A State Senate resolution aims to designate a portion of Highway 152 as the “Rusty Areias Highway,” a former assemblymember who represented the Central Coast and portions of the Central Valley.
The resolution, known as SCR 129, was introduced by State Sen. Dave Cortese, serving as Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. SCR 129 is co-authored by 21 members of the legislature, according to Cortese’s office.
Areias was widely respected for his leadership on transportation, agriculture and regional economic development, Cortese said in a press release. He authored more than 100 pieces of legislation that were signed into law under two Republican governors.
During his tenure on the Assembly Transportation Committee, Areias was instrumental in securing $150 million for improvements to State Route 152 over Pacheco Pass Road—a critical investment that strengthened the connection between the San Joaquin Valley and the South Bay Area.
The improvements to Highway 152 were essential in enhancing one of the region’s most vital transportation corridors, supporting agricultural commerce, commuter travel and regional trade, Cortese said.
Following his time in the Assembly, Areias was appointed by Gov. Gray Davis to serve as the Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation. There, he oversaw the passage of $6 billion in park bonds to invest in park and wildlife maintenance throughout the state.
He also cut park fees in half, which increased attendance in state parks by more than 23 million visitors and made some of our most beautiful places even more accessible to Californians and visitors from around the world, says the press release.
Areias served in the California State Assembly from 1982-1994, overlapping his tenure with former California State Assemblyman Dominic L. Cortese, Sen. Cortese’s father.
