The Capital SouthEast Connector is a proposed 35-mile roadway that will link communities in El Dorado and Sacramento Counties and the cities of Folsom, Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove. It spans from Interstate 5, south of Elk Grove, to Highway 50 in El Dorado County, just east of El Dorado Hills. The Connector is intended to alleviate traffic congestion on Highway 50, Interstate 5 and State Route 99. It will allow drivers to completely bypass downtown Sacramento, reducing the distance traveled and helping minimize additional travel delays during rush hour.

The Connector will link residential areas and employment centers in the corridor, serving both local and regional travel needs. It will significantly reduce the excessive volumes of traffic that currently overburden existing two-lane roadways that were never intended to serve as significant commuter routes.

When completed, the Connector is expected to have four to six traffic lanes with limited access points that will easily accommodate a variety of regional transportation needs. In some locations, this configuration will need to be modified to reflect local community interest for limited segments. The Connector will provide options for a variety of travel modes throughout the corridor, supporting principles of the Blueprint Project. The Connector will be a local facility, funded with local dollars.

The Connector Project was initiated by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) in 2002. It was a highlighted major project in the voter-approved Measure A renewal expenditure plan in 2004. The projects included in Measure A were overwhelmingly approved by voters, and that approval set the stage for the Connector’s initial funding.

The Connector is currently managed by a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) consisting of the Cities of Elk Grove, Folsom and Rancho Cordova, as well as El Dorado and Sacramento Counties. The JPA is managing the planning, environmental review, engineering design and development of the Connector.