Keaton PetersIn the heart of California’s foothills rising to the Sierra Nevada mountain peaks, one county is planning major infrastructure upgrades. Placer County has announced a $1.1 billion five-year capital improvement blueprint to address aging facilities and roads, enhance public safety and improve community services across one of California’s fastest-growing regions.
The Countywide Capital Improvement Plan, covering fiscal years 2025-2026 through 2029-2030, is the most significant infrastructure investment plan in the county’s history, with nearly $633 million in already funded projects and another $374 million in planned improvements, for which funding sources are still being identified.
The comprehensive capital plan provides a roadmap for infrastructure investment across four of the county’s departments covering agriculture, parks and natural resources; public works; facilities management; and information technology services.
Public safety improvements account for over $133 million, including the $45 million Forensics Lab partnership with California State University and an $18 million fire station in Bickford Ranch. Road and transportation upgrades total more than $396 million, highlighted by the $76 million Yankee Jims Bridge replacement and $81 million for the first phase of Placer Parkway.
Of the $1.1 billion total investment, approximately 57% of projects are already fully funded. The county will pursue grants, public-private partnerships, and other revenue sources to close the remaining $374 million funding gap over the five-year period.
The plan includes several signature projects that will transform community facilities throughout the county. The proposed Tahoe Justice Center, initially funded at $10.7 million with another $86.3 million yet to be identified, would replace aging public safety facilities in the Lake Tahoe Basin. In Auburn, the crisis center renovation at the Health and Human Services Building 117, fully funded at $10.4 million, will expand mental health services.
Economic development initiatives feature prominently, with the county investing in broadband infrastructure to improve internet connectivity for underserved communities. The $42.7 million Broadband Expansion Project, fully funded through a combination of federal grants and county resources, will serve approximately 18,000 households across the county.
Environmental sustainability efforts are also set to receive funding. The county has allocated $4.2 million for countywide fuel load reduction to mitigate wildfire risks, while $8 million is designated for removing debris from the American River, restoring the natural environment damaged when the State Route 49 Bridge washed out in 1964.
While the five-year plan focuses on near-term priorities, county planners have also identified over $749 million in “under consideration” projects that may be pursued beyond the current planning horizon, including a South Placer Government Center, regional fire training facility and expanded correctional facilities.
Public meetings on specific projects within the Capital Improvement Plan are scheduled throughout May and June, with county officials seeking community input on implementation timelines and design elements.
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Bobak Ha’Eri via Wikimedia Commons
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