Measure C is key to repairing Fresno County roads, with more work yet to be done

Since 1986, Measure C — which provides essential locally controlled funding to maintain and upgrade streets, roads and highways throughout Fresno County — has helped our region accommodate more than 1 million people and 376,000 jobs. That’s nearly twice the size we were 40 years ago when Fresno County voters first approved the transportation initiative.

In those days, Caltrans and state legislators were the only source of significant local transportation funding. Then — as today — we simply couldn’t count on those agencies to meet our needs.

Measure C gave us control over our future by providing a local source of funding for our roads, highways, transit systems and other transportation programs.

In those intervening decades, together with Measure C, we’ve filled hundreds of thousands of potholes; kept local roads and highways in good condition and built-out four major freeway expansions; improved traffic flow on 1,200 miles of local roadways; helped establish the region’s first bus rapid transit system; offered taxi rides to seniors at a 75 percent discount; helped clean up trash on highways; provided vanpools to agricultural workers in rural areas; helped pay the bus fares for our most vulnerable residents; provided safer routes to school; and sponsored new transportation innovations.

Measure C has been a reliable and locally controlled funding source, providing what local voters wanted for transportation in Fresno County. Today, we have the opportunity to plan for the future of that partnership in any fashion we see fit. That’s the beauty of Measure C. It continually reflects who we are and what we need as a community — and can be molded to fit today’s and tomorrow’s transportation needs.

Do you think we need more public transportation options? Measure C can do that. What about fixing and maintaining our roads? Check! How about making our transportation system safer for children, drivers, bus riders, bicyclists and pedestrians? Absolutely!

As the chairman of our regional transportation planning agency, I’m reminded every day just how critical the next Measure C is — and how instrumental it’s already been to our economic success and quality of life over the last 36 years.

I’m also painfully aware that, despite its successes, the list of transportation needs is never ending.

Our communities struggle to maintain our local streets. Residents, including the elderly and disabled, need options to get to work and appointments and to buy groceries. And of course, we still can’t rely on Caltrans or the politicians in Sacramento to provide the funding needed here in Fresno County.

Fortunately, our good friend Measure C can have the answers.

As of this writing, Measure C continues to fund projects like widening Herndon Avenue from Polk to Milburn in Fresno; Shaw Avenue from Locan to DeWolf in Clovis; beautifying and improving Golden State Avenue from American Avenue to the Tulare County line and; Academy Avenue from 11th Avenue to North Avenue.

These, like so many projects before them, are promises made that Measure C intends to keep.

To do so, Measure C needs your help, ideas and input. What do you want out of your transportation network? How can Measure C help you?

Over the course of the next several months, we hope you will be vocal in letting your elected officials and community representatives know what improvements you expect to see in our region’s future. Measure C can provide many different transportation options, but it can’t function in a vacuum. Your opinion matters now more than ever. Go to measurec.com/renewal/ to make sure your voice is heard.