Potential Road Projects in Sacramento County

According to a Sacramento Bee article published last week, Sacramento leaders are deliberating over whether to put a sales tax measure (Measure A) on the 2020 ballot that would fund a variety of transportation projects next year. This measure, if enacted, could raise more than $8 billion over the next 40 years through a half-cent sales tax.

Though the project agenda has not been finalized yet, some likely projects include updating and improving existing infrastructure, while others involve building new light rail stations throughout Sacramento county.

Many of these projects involve widening roads, which raise potential eminent domain issues. The article lists a few of these proposals:

• Modernization and capacity expansions of 14 major streets, including sections of Bradshaw and Elverta roads, and Hazel, Madison, North Watt, and South Watt avenues.
• Widening Kammerer Road for “current and future” development.
• Continued expansion of White Rock Road and Grant Line, converting them into expressways.

Anytime the government takes private property for public use, they do so through eminent domain. Takings of this type are permitted, provided that the government justly compensates the private owner for his or her land. If the government does not produce such payment, the private owner can pursue an inverse condemnation action to recover it.

The entire property does not have to be bought in order for a taking to occur – if someone owned property along Grant Line road, for example, and the proposed widening to convert it into an expressway encroached past the owner’s property lines, the owner may be compensated for that taking.

Contact DNLC with any questions you may have about how this information could potentially affect you.