'Complete Streets' project to transform Franklin Boulevard with bike paths, sidewalks, traffic calming features
Sacramento (Aug. 27, 2024) The Sacramento City Council Tuesday awarded a construction management contract for a project that will transform Franklin Boulevard between Sutterville Road and 32nd Avenue.
The City plans to break ground this fall on the The Franklin Boulevard Complete Street project, which sprang from a grassroots effort led by the Franklin Boulevard Business Association. The association identified a need for calmer traffic, bike lanes, and sidewalks that are comfortable for families, and trees to provide shade from the hot Sacramento sun. The plan was developed through robust engagement with the residents and community leaders and will contribute to improving safety for all users traveling along the roadway.
The project is located on Franklin Boulevard between 12th Avenue and 32nd Avenue and will reduce vehicle lanes from four to two (keeping the center turn lane). This will calm traffic and provide space for protected bikeways, with raised concrete islands providing separation between people on bikes or scooters and moving cars. The project will resurface the roadway, reconstruct and widen sidewalks, plant trees, and landscaping, and install new streetlights and pedestrian lighting.
“Franklin Boulevard has a lot of great amenities for families, including restaurants, shops, La Superior and La Esperanza markets, La Familia Counseling Center’s abundant services, and the nearby Ethel Phillips Elementary School, but the current street feels uncomfortable and unsafe to travel along – especially by foot or bike. This project will make Franklin Boulevard better suited for the community it serves., said Megan Johnson, senior engineer for the City of Sacramento.
The Franklin Boulevard revamp builds on other Complete Streets projects recently completed or under construction, including the installation of new sidewalks, bike lanes, new crossings and other improvements now under construction on Broadway.
The Franklin Boulevard Complete Street project has been awarded several federal grants for construction, including $9.3 million through the state’s Active Transportation Program, $8.3 million through the Sacramento Area Council of Governments’ transportation funding programs; and $750,000 of local funds through the Sacramento Transportation Authority.
On Tuesday the City Council awarded a contract for a construction management consultant team, and transferred federal and local funds for the project. The project is currently being advertised for construction bids, and construction is anticipated to begin this fall and continue through 2025.
