Residents press for sidewalks and short‑term safety measures on Weed Patch Highway and Shirley Lane

At the June 18 public hearing on the draft 2026 RTP and related documents, residents from Fuller Acres and Shirley Lane — represented at the meeting by Advocacy staff and translators — urged Kern COG and member agencies to add complete‑streets projects and short‑term safety measures on Weed Patch Highway (State Route 184) and adjacent neighborhood streets.

Abby Power, policy advocate with Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability, read three requests on behalf of Fuller Acres and Shirley Lane residents: include a complete‑streets project for Fuller Acres (sidewalks on Weed Patch Highway and neighborhood paving), identify short‑term treatments (gravel or asphalt walking path, protected bike lane, speed beacon, speed cushions or other measures) to reduce pedestrian fatalities, and include a complete‑streets project for Shirley Lane where elementary and high‑school students walk to school. Power said these requests aligned with RTP policies referenced in the presentation, and emphasized pedestrian fatalities and unsafe conditions near bus stops.

Multiple residents (through translation) described local conditions. Nika Nord Julian read testimony from a Fuller Acres resident who said the community has lived with missing sidewalks, drainage and sewer issues and that children sometimes must walk on the highway shoulder to reach bus stops. Olivia Munoz said she had dropped to her knees to avoid being hit while walking near her house; Jose Munoz described difficulties for disabled and elderly people reaching basic services and medical trips when bus stops lack signage and lighting. Marian Helika de Julian added that Fuller Acres lacks sewer service and that septic odors and proximity to refinery operations have affected health and quality of life.

Staff response and next steps: staff closed the hearing and committed to record and respond to comments in writing as part of the RTP response to comments. Staff noted a newly awarded active transportation plan update grant and invited community groups to partner on the Lamont–Fuller Acres–Shirley Lane corridor to identify candidate projects and develop cost estimates for grant pursuit. Supervisors and board members suggested convening an interagency pre‑meeting with county public works, transit, the school district and Caltrans to coordinate responsibilities.

What residents asked for and what was not decided: residents sought both long‑term inclusion in the RTP and shorter‑term interim safety measures. The meeting did not commit funding or a construction schedule; staff said project identification and costing would be part of follow‑up work and that comments will be addressed in the RTP documentation.