Sentinel staff report–
The City of Citrus Heights will be hosting a community workshop this Tuesday, Dec. 17, where residents are invited to provide feedback on temporary roadway modifications that were implemented on Old Auburn Road in October.
The meeting will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., located at 7817 Old Auburn Road in Citrus Heights. A short presentation is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., according to an event flier.
From Oct. 19 to 28, the City temporarily modified lanes at the intersection as part of a nine-day “road diet” experiment in October, which caused an uproar from drivers upset about increased traffic for vehicles.
The experiment included reducing the two left-turn lanes from Fair Oaks onto Old Auburn down to one lane and creating a dedicated right-turn lane instead. Old Auburn Road was also reduced down to one lane, with the second lane replaced by a bike lane.
The road-diet experiment and upcoming workshop are part of the development of a plan the city is working on to improve traffic safety on Old Auburn Road, known as the Old Auburn Road Complete Streets Plan.
A prior workshop was held in March, where residents provided feedback on problem areas of the roadway and suggested possible improvements.
From March: Ideas abound for improving problem stretch of Old Auburn Road
City Communications Officer Nichole Baxter told The Sentinel that all community members are invited to the upcoming workshop, “especially those who experienced our temporary improvements to Old Auburn Road in October.” Opportunities will be available to give feedback and learn more about improvements being considered for the roadway, she said.
Following the workshop, city staff will compile feedback and research and begin finalizing a plan by February 2020. The plan will then go before the Planning Commission, followed by final consideration by the City Council.
Want to share your own thoughts about improving Old Auburn Road? We publish every letter received. Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here
