The Yuba Water Agency will help cover just over 20 percent of an approximately $37 million proposed Yuba County project to improve drainage in Olivehurst and add new sidewalks, bicycle lanes and improved transit stops. The funds committed by Yuba Water would only go toward elements specifically related to reducing flood risk.

The commitment from Yuba Water will increase Yuba County’s competitiveness for a grant through the California Transportation Commission’s Local Transportation Climate Adaptation Program, which requires applicants to come up with 20 percent of the overall cost of the project. Yuba Water had already committed approximately $6 million to the county as the local cost share for another grant, which the county was not awarded. Those funds will now be transferred to this new grant application.

“With Yuba County and Yuba Water working together, I am really hopeful that we’ll be able to secure this state grant to finally get this much-needed work done, which will reduce localized flooding and improve the quality of life for the community I serve – the people of Olivehurst,” said Yuba County Supervisor Seth Fuhrer.

The proposed Olivehurst project includes drainage, sidewalks, and bike routes along the entire lengths of Western Avenue and Fleming Way, plus most portions of Second, Third, Fifth, Eighth, Ninth, and Eleventh avenues.

Yuba Water previously agreed to provide up to $15 million for the county to leverage significant funding from the state to improve drainage in Linda and Olivehurst. One of these applications, the West Linda Comprehensive Safe Routes to School Project, was successfully awarded $21 million from the state, with Yuba Water providing $5.4 million for the local share of the project cost.

“The partnership between Yuba Water and Yuba County has already leveraged an unprecedented amount of funding for public works improvements throughout the county,” said Daniel Peterson, Yuba County’s director of public works. “The impact of this work will be tremendous, and we’re just getting started.”

The funds from Yuba Water will only be granted if the county is successful in securing the larger state grant.