In a 7-0 vote, the Merced City Council adopted a revitalization plan for the Martin Luther King Jr. Way-Highway 59 corridor that officials have said is a major entry point to the city.
The plan focuses on improving transportation and safety, among other goals, for the areas between Highway 99 and Childs Avenue and from G Street to M Street. The focus is Highway 59, or Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
City council members overwhelmingly favored the plan and the amount of work put in by the 14 committee members, who were appointed by the council.
Councilman Josh Pedrozo applauded the group for spending the time and putting the report together.
"It shows how much you care about Merced and your neighborhood," Pedrozo said.
Cesar Garcia, who sits on the revitalization plan committee, said he thought the plan would go well with the model of Merced being the "Gateway to Yosemite."
"We really really need to take care of the entrance," he said. He recalled when he first drove into Merced, he didn't know if he was in the city yet.
"More than the beauty I think it's the safety issues we need to take care of. We have had tremendous growth on the south side of the city," Garcia said.
The revitalization plan was supposed to be handed over to the city's redevelopment agency, which would have sought money and implemented the improvements. But that agency was eliminated in Assembly Bill 26, which was upheld in a recent state Supreme Court decision. Because of the state's ongoing budget woes, Gov. Jerry Brown wants to use redevelopment agency money to help pay for such services as education and public safety.
There could be other funding options available, said Julie Sterling, associate planner for the city. Such options include Caltrans grants, the city's capital improvement program, the federal Community Development Block Grant program, or other state and federal grants that may be available for infill sites, she said.
Some of the areas are in an abysmal state of disrepair, with broken curbs and gutters, Sterling said. The city received a $250,000 Caltrans grant about two years ago to design a framework for the revitalization plan.
Planners assessed the area, taking into account its history and current conditions. Research in November and December 2010 resulted in looking at zoning and what would be needed to bring in new businesses.
The plan includes providing safe crossings on Martin Luther King Jr. Way, improving lighting in alleys and side streets, and providing turnouts for buses on Martin Luther King Jr. Way, according to documents.
The MLK revitalization plan would beautify the area, Sterling said. "It could provide safe travels for those who travel every day," she said-- safe crossings could be added on Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
The data collected showed a substantial amount of pedestrian traffic, she said.
Even with approval by the City Council, the plan would have to be supported by Caltrans before it could move forward.
The state owns Highway 59, so any improvements to their right-of-way will need Caltrans approval, Sterling said.
Reporter Ameera Butt can be reached at (209) 385-2477 or abutt@mercedsunstar.com.
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