Rural Fresno County Cities Endorse Better Roads, Safe Streets Plan

Mendota, Parlier, and Huron City Councils Vote to Support Plan

FRESNO COUNTY, CA — The City Councils of Mendota, Parlier, and Huron have each voted to formally support the Better Roads, Safe Streets campaign’s Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act, a countywide effort to continue Fresno County’s existing half-cent transportation sales tax to repair roads, improve transit, and enhance safety for residents across the region.

If approved by voters, the measure would continue the current transportation sales tax for 30 years without increasing taxes, generating an estimated $7.4 billion to repair local streets and roads, expand Safe Routes to Schools programs, improve public transit, and invest in safer walking and biking infrastructure throughout Fresno County.

Leaders in these rural communities say the measure is critical to addressing long-standing transportation needs and ensuring smaller cities receive reliable funding to maintain their local infrastructure.

“Families in Mendota depend on safe, reliable roads every day to get to work, school, and essential services,” said Victor Martinez, Mayor of Mendota. “The Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act will help bring critical investment to repair local streets and improve safety for children and pedestrians in our community. That’s why the City of Mendota and our City Council are proud to support this effort—because our residents deserve safer streets and a stronger transportation future.”

Parlier leaders also emphasized the importance of sustained local investment for small cities working to maintain aging infrastructure.

“The City of Parlier and our City Council strongly support the Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act because it delivers the kind of local investment our residents need,” said Alma Beltran, Mayor of Parlier. “Maintaining our streets, improving safety for students walking to school, and strengthening transportation connections are priorities for our community. Supporting this measure means investing directly in the safety and quality of life of the families who call Parlier home.”

For the City of Huron, leaders highlighted how transportation investments support both community safety and the region’s agricultural economy.

“For small cities like Huron, maintaining our local streets is one of the most important responsibilities we have,” said Huron Mayor Rey León. “Our residents drive these roads every day to get to work, take their children to school, and support local businesses. This measure will help cities like ours repair aging streets, improve safety in our neighborhoods, and make sure transportation funding reaches the communities that need it most. The City Council and the City of Huron proudly support the Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act because every city deserves safe, reliable streets. Finally, we will not be overlooked.”

“We are grateful to the leaders in Huron, Mendota and Parlier for recognizing the benefits the measure will bring to residents and businesses throughout Fresno County,” said Better Roads, Safe Streets campaign manager Andy Levine. “This measure makes critical investments in projects that thousands of residents say matter most to them.”

Additional Fresno County cities are expected to pass resolutions in support of the measure in the coming weeks.

The Better Roads, Safe Streets measure prioritizes local street and road repairs while also strengthening transit reliability, improving traffic safety, and expanding programs that make it safer for students to walk and bike to school. The plan includes strong fiscal oversight and accountability, regular public reporting, and periodic evaluations to ensure funds are used as voters intend.

The campaign for Better Roads, Safe Streets is now collecting signatures to put the measure on the November ballot.

Supporters say the measure reflects a collaborative effort among cities, residents, labor, businesses, and community organizations working to develop a transportation investment strategy that serves both urban and rural communities across Fresno County.

About Better Roads, Safe Streets

The Better Roads, Safe Streets campaign is a community-led coalition working to develop a long-term transportation investment plan for Fresno County. The coalition developed the Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act, a measure that would continue the county’s existing half-cent transportation sales tax to fund repairs to local streets and roads, improve transit, expand Safe Routes to Schools programs, and support safer transportation options for residents across the region.

For more information about the measure and additional organizations and officials supporting the plan, please visit www.betterroadssafestreets.com.