(Stockton, CA) – San Joaquin County announced at its regular meeting on August 13 that it has secured initial state funding to set in motion plans to begin transforming Boggs Tract into a more sustainable, connected community. The awarding of the $286,000 Caltrans grant coupled with the addition of $37,000 in County funds is welcome news for residents looking forward to making the proposed Boggs Tract Sustainable Community Plan a reality.

“The plan envisioned for Boggs Tract will focus on sustainable transportation improvements that will support resident access to health, nutrition and education as well as human services, housing assistance and employment opportunities,” said Supervisor Miguel Villapudua, Chair of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors. “Poor connectivity between housing, jobs and community facilities contributes to an undesirably high number of vehicles required to travel to their destinations. Continued proper planning and networking with neighbors in Boggs Tract will ensure this plan becomes the community’s blueprint for a walkable and greener future.”

Currently, Boggs Tract, which is surrounded by State Route 4, the San Joaquin River and the Port of Stockton, lacks bike paths or pedestrian pathways to connect community assets such as the George Washington Elementary School, community farm, community center and Boggs Tract Park.

With the aid of the grant, the absence of and need for pedestrian and bicycle facilities between those key locations and existing bus stops throughout the neighborhood will be evaluated. The evaluation process will involve continued community outreach and resident input, in addition to inter-agency coordination involving planners and engineers.

Major community supporters include the parents, teachers and administrators of the George Washington Elementary School and Puentes, the non-profit managers of the Boggs Tract Community Farm. They have formed a partnership to teach students and volunteers about organic farming techniques and sustainable living, while offering farming entrepreneurship and community service opportunities. Other partners involved in the project include the Port of Stockton, City of Stockton, San Joaquin Council of Governments, San Joaquin County Public Health Services, San Joaquin County Human Services Agency, San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors and the San Joaquin County Office of Sheriff-Coroner.

Department of Public Works Director Kris Balaji said funding this project would result in improved mobility choices for this deserving community, and enhance the opportunity to promote sustainable in-fill neighborhood development:

“The community green space as imagined by residents provides an opportunity to reinvent an underutilized space within Boggs Tract as a result of the grant award. We hope this will lead to more sources of future funding,” Balaji noted.

A key partner in development of the plan will be the local Caltrans office, located in Stockton. “Our continuous strong partnership for community improvements with the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors and the Public Works team is key to delivering these results to support active multi-modal transportation and helping to enhance neighborhoods,” highlighted Caltrans District 10 Director, Dan McElhinney.

The initial funds will go toward the completion of a comprehensive study of needed sustainable transportation improvements, with the first phase of work scheduled to start this summer and be completed by February 29, 2022 under the terms of the Caltrans grant.

###