On May 14, the Kern County Public Works will be hosting a community meeting at Hart Park at 6:00 p.m. to get community feedback on constructing a Class 1 bike lane on Alfred Harrel Highway. The meeting will take place in the North East Pinic Area 7.
Public Works is preparing a proposal to receive grant funds to complete a three-mile gap of the Kern River Park Trail from Fairfax Rd to Hart Park. The proposal included a few options based on research conducted on the road. For example, public works found that the highway has a capacity of 40,000 vehicles; however, the daily average is 2,000 vehicles. Yolanda Alcantar, Public Works Manager, stated the highway is not being used to its full potential.
Alcantar explained that projects are selected for this grant on a needs basis, typically analyzing collisions and fatalities on the road. She explained that there have been over 100 collisions on the road, with about 50 on each side, along with many DUI’s. Although collisions cannot be fixed with a grant, Alcantar explained that lane changes can help reduce speed.
The proposal includes taking the highway down to one lane from two in each direction and adding a physical barrier for a bike lane. There would be a buffer between the lane and barrier to still provide a shoulder on the highway. However, as they approached Hart Park, Alacantar stated there were a few options available.
The first option is to stay on the south side of the road and just connect the path to an existing path, but Alacantar thinks more can be done by going into the park. To create greater alignment within the park, however, some trees may need to be cut down. The exact number of trees would depend on the option selected and would be determined after a formal layout of the project. As of now, Alacantar stated they are still in the informational stage. Alacantar stated they will also be proposing a ratio of replanting trees for each tree that is cut down.
Alcantar stated they hope to understand where the community stands on the options that will be presented at the meeting. Community members can also learn the options and give feedback through this survey. The proposal will be finalized in June, 2026. Community members can contact Alcantar at yolandar@kernsounty.com.