The Sheldon/Wilton community meeting was held October 6 at C. W. Dillard Elementary School. We had a fantastic turnout, with more than 80 people in attendance. We were also honored to have Elk Grove Mayor Pat Hume and Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli in attendance, as they are the Connector Board members representing the area.

The discussion was spirited and people had many questions about the project and how it will affect their community. Some of those questions and answers will be posted on the Connector web site soon. I encourage anyone with questions about either the general project or specifics about an area to contact us: through the web site, email or calling the office (876-9094).

I was also invited to present information about the Connector at a special meeting of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, which focused on transportation issues. Everything from an update on transportation on the west slope to the mining truck study was addressed, with a number of questions specifically about the Connector.

These meetings demonstrate the importance of citizen engagement in this process. Public input and participation is vital for a project of this size and scope. To succeed with this project, whatever form it ultimately takes, we must make sure there are many ways for people to get involved and make people feel comfortable participating.

To that end, we’ll be out in the community more in the coming months. I will continue to repeat an important thought—public involvement is an essential part of this process and I encourage you to get involved. We’ll post upcoming meeting information on the web site and perhaps in future blog entries as well.

The weather is heating up and so are we! The Connector team, which includes me, our engineering team, environmental team and public outreach team, has been getting out of the office and talking with various business and community groups over the past couple of months. We want to share information and answer questions so everyone who is interested in the project can participate in the process.

For instance, we’re hosting a series of community workshops in both the Sheldon/Wilton and El Dorado Hills communities. Our first meetings were held in April and May at the Katherine L. Albiani Middle School in Elk Grove and the Rolling Hills Middle School in El Dorado Hills. Meeting attendees were asked to think about two question topics and then participate in a group discussion:

- What do you like about your community today? What do you want to see preserved in your community?
- In general, how do you prefer to see the accommodation of regional growth, local growth and travel demand addressed in your community (e.g. expanding existing corridors, creating new corridors, enhancing alternatives modes, etc.)?

We compiled lists of the responses and posted them on the Connector web site (www.connectorjpa.net). Responses ranged from preserving quiet and preserving a rural quality of life to encouraging transit options and separating local traffic from through traffic. We’ve held a second meeting for Sheldon/Wilton and have the second El Dorado Hills meeting scheduled in June. Check the calendar on the web site for more details.

We’ve also presented to the Leadership Groups at both the Elk Grove and Rancho Cordova Chambers of Commerce; to Bicycle Advocates of Rancho Cordova; to the Lincoln Village Neighborhood Association; to regional business leaders; and to large landowners in Rancho Cordova and El Dorado Hills. And we participated in the Fab 50 showcase event to share information with the business community located along the Highway 50 Corridor.

Thanks to everyone who has and who will participate in the Connector process. We’ll be out in the community more this summer and fall, with more opportunities for people to provide input into the process through scoping meetings. Contact us at info@connectorjpa.net if you’re interested in a presentation for your group. ]]> http://connectorjpa.net/2009/05/the-connector-in-the-community/feed/ 0