A major regional transportation project took another step forward this week as city and regional leaders formally accepted $2 million in federal funding to support improvements along White Rock Road, a key segment of the long-planned Capital SouthEast Connector.
Folsom Mayor Justin Raithel and Councilmember Sarah Aquino joined regional partners to receive the funding secured by Kevin Kiley for the White Rock Road Improvement Project, which is being delivered through the Capital SouthEast Connector Joint Powers Authority.
The funding is part of a broader effort to modernize one of the region’s most important transportation corridors, improving safety, reducing congestion and expanding options for cyclists and pedestrians in and around Folsom.
The White Rock Road corridor is a critical piece of the larger Capital SouthEast Connector, a 34-mile expressway designed to link communities from Elk Grove through Rancho Cordova and Folsom to El Dorado County. The project is intended to provide an alternative to heavily traveled routes such as Highway 50 while improving regional mobility and safety.
Within Folsom, the White Rock Road segment has already seen significant upgrades in recent years, including reconstruction into a four-lane expressway, new intersections and expanded bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Additional phases of the project remain in progress or in design as funding becomes available.
The newly secured $2 million federal investment will help continue that progress, supporting improvements that enhance traffic flow while also expanding multimodal transportation options. Plans for the corridor include additional Class I bike and pedestrian paths that will connect communities across Sacramento and El Dorado counties, helping close key gaps in the regional trail network and improving access to schools, jobs and services.
The Connector itself is a collaborative effort formed in 2006 between multiple jurisdictions, including the cities of Folsom, Elk Grove and Rancho Cordova, along with Sacramento and El Dorado counties. The joint powers authority oversees planning, design and construction of the multi-phase project, which is being built in segments as funding is secured.
Once complete, the Capital SouthEast Connector is expected to significantly ease congestion across the southeastern Sacramento region, improve travel times and provide safer routes for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike.
City officials said the latest funding represents another important step in advancing those long-term goals while continuing to invest in infrastructure that supports Folsom’s growth and regional connectivity.
More information about the project is available at connectorjpa.com.
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