On November 19th, the residents of Rexland Acres moved one step closer to a healthier and safer neighborhood when the Kern County Board of Supervisors approved the contract to install pedestrian paths.
Resulting from a community-driven effort to institute non-existent infrastructure, the $5.6 million Caltrans grant will install miles of sidewalks, traffic signs, and crosswalks in the South Bakersfield area. Neighbors have youth and adults from their own neighborhood to thank for the impending improvements. They went door to door gathering signatures in support of the funding, and submitted the grant, which included drawings from elementary school students depicting the flooded and muddy unpaved shoulders they walk on to get to school when it rains.
In total, the project will include 4 miles of sidewalks, more than 5 miles of bike lanes, 66 curb ramps, 75 new traffics signs, 11 flashing stop signs, 10 crosswalks, 6 streetlights, and 3 new four-way stops. Installation is scheduled to begin in April 2020. Something to be thankful for indeed!