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Community Involvement
Community participation has been a critical component of the Bridging I-5 project, helping the City develop a unique conceptual vision for decking the freeway and reconnecting its urban core to the waterfront.
During the initial phase of study and visioning in 2003-2004, the project team conducted a comprehensive community outreach and involvement process to inform the community of the complex issues and to solicit specific goals and input regarding riverfront reconnection.
Residents, businesses, activists, and countless other stakeholders participated in a multi-faceted process to identify design ideas and define expectations for success. This effort included kick-off events, public workshops, design charrettes, focus groups, and stakeholder group meetings. To reach those who were unable to participate in these events, the team produced and distributed project newsletters, encouraged widespread media coverage, and developed this comprehensive Web site, which offered opportunities to comment on the various conceptual alternatives during the visioning phase. As a result of all these efforts, literally thousands of community members have participated in shaping the project vision.
During the months and years ahead, the City will continue to involve and update the community through open houses, stakeholder meetings, newsletters, media outreach, Web site updates, and public hearings.
If you would like to be included on the Bridging I-5 mailing list, please contact Peter Castles at BridgingI5@TheHoytco.com or (916) 448-2440.
On October 23, 2003, the City of Sacramento held the first of several public events for the Bridging I-5 project. The event was kicked off by Mayor Heather Fargo, who emphasized the importance of vitalizing this area of downtown to help strengthen Sacramento’s position as the center of culture, arts, and recreation in the region.
Between 200 and 300 community members attended throughout the afternoon and evening and offered valuable public input and ideas about the best way to reconnect downtown to the riverfront.
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Mayor Heather Fargo addresses the community. |
Community members view project displays. |
A community member writes his ideas for Bridging I-5. |
On November 19, 2003, the Bridging I-5 project team participated in the Downtown Farmers' Market at Cesar Chavez Plaza. About 250 people visited the table.
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Community members view the Bridging
I-5 display at the Farmer's Market.
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A work group discusses ideas
at the 2003 Design Charrette. |
A work group records its ideas. |
On December 6, 10 and 11, 2003, the City of Sacramento held a series of design charrettes to allow community members the opportunity to express their reconnection ideas in small work groups led by professionals.
On January 26, 2004, the City of Sacramento held a Bridging I-5 Public Workshop at the California State Association of Counties Conference Center. Approximately 180 community members came to the workshop, including Councilmember Steve Cohn and a representative from Congressman Robert Matsui's Office. The purpose of the meeting was to present a number of ideas and concepts generated through the public design charrettes and outreach process and to receive further ideas, comments, and suggestions. Draft screening criteria was also presented at the workshop, which would be used to review and refine a long list of bridging concepts.
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Community members view the 11 concepts derived from the community charrettes and other input.
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Community members make their way through the workshop stations at the January 2004 workshop. |
Mayor Heather Fargo gives opening remarks at the March 2004 workshop. |
At the March 16, 2004, City Council meeting, Councilmembers were updated on the progress of the Bridging I-5 project. The five project objectives and key features were reviewed and unanimously approved at this meeting.
On March 24, 2004, members of the project team made a presentation to the Caltrans Planning Horizons Group. More than 75 planners were in attendance, and the presentation was later broadcast to 750 Caltrans planners across the state.
The City of Sacramento held a Bridging I-5 Public Workshop on the evening of March 24, 2004, at the California State Association of Counties Conference Center. Both Mayor Heather Fargo and Councilmember Ray Tretheway gave opening remarks. At the workshop, a short list of Bridging Concepts, project objectives and a revised project schedule were presented. These Bridging Concepts had been narrowed down through a screening process based on the feedback received at the January 26 Public Workshop, the outreach process, and City and consultant input.
Approximately 150 community members came to the workshop, which included an engaging and constructive question and answer period.
The City of Sacramento held an open house on Wednesday, November 15, 2006, to move forward with the next steps in planning the Bridging I-5 project. The open house took place at the California State Association of Counties Conference Center from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with approximately 90 people in attendance.
The purpose of the open house was to allow community members an opportunity to view informational exhibits of the proposed alternatives, speak with project team members one-on-one, hear a detailed presentation about the alternatives and the remaining planning tasks, and participate in a question-and-answer session.
Most of the presentation focused on describing the alternatives that were considered viable for further study, and attendees asked a wide range of questions about such issues as deck configuration, deck height/thickness, land uses, building heights, pedestrian and ADA access, safety, traffic, transit, connections across Capitol Mall to Old Sacramento, Crocker Art Museum expansion plans, open space and trees, construction costs, priority vs. other City projects, anticipated footprint of the project, freeway access, public art, and air quality. |
