The future of transportation in Fresno County rests largely with Measure C, a local sales tax that is expected to raise more than $6.8 billion for roads, highways, and public transit over the next 30 years.
For 35 years, Fresno County’s Measure C — a half-cent sales tax dedicated to transportation — has dramatically shaped the landscape of metropolitan Fresno.
If the first version of Measure C was about freeways, the second version gave a nod to a future where it could be easier to walk, bike or take transit, while keeping commutes easy for drivers.
Danielle Bergstrom speaks with Veronica Garibay, the co-founder and co-director of Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, an environmental justice organization based in Fresno.
This story is part of a series produced for the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism’s 2021 California Fellowship.
With a high portion of community members living in poverty and often without a reliable car, public transportation can be a lifeline for seniors, school children, people with disabilities and the general public.
Roads in rural Fresno County are often neglected and underdeveloped. Potholes, flooding and basic safety measures go unfixed. There are no streetlights, sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks, center lines or even speed limit signs on many roads in rural towns, and public transit service is limited.
Imagine taking your kids on a trolley to visit the neighborhood park. Now, picture an electric transit system that’s fast and cheap and can take you to work right from your doorstep. What if Fresno could do all that, and reduce the local rate of childhood asthma?
