Bakersfield Department of Public Works

Last updated
Bakersfield Department of
Public Works
Agency overview
Preceding agencies
  • Street Department
  • Sanitation Department
  • Building Maintenance
  • Fleet Services
Jurisdiction Bakersfield, California
Headquarters City Hall South
Annual budget$94 million (2010-11)
Agency executive
  • Raul Rojas, Public Works Director
Website bakersfieldcity.us/cityservices/pubwrks

The Bakersfield Department of Public Works is a department of city of Bakersfield, California. It is responsible for a variety of city functions including: road maintenance and construction, waste water and sewer treatment, and vehicle maintenance. It is headquartered in City Hall South.

Contents

The department was formed out of a large merger of several smaller departments. These were: Street Department, Sanitation Department, Building Maintenance, and Fleet Services. As a result, it became the largest department in the city, based on its budget. In 2010, the department had a budget of $94 million. This figure does not include projects managed by Thomas Roads Improvement Program (TRIP, a division of this department).

Major Accomplishments

Some of the major accomplishments of the Department of Public Works.

Kern River Reconstruction

In 1976, Bakersfield purchased all water rights (about 1/3 of the water through the First Point of Measurement, near Gordon's Ferry) and property from Tenneco West related to the Kern River. This essentially made the city in charge of the assets used in the management of the river including: weirs (used to divert water from the river into a canal), floodgates, measuring stations, etc. At acquisition, almost all the assets in the river were in a state of disrepair. Some of the weirs were lined with boulders, others with sandbags. The first point of measurement was a cable across the river where a measuring device could be placed and the second point of measurement had completely washed away. [1]

In 1977 the Department of Public Works, began a long term project which would rebuild all of the infrastructure. It would be the largest construction/reconstruction effort in the history of the Kern River. In addition to rebuilding existing infrastructure, other construction projects were carried out. These include constructing new weirs and the "2,800 Acre Water Bank", and inter-basin levee system. Most projects were completed in 1983, but the Second Point of Measurement was not finished until 1985. [1]

Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3 expansion

In the early 2000s, Bakersfield was nearing the capacity for wastewater treatment. The city had two plants, which were Treatment Plant No. 2 and Treatment Plant No. 3. At the time, Plant 3 had room for expansion. As a result, in 2004, plans were started for the doubling of the capacity of the plant, from 16 million US gallons (61,000 m3) per day to 32 million US gallons (120,000 m3) per day. It would become the largest project in Bakersfield's history (by capital dollars) at $234 million. An additional $3 million were spent on installation of solar panels to offset future energy cost. Some of the treated water from the plant will be used to irrigate the adjacent 170-acre (0.69 km2) Bakersfield Sports Village. [2]

Westside Parkway

Since 1980, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has tried to construct a freeway through west Bakersfield which would eventually connect State Route 58 with Interstate 5. Named the Kern River Freeway, the project had opposition with the city over the eastern (SR 58) connection. Caltrans would drop the eastern connection and give the remaining 8-mile (13 km) segment to the city. Since that time, Caltrans has restarted the eastern segment while the city constructs the remaining freeway.

The Westside Parkway is the largest freeway project undertaken by the city. It has a total estimated construction cost of $250 million, which would make it the city's largest construction project. [3] It is a four to six-lane freeway on 8-lane right-of-way, constructed to Interstate standards. There will be five interchanges, four in the first construction phase. The project also includes a 1 3/4 arterial extension. The roadway will be six lanes and elevated over most of its route. Construction of the initial phase, which includes all but the last two miles (3 km) of freeway and one interchange, is expected to be completed by late 2012. [4]

Thomas Roads Improvement Program

In 2005, Bakersfield would receive an over $600 million earmark from the Federal Government for transportation projects throughout the city. In addition, both the state and local government would also contribute funds for other projects. Because of the size of many of the projects (several are typically carried out by state or federal agencies), it was decided to create a department specifically for the design and construction of the projects. The Thomas Roads Improvement Program (TRIP) was created for that purpose. It was named after Bill Thomas, the congressman responsible for obtaining the federal funds. [5]

Between 2005 and 2018, the agency will be responsible for 10 projects and one route adoption. These include: Westside Parkway (new 6 1/4-mile, 4 to 6 lane freeway built to interstate standards), Mohawk Street extension (1 3/4-mile 6-lane arterial extension), SR 178 freeway extension (2 new interchanges, 3 1/2-mile freeway extension), and North Beltway (2-lane to 4-lane highway conversion, 6 miles). It was briefly in charge of the Centennial Corridor (Westside Parkway to SR 58 freeway connection with freeway-to-freeway interchange), but the project was transferred to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). [6]

In total, the agency is responsible for: [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arroyo Seco Parkway</span> Highway in California

The Arroyo Seco Parkway, also known as the Pasadena Freeway, is one of the oldest freeways built in the United States. It connects Los Angeles with Pasadena alongside the Arroyo Seco seasonal river. It is notable not only for being an early freeway, mostly opened in 1940, but for representing the transitional phase between early parkways and modern freeways. It conformed to modern standards when it was built, but is now regarded as a narrow, outdated roadway. A 1953 extension brought the south end to the Four Level Interchange in downtown Los Angeles and a connection with the rest of the freeway system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 110 and State Route 110 (California)</span> Interstate and state highway in California

Route 110, consisting of State Route 110 (SR 110) and Interstate 110 (I-110), is a state and auxiliary Interstate Highway in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of the US state of California. The entire route connects San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles with Downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena. The southern segment from San Pedro to I-10 in downtown Los Angeles is signed as I-110, while the northern segment to Pasadena is signed as SR 110. The entire length of I-110, as well as SR 110 south of the Four Level Interchange with US Route 101 (US 101), is the Harbor Freeway, and SR 110 north from US 101 to Pasadena is the historic Arroyo Seco Parkway, the first freeway in the western United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Toro Y</span> Highway interchange in Orange County, California

The El Toro "Y" is a freeway interchange in Irvine, California where the Santa Ana Freeway, Interstate 5 (I-5), and the San Diego Freeway merge. South of the El Toro Y, the highway is named the "San Diego Freeway" with the highway designation "I-5." Located in south Orange County im, the interchange was named after the nearby city El Toro, and the now-closed Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, located northeast of the interchange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 58</span> Major state highway in California

State Route 58 is a major east-west state highway in the U.S. state of California that runs across the Coast Ranges, the southern San Joaquin Valley, the Tehachapi Mountains, which border the southern Sierra Nevada, and the Mojave Desert. It runs between U.S. Route 101 near Santa Margarita and Interstate 15 in Barstow. It has junctions with Interstate 5 near Buttonwillow, State Route 99 in Bakersfield, State Route 202 in Tehachapi, State Route 14 near Mojave, and U.S. Route 395 at Kramer Junction. SR 58 also provides access to Edwards Air Force Base. At various points it is known as the Calf Canyon Highway, Carrisa Highway, Bakersfield-McKittrick Highway, Rosa Parks Highway, Rosedale Highway, Barstow-Bakersfield Highway, Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway, Kern County Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, and Mojave-Barstow Highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 87</span> Highway in San Jose, California

State Route 87, known as the Guadalupe Freeway or referred to by the locals as Highway 87, is a north–south state highway in San Jose, California, United States. Before being upgraded to a freeway, it was Guadalupe Parkway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 56</span> East–west state highway in the U.S. state of California

State Route 56 (SR 56) is an east–west state highway in the U.S. state of California. It runs 9.210 miles (14.822 km) from Interstate 5 (I-5) in the Carmel Valley neighborhood of San Diego to I-15. The eastern terminus of the highway is also the western end of the Ted Williams Parkway. SR 56 serves as an important connector between I-5 and I-15, being the only east–west freeway between SR 78 in north San Diego County, several miles away, and SR 52 near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. It is also named the Ted Williams Freeway, after the San Diego-born baseball player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 67</span> Highway in California

State Route 67 (SR 67) is a state highway in San Diego County, California, United States. It begins at Interstate 8 (I-8) in El Cajon and continues to Lakeside as the San Vicente Freeway before becoming an undivided highway through the eastern part of Poway. In the town of Ramona, the route turns into Main Street before ending at SR 78. SR 67 provides direct access from the city of San Diego to the East County region of San Diego County, including Ramona and Julian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 52</span> Highway in California

State Route 52 (SR 52) is a state highway in San Diego County, California, that extends from La Jolla Parkway at Interstate 5 (I-5) in La Jolla, San Diego, to SR 67 in Santee. It is a freeway for its entire length and serves as a major east–west route through the northern part of the city of San Diego. The road connects the major north–south freeways of the county, including I-5, I-805, SR 163, I-15, SR 125, and SR 67. SR 52 passes north of the Rose Canyon Fault before traversing Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. East of Santo Road and west of SR 125, the highway goes through Mission Trails Regional Park, a large open preserve. SR 52 is also known as the Soledad Freeway and the San Clemente Canyon Freeway.

King's Highway 403, or simply Highway 403, is a 400-series highway in the Canadian province of Ontario that travels between Woodstock and Mississauga, branching off from and reuniting with Highway 401 at both ends and travelling south of it through Hamilton and Mississauga. It is concurrent with the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) for 22 km (14 mi) from Burlington to Oakville. The Highway 403 designation was first applied in 1963 to a short stub of freeway branching off the QEW, and the entire route was completed on August 15, 1997, when the section from Brantford to the then-still independent Town of Ancaster was opened to traffic. The section of Highway 403 between Woodstock and Burlington was formally dedicated as the Alexander Graham Bell Parkway on April 27, 2016, in honour of Alexander Graham Bell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Partial cloverleaf interchange</span> Modification of a cloverleaf interchange

A partial cloverleaf interchange or parclo is a modification of a cloverleaf interchange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 4</span> State highway in California

State Route 4 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California, routed from Interstate 80 in the San Francisco Bay Area to State Route 89 in the Sierra Nevada. It roughly parallels the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, a popular area for boating and fishing, with a number of accesses to marinas and other attractions. After crossing the Central Valley, the highway ascends up the Sierra foothills. It passes through Ebbetts Pass and contains the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway, a National Scenic Byway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 204</span> Highway in California

State Route 204 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that connects SR 58 and SR 99 in the Bakersfield area. Passing through downtown Bakersfield, SR 204 also connects Bakersfield's three major freeways together. Only the northern 1.4 miles (2.3 km) has been built to freeway standards; the rest is a six-lane arterial road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 65</span> Highway in California

State Route 65 is a north-south state highway in the U.S. state of California. It is composed of two segments in the Central Valley. The southern segment begins at SR 99, near Bakersfield and terminates at SR 198 near Exeter. It also serves the communities of Oildale, Ducor, Terra Bella, Porterville, Strathmore, and Lindsay. The northern segment begins at Interstate 80 in Roseville and terminates at SR 70 at Olivehurst. It also serves the communities of Rocklin, Lincoln, and Wheatland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 178</span> Highway in California

State Route 178 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that exists in two constructed segments. The gap in between segments is connected by various local roads and State Route 190 through Death Valley National Park. The western segment runs from State Route 99 in Bakersfield and over the Walker Pass in the Sierra Nevada to the turnoff for the Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark. The eastern segment runs from the southeasterly part of Death Valley to Nevada State Route 372 at the Nevada state line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona State Route 303</span> State highway in Arizona, United States

Arizona State Route 303 or Loop 303, also known as the Bob Stump Memorial Parkway, is a freeway that serves the west part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The freeway, originally a two-lane rural highway, was maintained by Maricopa County until 2004 when the Arizona Department of Transportation again took control of upgrading the interim road to a freeway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 5 in California</span> Section of Interstate Highway in California, United States

Interstate 5 (I-5) is a major north–south route of the Interstate Highway System in the United States, stretching from the Mexican border at the San Ysidro crossing to the Canadian border near Blaine, Washington. The segment of I-5 in California runs 796.77 miles (1,282.28 km) across the length of the state from San Ysidro to the Oregon state line south of the Medford-Ashland metropolitan area. It is the longest interstate in California, and accounts for more than half of I-5's total length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in Kern County, California</span>

Kern County’s transportation system was quoted as the “unseen industry.” Located at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, the county is at a prime location to ship goods west to the central coast, south to ports in Los Angeles, and east to corridors that connect to the rest of the country. It is also on major corridors that link to all northern points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Bakersfield Interchange</span> Interchange in California

The West Bakersfield Interchange is a freeway interchange in Bakersfield, California, west of downtown. It connects State Route 99 with SR 58. These routes represent the heart of the Bakersfield freeway network. They connect the city with commercial centers in the San Joaquin Valley, ports in Los Angeles, and major Interstate freeways serving southern and eastern America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheeler Ridge Interchange</span> Interchange in California

The Wheeler Ridge Interchange is a freeway interchange near Wheeler Ridge, California, where State Route 99 (SR 99) merges with Interstate 5 (I-5). Located approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Bakersfield, it is the southernmost freeway interchange in the San Joaquin Valley.

Highway revolts have occurred in cities and regions across the United States. In many cities, there remain unused highways, abruptly terminating freeway alignments, and short stretches of freeway in the middle of nowhere, all of which are evidence of larger projects which were never completed. In some instances, freeway revolts have led to the eventual removal or relocation of freeways that had been built.

References

  1. 1 2 Kern River Purchase. Bakersfield Department of Water Resources. December 2003. Page 17. Accessed: 04-22-2011.
  2. Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3 Ribbon Cutting. Bakersfield Department of Public Works. Accessed: 04-22-2011.
  3. Westside Parkway in Full Swing Archived 2011-08-23 at the Wayback Machine . KBAK - TV, Original Air Date: July 8, 2010. Web Site Accessed: 04-22-2011.
  4. Westside Parkway Archived October 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine . Thomas Roads Improvement Program. Accessed: 04-22-2011.
  5. History Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine . Thomas Roads Improvement Program. Accessed: 03-31-2011
  6. 1 2 Home Page. Thomas Roads Improvement Program. Accessed: 03-31-2011.

External sources