In what has been a highly debated topic for years, tonight City Council members again made the decision that would approve the widening of 24th street.
Leading up to tonight's official vote, council members had been through several meetings and plan layouts regarding the widening of 24th street.
The plan was first approved, only to be reversed in 2014 because residents sued the council for violating the California environmental quality act.
Saying the EIR report they had given was flawed.
Most recently the project was halted by a Kern County Superior Court Judge, again ordering for a re-examination of the environmental impact report.
Tonight's decision came through one vote short of unanimous as council member terry Maxwell again held his ground, now being critical about what issue the widening project will solve, saying it's less about congestion and more about speeding.
“You know what our biggest project traffic wise in the tree street area is? Speeding. I drove home today at about 1 o’clock. There were three officers out there with guns pulling people over. If we have a congestion problem on 24th street in the tree street area, what the heck were they doing. Weren’t they wasting their time, wasn't there enough congestion there that I couldn't have gone over the speed limit," said Maxwell.
But Maxwell’s comments tonight were rebutted by other members on the council like Jacquie Sullivan, saying that this project is only going to help the area.
“We made our decision. There has been no waver. No inkling of a suggestion that anyone is wanting to change their vote and as time goes on we have gotten more firm because we were negotiating, we were moving forward,” said Sullivan.
Concerned residents against the project also showed up, critical about the $70 million price tag the project holds.
Plus the 23 homes in a neighborhood set to be removed, along with 243 matured trees and almost 300 parking spaces in the downtown area.
