Folsom’s City Council has approved a plan to build the first cross-freeway bike trail in the city near Old Placerville Road, which would connect pedestrian and bike trails north of Highway 50 — including the American River Parkway — with trails south of the highway.
On Dec. 9, the council voted unanimously to approve moving forward with the Highway 50 undercrossing plan near East Bidwell Street. The $572,000 request for preliminary engineering and design was on the council’s consent calendar, which is made up of items that do not require a public discussion.
Folsom’s Active Transportation Plan designated this project as a high priority, and city staff wrote that it would close a “critical gap.” Cyclists must now cross the freeway while sharing road space with drivers. Southbound drivers on Old Placerville Road are warned as they approach the freeway undercrossing that they should slow to 45 mph. That speed poses significant risk in the event of a collision involving a pedestrian or cyclist. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that when a driver strikes a pedestrian at 42 mph, the average risk that the pedestrian will die is 50%…