Manteca is not the growth leader in San Joaquin County when it comes to new home construction.

It’s not even No. 2.

Leading the way is Tracy. The city “in the triangle” issued 110 permits for new single family homes in January alone. Compare that with Manteca that issued 51 permits for new homes in January and 104 new homes when January and February figures are combined.

Lathrop thanks primarily to River Island is also edging out Manteca. There were 826 permits for new homes in Lathrop issued in 2020 compared to 644 in Manteca.

And when it comes to the past 30 years, Manteca is a relative slowpoke. Since 1990 Lathrop has quadrupled, Tracy almost tripled, and Manteca has done a bit better than doubled.

The 1990 Census contrasted with the state Department Finance estimate on Jan. 1, 2020 tells the story in numbers

*Lathrop has gone from 6,841 people in 1990 — roughly the size of Escalon today — to 26,833 on Jan. 1, 2020. Homes started last year will easily push the city’s population past 29,100.

*Tracy was actually smaller than Manteca in 1990 with 33,558 residents. As of Jan. 1, 2020 there were 95,931 Tracy residents. Add in the 2020 housing starts and standard yield factors andTracy is closer to 98,500 today.

*Manteca had 40,773 residents in 1990. As of Jan. 1, 2020 Manteca had an estimated 84,800 residents. Today based on last year’s new home starts Manteca is probably right around 87,000.

Tracy will likely hit 100,000 by year’s end. Manteca, at its current pace, will get there between 2026 and 2027.

As for Lathrop given natural barriers and the fact they are flanked by Manteca on the east is a bit less likely to hit 100,000 unless  they annex to the north toward Stockton which is a real possibility down the road.

That means a time is coming when the South County could have of cities in excess of 100,000 residents.

Caltrans placing

roundabout on

state highway

Roundabouts continue to grow in acceptance in California as a way to keep traffic flowing, reducing air pollution by keeping cars moving, and also reduce the severity of intersection collisions.

Caltrans is preparing to build a roundabout in rural San Joaquin County to enhance the safety of motorists traveling east of Clements near the Comanche Reservoir.

Work at the intersection of Highway 88 and Liberty Road will start in May and continue until October.

The one-lane rural traffic circle will replace an intersection that has two stop signs at Liberty Road and free flowing traffic on Highway 88.

Roundabouts have been proven to reduce serious injuries and fatalities by 80 percent. 

Safety is Caltrans’ number one priority, and shifting the rural intersection into a roundabout helps fulfill that commitment.

The project will cost $5.8 million.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email, dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com