The Compton City Council voted unanimously to allow the city to use funding allocated from the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (or SB 1) to help stabilize and improve roads in the city.
In a 5-0 vote during their May 14 regularly scheduled meeting, the council gave the thumbs up for the city to use funds coming from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) to bolster street repairs.
Passed into law and signed off by Gov. Gavin Newsom, SB1 was created to help municipalities across the state of California shore up monetary shortcomings to deal with transportation and street work.
For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Compton will receive a little more than $2,4 million ($2,459, 937) in funding from SB1. This is the sixth year the City of Compton has received funding from SB1.
With Compton bogged down with landmines in the form of potholes throughout the city, the monies taken from SB1 will dominate on that front. Street repairs or the lack thereof have been the ire of citizens for years in Compton.
Some of the items the city plans on using the money for include improving public transportation, road maintenance and safety upgrades. John D. Strickland Jr., director of Public Works for the City of Compton, made the presentation in front of the council during the last part of the meeting.
The proposal was signed off by City Manager Willie A. Hopkins Jr.
The move by the City of Compton is paramount. According to supporting documents listed to bolster the City’s argument for the needed funding from SB1, an April 2023 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment labeled the streets in Compton as “at risk” condition.
The plan for the City of Compton to use the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funding includes street repair and maintenance work under the City’s Annual Residential Rehabilitation Project.
This includes Walnut Street, Walnut Park Drive, Walnut Park Way, Greenleaf Blvd. (Central Avenue to Whitemarsh Avenue), Greenleaf Blvd. (City Limit East to Alameda Street), Alameda Street West (City Limit North to City Limit South), Alameda Street East (City Limit North to City Limit South, and Bradfield Avenue.
The lifespan of the new roads or repairs is expected to last from 10 to 20 years, according to presenting documents. Completion of the project is expected to take place in September 2025.
The city’s layout for fixing its roads includes making the streets more attractive for those who use bicycles and pedestrians. According to the City’s Wilmington Avenue Safe Streets Pedestrian/Bicycle Improvement plan, several areas are being targeted for an upgrade.
The locations are Wilmington Ave. and Compton Blvd. West and Compton Blvd. East.
The improvement of landscaping, bus shelters, curb ramps, and raised median islands is something residents along the Wilmington Ave. corridor (Rosecrans Ave. to City Limit South) will see between now and Jan. 1, 2025. The project is expected to be completed by the New Year. Those improvements are expected to last 10 to 20 years.
For the Compton Blvd. West location (Willowbrook Ave. to West City Limits), bike lane installation, lighting, and pedestrian crossings at 15 intersections are on the docket. Residents can also see upgrades in traffic markings and the removal and replacement of ADA ramps. The expected completion date is sometime in September 2026.
The makeover completion at Compton Blvd. East (Willowbrook Ave. to East City Limits) will also conclude in September 2026. Class II bike lanes are expected to be installed. Residents can also expect the replacement of traffic markings and ADA ramps and sidewalks relocated and altered.
Courtesy photo as lead photo/Wikimedia Commons
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