Politics
Transportation Modernization Act Funds Mentone Industrial Road Upgrades, Leaves Residential Bus Routes at Prior Levels
The bill channels $15 million into Highway 12 widening through Mentone's east employment zone while holding west-side transit budgets steady through 2028.
How we reported this
The state legislature passed the Transportation Modernization Act on July 7, directing $15 million to widen and resurface sections of Highway 12 that serve Mentone's warehouse and manufacturing districts. Local freight operators and shift workers gain improved access to the corridor, while residents who rely on bus lines in the western neighborhoods see no new service hours or vehicle purchases.
The measure follows a June Department of Revenue report that recorded an 8 percent rise in state fuel tax collections over the prior 12 months. Lawmakers used those receipts to set aside the dedicated allocation for the industrial segment rather than spreading funds across multiple modes.
Truck drivers and warehouse staff employed along the east corridor will encounter fewer delays once paving crews finish the added lane in late 2027. Households on the west side continue to use the same Route 47 and Route 52 schedules that the regional transit authority set in 2024.
Employment and service distribution
The legislation states that the first construction phase is projected to create 200 temporary positions filled through local hiring preferences. Permanent maintenance crews will add 12 full-time roles after the road opens, according to the state employment office estimate attached to the bill.
Retail shops and delivery services along the main residential avenues receive no extra pavement or signal upgrades. Their loading zones remain unchanged, and the transit authority has confirmed that no additional buses will enter service on those streets before 2028.
The transportation department will open bidding for the Highway 12 contract in August. Local officials expect the first earth-moving equipment on site by October, with quarterly progress reports posted on the state portal.
Regional planning council analysts will review traffic counts and ridership data six months after the new lane opens to measure whether freight volumes shift away from parallel residential streets.