Funding delays EDH connector segment

While work is now underway in Elk Grove and in Folsom on the Capital Connector expressway south of Folsom, those looking for construction activity on this long-awaited expressway in El Dorado County will be waiting longer. Currently, a lack of secured funding has the final local segment that spans from Folsom into El Dorado Hills on an indefinite hold. Capital SouthEast Connector is a 34-mile expressway that begins at Interstate 5 in Elk Grove and will ultimately end at the Highway 50/Silva Valley interchange in El Dorado Hills. Derek Minnevillma, executive director of the Capital SE Connector Joint Powers Authority, recently offered an update on the El Dorado County segment of the project during an Area Planning Advisory Committee meeting in El Dorado County. "Funding constraints being what they are, we have been doing this work in smaller chunks," Minnevillma said. "But right now, there's actually no work occurring between East Bidwell Street and the (El Dorado) county line." Completion of this segment, as well as El Dorado County's segments, are reportedly pending construction funding. "The project in El Dorado County is on hold and it will be on hold until construction dollars are found," said Minnevillma, who noted that the already completed Highway 50 and Silva Valley interchange was funded previously through developer impact fees. When it comes to the Sacramento County portion of the connector, that is partially funded through Measure A, through which the county estimates it will be receiving $118 million over 30 years. That total has since been revised to $65 million due to the 2008-12 recession and the current pandemic. The JPA was established in 2006, received Measure A funds in 2009 and started work in Elk Grove one year later. As for the situation in El Dorado County, the authority will continue to seek grants to secure the needed funding. "We consider it to be shovel-ready, meaning the right of way is secured, it's environmentally approved, the engineering design is complete," added Minnevillma. The project was denied a federal grant last year. Now, two applications will be explored as well as infrastructure legislation. With a total cost projected at $9 million for the El Dorado County segment alone, El Dorado County currently has $2.6 million secured through local fees, according to Michelle Smira of MMS Strategies, which is working on funding opportunities. "We're very aggressive in going after grant funding," Smira assured. "We're seeing great responses in terms of projects bidding in under our engineer's estimates so we think the timing is really right if we can get the funding in line. Unlike other states, we have to deal with EIRs and CEQA and that unfortunately takes a number of years and costs resources. We're challenged in that regard." El Dorado County is not the only unknown segment in the project at this time. While work is underway from Folsom to White Rock Road, the segment that travels from. White Rock to the South toward areas such as Sunridge Park at Douglass Road, Kiefer and Jackson Highway has yet to be scheduled. "Currently, there is not a contract finalized and awarded for that segment at this time," Matt Lampa, principal civil engineer of the JPA told the Telegraph. "Once a contract is awarded, we will know more on that segment. But eventually, we are going to have a nice roadway to connect all these communities."