Kern COG executive director reviews regional transportation plan; public comments due July 2

Jace Osher, executive director of the Kern Council of Governments, presented the regional transportation plan (RTP) to the Tehachapi City Council and urged residents to submit feedback by July 2.

Osher described the RTP as a four-year, federally required planning document that guides how federal and state transportation funds are allocated across Kern County. He said Kern COG received responses from more than 10,000 residents in the current cycle and emphasized that the process distinguishes constrained projects — those with identified funding — from unconstrained projects, which are noted as needs but lack secured financing.

Osher highlighted local shares of planned investment, saying the area covered by the plan accounts for about 3.9% of Kern County’s population but receives roughly 11% of the RTP investment listed in the provided appendix. He cited an estimated $400 million for road maintenance in the region over the next 20 years and named several large projects included in the plan, notably a proposed $250 million Keene paving project and multi-million-dollar Caltrans-led improvements that are on the constrained list.

Osher told the council that constrained projects require funding commitments to move forward and that additional projects can still be added to the unconstrained list before the July 2 comment deadline. Council members asked about truck climbing lanes on Highway 58 and other safety improvements; Osher said crews are working to secure funding and that Kern COG remains the regional advocate for those projects.

He concluded by offering to accept public comments that night for the record and by leaving informational packets and an executive summary with the council.