakhurst mobility study, a county-led transportation plan developed with a Mark Thomas consultant team to improve safety, circulation and walkability in Oakhurst.

The board’s vote authorizes county staff to coordinate the study with Caltrans and to pursue grant funding under the California Sustainable Communities grant program so projects can advance from conceptual design to construction. Jay Riddle, senior transportation planner with Mark Thomas, said the study—funded through a Caltrans grant—lays out short-, medium- and long-term recommendations, including sidewalks and bicycle lanes on State Route 41, curb extensions and speed reductions, and longer-term options such as landscaped medians and potential roundabouts.

The study team said public engagement occurred in three phases—initial conditions, concept review and pop-up events including the Oakhurst Fall Festival—and that priorities were scored by criteria including grant eligibility, safety, evacuation needs and equity. Riddle pointed to Indian Springs Road as a high-priority county corridor because it serves schools and community destinations.

Board members praised the plan as a necessary step to position the county for competitive grant funding. The chair said adopting the study was a necessary technical requirement to coordinate with Caltrans and begin grant applications; supervisors noted the plan gives the community a clearer identity for economic development and safer routes for residents and tourists.

The board accepted the study in a roll-call vote. Next steps are formal coordination with Caltrans and applying for state and federal infrastructure grants; specific project design, environmental review and grant awards will determine construction timing.