NEWS RELEASE							January 14, 2008  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		Contacts:
      Dan Regan (916-874-7056)
						Communications & Media Officer, or
						Melinda Eppler, Fulton Avenue Association
      Executive Director (916-978-1288)

Fulton Avenue Utility Undergrounding  
~Ceremonial First Pole Removal: January 15 @, 10:00 A.M~

	 Sacramento CA – Supervisor Susan Peters (District 3), the Sacramento County Department of Transportation (SACDOT) and the Fulton Avenue Association are hosting an event to celebrate removal of the first utility pole as part of a $9 million, two-year project that will place existing overhead Fulton Avenue utilities - for electrical, telecommunication and cable TV service - underground.   This project is part of ongoing streetscape enhancements to the Fulton Avenue commercial corridor that are being made to update and improve the area for both businesses and customers.  Removing overhead utilities will eliminate the visual blight of utility poles, wires and associated hardware.  Information about the ceremonial first pole removal is as follows:
Date/Time	Tuesday, January 15, 2008 @ 10:00 A.M.

Location	Braley & Graham KIA -  2200 Fulton Avenue 
		
Speakers	Supervisor Susan Peters (District 3)
      Tom Zlotkowski, SACDOT Director
      Fulton Avenue Association Representative
      Howard Posner, SMUD Board of Directors (Ward 3)
      Tim Ray, AT&T

	According to Supervisor Peters, “Fulton Avenue is one of Sacramento County’s most important economic engines and we are continuing efforts to improve the 
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appearance of this commercial corridor.   Part of the County’s mission is to stimulate economic growth and this project is a perfect example of government working with local businesses on efforts to help attract and retain both commercial enterprise and customers. Undergrounding existing overhead utilities will go a long way towards making Fulton Avenue a more visually pleasing place to do business and shop.”   
	Tom Zlotkowski, Director, added, “SACDOT works not only to keep our roadways safe and efficient, but to also beautify transportation corridors.  This is the first utility undergrounding project for a commercial corridor in Sacramento County and we are proud of this effort which will remove a total of 75 utility poles.   In addition, the removal of utility poles will make sidewalks more accessible to members of the disabled community.  Our partners in this effort – Fulton Avenue property and business owners (Fulton Avenue Association), SMUD, AT&T, Comcast and Surewest – all deserve much credit for working together to make this project a reality.   County residents and businesses all benefit from successful merchants in older, established corridors like Fulton Avenue.”  
Fulton Utility Undergrounding Project
      The utility undergrounding project is the latest phase of the Fulton Avenue Beautification Master Plan effort which began in 2000.   Many of the transportation related features included in the plan have already been completed.    This work included decorative and new street lighting, landscaped medians, intersection corner plazas and a freeway monument, a new water main and additional fire hydrants and a new pedestrian signal 1200 feet north of Marconi Avenue.  The utility undergrounding component of the project included: 
* Construction of joint trench conduit by the County.
* Installation of utility service cabinets, vaults and pull boxes.
* Utility company installation of underground conductors inside conduit to replace overhead wires.   
* Removal of utility poles from sidewalks.
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      The utility undergrounding project is scheduled for completion in Spring 2008.   $9 million in project costs will be covered by a combination of Measure A local sales tax funds, Federal transportation dollars and an allocation from the Fulton Avenue Association.   The contractor for this project is Manuel Brothers, Inc.  
Fulton Avenue Association
      The Fulton Avenue Association is a Property and Business Improvement District (PBID) that was formed in 1998 by a coalition of property and business owners to improve the commercial area of Fulton Avenue and its business image, attract new customers and increase property values. The PBID manages a landscape and streetscape improvement plan, economic development program, security program, and provides marketing, promotion and advocacy services.  The Association represents businesses along 2.3 miles of Fulton Avenue between the Capitol City Freeway and Arden Way, including properties located on major cross streets. Over 350 businesses are located within the Fulton Avenue Association's boundaries.
Additional Information
      For additional information please contact Dan Regan (SACDOT Communications & Media Officer) at 874-7056 or regand@saccounty.net, or Melinda Eppler (Executive Director), Fulton Avenue Association, at 978-1288 or melinda@fultonavenue.com.  

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Press Releases/Fulton – Utility Pole Removal 1-08 
Fulton – Utility Pole Removal 
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Municipal Services Agency

Department of Transportation
Tom Zlotkowski, Director




County of Sacramento
Terry Schutten, County Executive
Paul Hahn, Agency Administrator


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