City Engineer Andrade proposes crosswalk at Parlier and Smyrna to enhance safety

The Parlier City Council convened on March 21, 2024, for a regular and special meeting, where key discussions centered around public safety improvements and infrastructure projects.

The meeting commenced with a presentation by City Engineer Javier Andrade, who introduced a resolution to construct a new crosswalk at the intersection of Parlier and Smyrna. Andrade highlighted the intersection's history of accidents and the support from the police chief and the tactical urbanism committee for this initiative. A traffic study indicated that incorporating bulb-outs and other traffic calming measures would enhance safety. The project will be funded through a tactical urbanism grant, with an initial budget of $5,000 allocated for constructing a necessary ramp on the north side of the crosswalk. The council unanimously approved Resolution Number 2024-11 to move forward with the project.

Following the crosswalk discussion, Andrade addressed ongoing efforts to resolve flooding issues in Merced. He reported that the city had secured a grant totaling approximately $4.3 million for the project. However, the lowest bid received from AG Construction was $4.7 million, exceeding the grant amount. To address this, Andrade and the contractor have been working to reduce costs by eliminating non-essential features. The revised construction cost is now estimated at $3.66 million, requiring an additional $490,000 match from the city’s road, sewer, and gas tax funds. Andrade assured the council that sufficient funds are available to cover this match, allowing the project to proceed.

The meeting concluded with an open floor for public comments, but no additional input was received from attendees. The council's decisions reflect a commitment to enhancing public safety and addressing critical infrastructure needs in the community.