Tired of the traffic back-up on Rocklin Road? Sierra College, the City of Rocklin and PCTPA are working together to address congestion near the campus at the beginning and end of school days. The Sierra College Facilities Master Plan, which is updated periodically to ensure the college addresses anticipated growth, calls for a five-story parking structure on the north end of campus that would accommodate 1,500 vehicles. The passage of Measure E in June 2018 means construction of the $40 million structure is expected to begin this fall. Currently, the campus parking lots can accommodate 4,330 vehicles. Most of that parking is on the south end of campus, so students take the Rocklin Road exit off Interstate 80. The new structure would not only address the parking shortage, but also ease congestion on Rocklin Road, encouraging more students to arrive using Sierra College Boulevard via the Interstate 80 interchange which was redesigned and improved in 2009.
“These are some really important changes that are proposed for our campus,” said Willy Duncan, Sierra College Superintendent/President. “The new parking structure and circulation changes will reduce some of that frustration that comes with just getting onto campus. For some students, transportation and parking can be real issues. We’re trying to do all we can to make it less challenging for them.” PCTPA is working on another potential congestion solution with the goal of getting more students to use public transportation. PCTPA is currently conducting a feasibility study of providing Sierra College students with transit passes. “We think the transit pass has a lot of potential,” said President Duncan.
In addition, PCTPA is working on a project to add a lane between Highway 65 and Rocklin Road on eastbound Interstate 80 and widen the off-ramp to two lanes. In the long term, the City of Rocklin and PCTPA will upgrade the Rocklin Road Interchange. This project is one of many regional roadway projects that will require a local funding solution for South Placer County before it can be implemented. Addressing back-up on Rocklin Road is a regional effort.
“Sierra College is an important regional asset for Placer County, and the City of Rocklin is committed to working with the college and PCTPA to find innovative short-term and long-term solutions for congestion in the area,” said Rocklin Councilman and PCTPA Board Member Ken Broadway.