Olsen Introduces Bill to Transfer County Road J-59 to the State

KRISTIN OLSEN

Assemblymember, 25th District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        

February 16, 2011                                                                                                                           – Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, introduced a bill to transfer a portion of County Road J-59 in Tuolumne and Stanislaus Counties from a county maintained roadway to a state maintained roadway.  

“The need for this ownership change was brought to my attention after a review of the road improvements at a recent Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors meeting,” said Olsen. “Counties are struggling to find ways to manage the services they provide. I am pleased to help Tuolumne and Stanislaus counties find a way to ease their responsibility without creating a burden for the State.”

 County Road J-59 is predominately used as an interregional connector road for commercial transportation. J-59 connects Tuolumne, Calaveras and eastern Stanislaus Counties to State Highway 59 and State Highway 99, which is the most direct route for goods and services transportation.  Counties are responsible for maintaining roads that are used primarily for resident travel within the county; however J-59 is not commonly used in this capacity.  Federal funding allowed for a complete base and overlay of this 15-mile stretch of roadway.  The renovations of this roadway, due to be completed this fall, will meet or exceed the state standards. 

 AB 464 by Assemblymember Kristin Olsen and co-authored by Senator Tom Berryhill, R-Oakdale, will transfer ownership of the newly renovated portion of J-59 from Tuolumne and Stanislaus county ownership to state ownership.  The road will be in excellent condition and, therefore, will not be a cost burden to the State.

 “We appreciate Assemblymember Olsen authoring this important measure for Tuolumne County,” Said Craig Pedro, Tuolumne County Chief Administrative Officer. “In this season of seeking to realign responsibilities to the most appropriate level of government, AB 464 transfers J-59 between Highway 132 and Highway 49/108 from Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties to the State. The transfer is appropriate given the roadway primarily serves interregional travel, and the timing is right since the roadway has just been totally rebuilt resulting in minimal impact on the state.”