Kiley celebrates funding for major road project, meets with residents

Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) came to Folsom last week to celebrate the approval of a multi-million dollar grant that will help fund a major transportation project in the area … and to have a meet and greet with residents at a popular local creamery. First, Kiley joined other local dignitaries near Rancho Cordova to announce the United States Department of Transportation allocated $25 million to the Capital SouthEast Connector Project; the plan would transform Grant Line Road into a modern expressway, with the goal of alleviating long-standing safety issues and improving traffic conditions on the highly traveled route. Kiley said he was thrilled to have played a role in helping to secure these funds for a vital project. The federal grant is a major step forward in making the Connector Project a reality. "Folsom is an amazing community; I feel incredibly blessed to represent it. Obviously, it's growing in a lot of ways and so that brings some challenges when it comes to transportation and structure so that's been a big focus of mine is to try to secure federal funding for local road projects," the Congressman said. "We just got today a big $25 million dollar grant for the connector; last year, I got some funding for a median in Folsom Lake Crossing, for the Empire Ranch interchange, and so those are some of the really important priorities for the region." The SouthEast Connector project would upgrade the current two-lane roadway to a modern expressway, according to Kiley, which would help reduce collisions, congestion and make traveling in that region more safe. The 34-mile project would connect the communities of Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Folsom and El Dorado Hills and would be completed in stages, beginning in 2026 and lasting to 2033. Additional funding for the project will be secured via other agencies. Following the announcement, Kiley made a stop at Leatherby's, a favorite Folsom dinner and ice cream restaurant on Iron Point Road. Residents were invited to meet Kiley and get some ice cream. Many residents waited patiently in line to talk to the Congressman, each with their own topic of concern. There was a small group of people who wanted to determine what Kiley's views are on the ongoing unrest in Israel. Folsom resident Haroon Rasheed came with like-minded friends to express their support for Palestine and wanted Kiley to hear that voice from the Folsom community. "It is a local issue because there are a lot of Palestinians in this area and we represent them as well as we as taxpayers, we are concerned that our money is being used for this genocide," Rasheed said. "So it is an international issue but it is funded by local people like us, so we are equally concerned about it." Leatherby's busboy Alexander Freders finished his shift but waited patiently in line to get a picture with the Congressman. Freders said he has long admired Kiley and hopes to emulate him one day. "I'm a poli-sci major, I want to be a lawyer as well. I love his view on the sanctity of protecting the unborn. And I just want to thank him for everything he's done and hope he continues to do that work as a Congressman," said Freders. Kiley said helping to secure funds to make the community a safer place is a highlight of his job, but giving people the rare chance to meet with their Congressman face to face also has unequaled value. "This is the most important part of my job, is hearing directly from constituents as to how I can best represent them in Washington, D.C., and try to be a voice for them," explained Kiley. "I try to have as many forums as I can; even in D.C., I do tele-town halls because that enables me to do my job better and every time I have the chance to talk with folks, I learn something about what's going on in their lives, what's going on in their community and what sort of assistance they might need."