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Study Background and Description
Hazel Avenue is a four-lane corridor that runs through Sacramento
County spanning over six miles from the Placer County line
to Folsom Boulevard. The corridor provides a vital transportation
link for local residential, business, and recreational areas.
Currently, Hazel Avenue is one of only a few bridge crossings
of the American River for commuter vehicles, trucks, pedestrians,
and bicyclists. This crossing also affords access to the American
River Parkway for joggers and equestrians.
The current mobility challenges on Hazel are expected to
increase as the population and economy of the Sacramento County
region continues to grow. The County believes it is imperative
that steps are taken to alleviate both current and future
mobility constraints for all stakeholders including adjacent
property owners, local residents and business owners, commuters,
industrial/cargo transporters, pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other American River recreational users. With this in mind,
the county has initiated the Hazel Avenue Corridor Study.
The purpose of the Hazel Avenue Corridor Study is to identify
alternatives to address current and future challenges along
the southern two-mile section of Hazel Avenue from Madison
Avenue to Gold Country Boulevard. The study will focus on
the best way to accommodate and serve all corridor users as
well as the community in which this section of the corridor
operates. Through the study, the County of Sacramento intends
to accomplish four main goals:
- Improve mobility through the corridor
- Encourage a high level of community involvement
- Provide aesthetic enhancements to the corridor
- Address access to recreational facilities
Purpose of Public Open House
The Sacramento County Department of Transportation has implemented
an extensive public participation program to drive the study.
A major component of this program is the public open houses.
The open houses are held to inform and update the surrounding
community about the study. They also serve as an opportunity
for the general public to become involved in the solution
process by providing comments on the study’s issues
and alternatives.
This document is a summary of the first public open house
held on Tuesday, July 25, 2000. The focus of the open house
was to present an overview of the study and to receive input
from the public on the purpose and need for improvements along
the Hazel Avenue Corridor.
Noticing for Public Open House
The County of Sacramento used several methods to notice the
surrounding community and interest groups about the open house.
Newsletter: The study’s first newsletter
was distributed to the entire study mailing list. The approximately
4,600-entry mailing list is comprised of adjacent and surrounding
homeowners and renters, businesses, special interest groups,
elected officials, government agencies and local media. The
newsletter was mailed approximately two weeks prior to the
open house and contained overview information on the study,
as well as public participation program and open house details.
Press Packets: Press packets containing
a media release, newsletter, and camera ready graphics were
distributed to the following print, radio, and television
outlets:
- Sacramento Bee
- News editor Linda Gonzales
- Transportation reporter Emily Bazar
- Transportation business reporter Clint Swett
- Neighbors section editor Karen Yelton
- Orangevale News
- Sacramento News & Review News
- Roseville Press-Tribune
- KFBK-AM, 1530
- KHTK-AM, 1140
- KKTO-FM, 90.5
- KCRA-TV, Channel 3
- KMAX-TV, Channel 31
- KQCA-TV, Channel 58
- KTXL-TV, Channel 40
- KVIE-TV, Channel 6
- KXTV-TV, Channel 10
Display Ad: A display ad announcing the
open house was printed in the Sacramento Bee Neighbors section
on 7/13, in the Orangevale News on 7/20, and in the Roseville
Press-Tribune on 7/12.
Web Site: (www.hazelavenue.org) A study
Web site was developed and provided information on the study
and the first public open house. Future meetings will also
be posted on the Web site.
Signage/Information Line: The County posted
two informational signs along the Hazel Avenue Corridor with
the study’s information line number and web site address.
The information line’s outgoing message notified the
caller of the public open house time and location.
Report on Public Open House
The first Hazel Avenue Corridor Study Public Open House was
held on Tuesday, July 25, 2000 at the VFW Post 6158 at 8990
Kruithof Way in Fair Oaks, California from 5:00 p.m. –
8:00 p.m. The location of the open house was right off of
Hazel Avenue within the study area. Approximately 150 residents,
business owners, media, government officials, Community Advisory
Committee members, and other special interest representatives
attended the open house. Also in attendance were 12 Study
team members.
The open house was structured so that people could “drop-in”
on an informal basis to review exhibits, speak with project
team members directly, hear a short presentation and provide
both written and verbal comments to staff. Each attendee was
given a program outlining the exhibits a comment sheet to
drop off or mail in, and a copy of the study newsletter.
The exhibits were placed in a circle around the room and
covered the following study areas:
- Study Description and Goals
- Study Purpose and Issues
- Potential Improvements
- Public Involvement
- Right of Way
A short ten-minute presentation was given at both 5:30 p.m.
and 7:00 p.m. Theron Roschen, the County’s Project Manager,
and Ben Strumwasser, the Public Involvement Manager, introduced
staff and gave an outline of the study and the purpose for
the public open house.
A total of 31 written comments were submitted during and
shortly after the open house. Those written comments, along
with two e-mail comments, and verbal comments made to project
team members during the open house, are summarized in Section
III of this report.
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