A $1.9-million grant through the Sacramento Area Council of Governments will fund a trail extension to Clarksburg on the above property.

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Key stakeholders have one big goal: reducing carbon reduction.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa, Yolo County and West Sacramento officials announced that the city will receive a $1.9-million grant through the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) Carbon Reduction Program.

“West Sacramento is proud to be the gateway to the Great California Delta Trail network,” Mayor Martha Guerrero said.

The City of West Sacramento has owned the trails’ right-of-way from the Barge Canal locks to Pumphouse Road since 2005, when the city acquired it under the National Trails Act's “rails to trails” provisions.

“The Clarksburg Branch Line Trail will provide West Sacramentans with a safe and inviting way to experience the Delta's rural and natural beauty,” said Mayor Guerrero.

 Here is a rendering of the complete trail extension when finished with nearly $2 million in funding from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments.

Congresswoman Matsui praised the partnership between the federal government, Sacramento Area Council of Governments, West Sacramento and the entire Yolo-Delta Trail Coalition.

“This investment underscores the importance of federal support for our local mission to address mobility barriers in underserved communities and reduce carbon emissions,” Matsui said.

Senator Dodd said the project will provide multiple benefits, including reduced carbon emissions and recreational opportunities.

“I am pleased to support its funding and applaud Yolo County and West Sacramento for advancing it, along with the Yolo Transportation District and Delta Protection Commission,” Dodd said of the grant that will promote, design and acquire the last-mile right-of-way for the Great California Delta Trail – Clarksburg Branch Line Trail Extension project, bringing the trail from the city limits to Clarksburg.

Yolo County Supervisor Oscar Villegas said he is excited that the long-term project has come to fruition, bringing amenities to the West Sacramento and Clarksburg recreation corridor.

“The next steps in our rails-to-trails project, that is 20 years in the making, will allow for the Great Delta Trail expansion to serve as a recreational corridor for generations to come,” Villegas said. “The project encourages our community to get out and get active along the trail and supports our climate efforts in the region to reduce carbon emissions by utilizing alternate forms of transportation.”

Some project highlights include facilitating safe, active recreation, promoting connectivity between neighborhoods and communities, and catering to equestrians. 

The trail also proposes integrating high-speed fiber optic connectivity at the utility corridor, which can offer interpretive signs and design elements reflecting the city’s history.

Three executive directors could not say enough about the project and funding.

Delta Protection Commission Executive Director Bruce Blodgett said his group is “eager to work with our partners to study the proposed extension of the Clarksburg Branch Line and to ensure Delta residents’ needs and concerns are addressed as the Great California Delta Trail grows.”

Yolo Transportation District Executive Director Autumn Bernstein said that Yolo Transportation District is excited to partner on the Clarksburg Branch Line Extension.

“This project is a great opportunity to jumpstart our Yolo Active Transportation Corridors plan, establishing a roadmap for a safe and inviting network of off-street paths connecting Yolo County communities,” Bernstein said.

This 6.4-mile bike/pedestrian trail extension is identified in the Sacramento Area Council of Governments Regional Trail network, the Great California Delta Trail Master Plan, the Yolo Transportation District Active Transportation Plan, and West Sacramento's Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan.

Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA) Executive Director Deb Banks said that the Clarksburg Branch Line trail is an excellent amenity for West Sacramento and Sacramento cyclists and pedestrians.

“It links the cities to Delta communities with a low-stress bikeable, walkable trail in a beautiful setting,” Banks said, adding it benefits tourism and completes the regional trail network. “Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates is thrilled and looks forward to riding it in the near future.”

Both the congresswoman and senator tout the overall opportunities that the new project brings.

“By leveraging resources from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Carbon Reduction Program, our region is leading the way to create new trail systems and active transportation options for our community,” Matsui said.

“The City of West Sacramento looks forward to the positive impact this trail extension will have on the community, enhancing recreation, connectivity and environmental sustainability,” Dodd said.

 A trail extension will connect here at Pumphouse Road in Clarksburg, allowing pedestrian, cyclist, and equestrian travel.