Commuting to Sacramento State could get easier in the coming years, as city and regional planners launch several projects to widen roads, add parking and develop housing south of the campus.

The City of Sacramento Planning and Building Department will go to the planning commission May 23 to present a draft of the 65th Street Transit Village Plan that could have a substantial impact on the future of transportation in and around Sac State?s campus.

The planning area, approximately 49 acres of land at 65th Street and Folsom Blvd. one mile south of campus, will provide new housing opportunities for students and boost transit use and pedestrian access to campus according to Grace Hovey, an associate planner for the City of Sacramento.

“If the project develops the way we want it to, people will use transit more often,” Hovey said. “It will also enhance linkage to the university and pedestrian accessibility.”

However, an environmental impact report on the project may prove that in some areas, traffic may become worse once building begins, Hovey, who works in the Environmental Services Department, said.

“We are dealing with an area already impacted with traffic and noise,” Hovey said. “We still will have significant and unavoidable traffic impacts.”

If approved, the project would be built out over the next 20 years, and will include office, retail and residential construction. Representatives from Sac State will meet with planners to discuss the development of student and faculty housing in the area.

Also on the drawing board is a joint use structured parking facility that would be used by Sac State and property owners in the area. The plan also includes improvement on pedestrian and bicycle access to Sac State from 65th Street.

Jim McDonald, an associate planner for the City of Sacramento, said the project should reduce the traffic congestion problem in the area because of the project?s proximity to light rail and the bus station.

“The plan is to provide for closer in housing for employees who work downtown and students of Sac State,” McDonald said. “This in turn will help to reduce traffic in the area.”

Steve Pyburn, senior engineer for the Public Works Department of the City of Sacramento, said traffic congestion will increase because the goal of the transit plan is to increase development in the area, but other projects are planned that will help to reduce some of the commute traffic in the area.

Cal Trans is working from east to west, adding carpool lanes to Highway 50 from Folsom to downtown Sacramento. Folsom Blvd. will be widened between Hornet Drive and 67th Street from two to four lanes and bicycle lanes will be added. The project is scheduled for completion in 2006.

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