Wagon Trail tops list of road priorities

Calaveras County transportation projects for 2013 are about to get rolling. The Calaveras Council of Governments, the county’s lead transportation planning and funding agency, held its first 2013 meeting and annual orientation Wednesday evening in the Board of Supervisors Chambers in San Andreas.

Supervisors Cliff Edson and Debbie Ponte were sworn in as two of the newest members of the council, taking over for former supervisors Tom Tryon and Gary Tofanelli. Citizen member John Gomes and Angels Camp representative Wes Kulm were also added to the eight-member council and Paul Stein and Elaine Morris were unanimously appointed as chair and vice chair, respectively. Stein is a former county supervisor, Morris an Angels Camp council member.

The CCOG orientation saw a number of guest speakers highlight individual agency successes from 2012 and outline a rough plan of action for 2013.

Scott Dwyer, interim director for the county’s sole public transportation system – Calaveras Transit – highlighted the system’s dedication to connecting residents to higher education opportunities, evidenced by the popularity of a route that terminates at Columbia College, and touched upon future route expansions for 2013.

“We’re looking into providing a ski and summer bus service. We do go up to Bear Valley currently (in the winter) and would like to have a summer route as well … something for young people,” said Dwyer, noting that the current Bear Valley route demand was “mediocre” but normal for a newly established route.

Angels Camp Planning Director David Hanham discussed a sidewalk project that has been in the works since 2005 and will hopefully be constructed by the end of 2013.

“This year it just really seemed to rise to the top in terms of what we needed,” Hanham said.

The project will install three segments of continuous sidewalk – a total of 2,600 lineal ft. – to close gaps around Bret Harte Union High School and between Stanislaus Avenue and downtown Angels Camp.

“There are many kids walking down this route, parades move through here. … The city felt that this was really an important project.”

Other Angels Camp projects set for construction include the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 49 and Stanislaus Avenue to help improve the intersection’s efficiency and safety and additional sidewalk improvement projects.

Public Works Deputy Director Jonathan Mitchell was on hand to shine a light on some of the department’s CCOG funded 2012 projects, including the renovation of the Mokelumne Town Hall.

“Money is typically less available to us (Public Works) to fund these historic preservation type projects,” noted Mitchell. “This project was a labor of love in large part due to the community. It’s a perfect example of the process between Public Works and CCOG.”

Public Works projects for 2013 include the completion of the Highway 12 and 26 intersection upgrade, Jenny Lind Elementary School’s safe routes to school project, restoration of the historic Shay Locomotive at the White Pines Logging Museum, continuing work on the Arnold Rim Trail and completing the environmental review process of the contentious Wagon Trail Project – a top priority for nearly everyone in the chamber room. The Wagon Trail Project is to design a new, safer route between Copperopolis and Angels Camp on Highway 4.

Council member Carol Ann McDaniel identified completion of the WTP as one of her top two priorities, alongside the Highway 12/26 upgrade project.

“These are funds that have already been allocated specifically for this,” she said. Both Chairman Paul Stein and council member Wes Kulm also explicitly expressed support for moving the project along and public comment centered on the agency’s perceived feet dragging on the issue.

“You can plan all you want and fund up the wazoo but if you don’t deliver the project it’s still just a dirt field,” said Gary Caldwell of Valley Springs in regards to the Wagon Trail Project. “I want delivery. … You will get a reputation. You’ve got to perform.”

The CCOG meets every first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Government Center in San Andreas.