After recent news about tariffs, and this week’s stock market woes, it’s probably safe to say many people are sick of hearing the phrase: “Short term pain for long term gain.”
But lo and behold, local drivers are going to be experiencing a little bit of that principle in the days and weeks to come, according to Merced officials.
Here’s the rundown that was given as a reminder by Jennifer Flachman, the city’s public information officer, during Monday night’s City Council meeting.
Yosemite Avenue
Starting Monday, April 14, the Yosemite Avenue Roadway Reconstruction Project will kick into gear. They are describing it as a “full depth reclamation,” from Mansionette Drive to Parsons Avenue, adding two additional lanes, and thus creating a 4-lane road from G Street to Parsons. That route includes major commercial and residential areas, not to mention the nearby Merced College and Mercy Medical Center.
Drivers are going to experience ongoing work on this heavily traveled city street — all the way to October. Ouch.
Part of the work includes a sewer system upgrade: replacing 5,147 feet of 18-inch sewer main with a 30-inch sewer main along Yosemite Avenue, from G to Parsons. There will also be traffic signal upgrades, camera system upgrades, emergency vehicle detection systems to improve response times, sidewalk and access ramp improvements, and some tree replacements.
Flachman says it will provide progress updates on the project on the website: cityofmerced.org.
16th Street
& Main Street
The so-called Downtown Traffic Improvement Project will also begin Monday, April 14, and it will be conducted in two phases.
Phase One includes the “hard closure” of 16th Street from M Street to Canal Street for approximately two weeks. Meanwhile, there will be a “soft closure” from K Street, allowing limited access for business deliveries and customers. Traffic will be rerouted to 15th Street. City officials say the duration of this project “may vary depending on underground conditions.”
Phase Two will start “mid-May,” according to Flachman. That will include the “full closure” of Main Street between M Street and K Street for five days. Work will include the installation of a new water main and road repairs.
What to expect: Temporary street closures on Main Street. Sidewalks will remain open for pedestrian access. Parking on Main Street in the construction zone will be unavailable.
Alternative parking will be located on 18th Street, between K and L streets.
Why are they doing this to downtown?
According to Flachman, the City of Merced is updating its downtown traffic patterns to improve traffic flow and increase parking availability. A key element is the extension of one-way traffic on Main Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Way to O Street, which will result in approximately 45 additional parking spaces.
These changes are part of a larger downtown revitalization effort designed to:
• Enhance overall traffic circulation.
• Support local businesses.
• Make downtown more accessible for residents and visitors.
The city expects to complete all the improvements mentioned above by late summer or early fall.
New rezones approved
Also on Monday, a majority of the Merced City Council decided in a series of votes to make a General Plan amendment and approve the rezoning of 30 vacant sites across the city in an effort to meet state housing-related requirements. Councilman Xiong voted NO after all but one of the motions for the rezones.
As previously reported in the Times, the city is required to adopt and update a Housing Element of the General Plan under time constraints. The state is requiring the city to “accommodate” a growth of 10,517 units to be spread among all income categories.
The city says the rezoning of the 30 sites will help in the process to get the Housing Element certified by the state, and “allow for” multi-family housing where it is currently not permitted. The rezoning will also reduce constraints to housing development and help address special housing needs.
Previously, a couple workshops were held on the rezoning process, along with public hearings, including before the city’s Planning Commission. The Commission ultimately approved all but three of the 30 sites for rezoning. According to city officials, before the commission’s vote, eight of the 30 property owners involved reached out with comments or concerns for clarity.
On Monday night, several local residents did speak up with concerns about the rezones, and the city’s overall efforts to bring affordable growth to the city.
Jean Okuye of the group Strong Towns Merced brought out a large graphic that illustrated a review of the city’s rezoning proposal, and each rezone site. The sites were assessed in the following categories: Walkable, Transit Accessible, Safe Routes for All, Transit Oriented Development Ready, Healthcare Accessible, Rail Corridor Impact, State Highway Impact, Exempt from Parking Mandate, Optimal Value per acre, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) and Special Housing Needs.
The graphic, according to the group, pointed out many shortcomings not challenged by the Planning Commission. The color-coded analysis was mostly red for all of the specific rezones. Red indicated “fails to meet.”
Strong Towns Merced also pointed out to the Times that when the city conducted public comment sessions to prepare the submittal of the rezones, “the participation rate was statistically insignificant.”
Said Okuye, “There are too many red flags on this proposal. … Strong Towns Merced has suggestions for solutions. So please, please reach out.”