Welcome to a first for me – a foray into the world of blogging! I’m hoping this will prove an effective way to share information and yes, my own perspectives, as the Connector project progresses.

You may already know about the Capital SouthEast Connector, which will link the communities of Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Folsom and El Dorado Hills. The process is just getting started and I personally am very excited. The Sacramento region has the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of transportation and to create an iconic project that will be the envy of communities across the country. We have the opportunity to be innovative in the development of the Connector and not build “just another roadway.”

This effort requires a vision that sees many years into the future and is not discouraged by current economic woes. One of our goals is to create a new way to develop transportation projects, and to be mindful of benefits beyond mobility – additional open space, preservation of natural resources, continuous multi-modal paths, and new technology/ITS (intelligent transportation system) aspects.

We are working hard to get smarter about today’s key issues – creative financing, environmental stewardship, economic sustainability, greenhouse gas reduction, and more – and we are asking ourselves if there is a way the project can benefit those areas. We’d like the Connector to be a balanced asset to community. We want to be as innovative as we can be with the technology available; be sensitive to the groups involved; address the needs of business; and use our best and smartest team members to generate good ideas to put into the mix. And, of course, we want to gather input from experts and the community to help shape the finished project.

So let’s start the discussion. We’ll be out in the community in the coming months, talking with people about the project and gathering feedback, and this blog will be another forum to share information. Check back for weekly updates, and thanks for reading!