The Redding
Metro Report
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[Introduction] [Population] [Transportation]

PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The "Redding Metro Report" was first published in 1987. The report focused on the retail and tourism characteristics of Shasta County with an emphasis on Redding itself. The 1991 version provided greater emphasis on manufacturing opportunities and amenities offered by the metropolitan region of Shasta County. In this the third update, the opportunities for manufacturing and other industrial opportunities continue to be highlighted with an added emphasis on the opportunities available to industries which complement existing businesses of the region.

Unlike previous versions, this report endeavors to be more regional in coverage and includes the Cities of Anderson and Shasta Lake. The report profiles and contrasts the statistical qualities of the County's metropolitan area to other major metropolitan areas in the State. This should assist potential developers and employers in answering questions regarding the region's business climate, including expansion and relocation opportunities.

The publication of this report was jointly funded by the City of Redding and the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.

Although the City of Redding Development Services Department is responsible for the production of the report, the comprehensive depth was made possible because of the Redding City Council and City Manager and by the many contributing authors listed in footnote form in the text of the report. The 17-member review committee made up of government and private sector representatives as listed on the following page also provided guidance on the content of the report.

Project Manager and Editor
Jim King, Senior Planner

Associate Author and Research
Linda Foss, Assistant Planner

Data Collection and Research
Lisa Little, Assistant Planner

Grant Administrator
Sarah Haddox, Associate Planner

Computer Graphics Design and Map Production
Jim Coats, GIS Coordinator
Kevin Burke, Engineering Aide

Word Processing/Production Assistants
Judy Huskey, Secretary Stenographer
Joy Gaskey, Secretary Stenographer

The production staff is particularly grateful to the many agencies who contributed text and data used in this report, including:

• Redding Police Department
• Redding Tourist and Convention Bureau
• Redding Electric and Public Works Departments
• Shasta County Schools Office

Redding City Council Members

David A. Kehoe, Mayor

David L. McGeorge, Vice Mayor

Patricia A. Anderson

Robert C. Anderson

Ken Murray

City Manager

Michael Warren

Development Services Director

Jerry H. Swanson

Economic Development Corporation (EDC): Jim Zauher, Manager, 737 Auditorium Drive, Redding, CA 96001

Private Industry Council (PIC): Don Perry, Manager, 1201 Placer Street, Redding, CA 96001

Employer Resource Center: Paul Shelton, Supervisor, 1201 Placer Street, Redding, CA 96001

California Employment Development Department (EDD): Kathy Porter and Rich Camillieri, Manager, 1325 Pine Street, Redding, CA 96001

Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce: Frank Strazzarino Jr., Executive Director, 747 Auditorium Drive, Redding, CA 96001

Shasta County Board of Realtors: Marie Whitacre, 840 Remor Street, and Realtor Brokers Richard Downs, Jack Lynch, and Dave Rutledge

Superior California Economic Development District: Robert Nash, Executive Officer, 4352-A Caterpillar Road, Redding, CA 96001

Redding Convention and Visitors Bureau: John Gorman, Director

Redding Municipal Airport: George Perry, Director

City of Anderson: Tom Hart, Planning Director, 1887 Howard Street, Anderson, CA 96007

City of Shasta Lake and Shasta Gateway Industrial Park: Joe Hunter, Planning Director, and Mike Mitchell, Assistant to the City Manager, P.O. Box 777, Shasta Lake, CA 96019

Shasta College: Don Spellman, Vice President of Business Services, P.O. Box 496006, Redding, CA 96049

Simpson College: Gerald Stayton, Vice President of Business Services, 2211 College View Drive, Redding, CA 96003

County Administrative Office: Julie Howard, LAFCO/Redevelopment Administrator, 1855 Placer Street, Redding, CA 96001

Redding Medical Center: Gail Mitchell, Business Services Manager, P.O. Box 496072, Redding, CA 96049

Mercy Medical Center: Tim Panks, Business Manager, P.O. Box 456009, Redding, CA 96049-6009

Business manufacturer representative at large:

Loralie Originals: Alice Shack, Sales Director, 4350 Caterpillar Road, Redding, CA 96003

Shasta County Builders' Exchange: Kent Dagg, 2990 Innsbruck Drive, Redding, CA 96002

INTRODUCTION

"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, and welcome aboard Flight 209. We'll be departing Sacramento in five minutes and touch down at Redding's Municipal Airport in about thirty-five minutes. Winds are calm and out of the north. Visibility is limited to ten miles, but you'll be pleased to know that the weather in Redding is reported to be nice with visibility of 100 miles."

Whoa, what's that, the plane, it's moving--ahhh, lift-off! A few minutes later, the Captain says, "Ladies and gentlemen, we're at 10,000 feet and approaching Redding. If you look east, to your right, you'll see Mount Lassen; and directly north of us is the other half of the longest valley in the country formed by the Coastal Range and the great Cascade Range of the Sierra Nevada divide. That big beautiful body of water to the left of us, dotted with white sailboats, is Whiskeytown Lake."

Like a tour guide, the Captain continues, "At the head of both these ranges are Redding, Shasta Lake, and then Mount Shasta. Topping out at 14,162 feet, this crisp snow-capped silhouette is one of the tallest mountains in North America. The mountain slopes and riparian conduits of the Sierra Cascades are the pipelines to Shasta Lake. With over 350 miles of shoreline, the lake is only fifteen minutes from Downtown Redding. Here is bit of trivia," the Captain says, "Did you know there is an underground lake (aquifer) below Redding that exceeds the capacity of Shasta Lake and stretches the entire length of Shasta County? Got water!" he quips.

It's true, you really don't appreciate it until you've been away for awhile. I miss the river. It meanders nine miles right smack through the middle of town. It begins just outside the City, below Shasta Dam, then winds its way south a couple of hundred miles, quenching orchards and groves along the way. When the sun sets on the town's 100-foot-high red bluffs that confine the river's west bank, you can see its graceful curves and reflected images of riparian tree stands. Then there are the soft, dissolving, fluid City lights at dusk--what a place, what a town! Redding--my home!

Want to hear one of the best kept secrets? In the middle of town is a world class fishery. This stretch of river is one of the finest trout waters in the Western United States. I can sit in my office fifty yards from the bank and see people catching wild trout on their lunch break, even an occasional 20-inch rainbow. Overhead, soaring, is the national symbol. Looking for lunch, the Bald Eagle rides the warm thermal waves swirling between the river and the bluffs. What a de-stresser!

The Captain continues, "Please fasten your seat belts folks; we'll be landing at the Redding Airport in ten minutes." I lean back and reflect. I'm home--back to civilization--no earthquakes, smog alerts, traffic jams, riots, or hurricanes to worry about. I reach for a copy of the "Redding Metro Report" in the seat's pocket in front of me and lapse into its pages:

LOCATION

The metropolitan area of Shasta County lies astride the Sacramento River about 160 miles north of the State Capitol in Sacramento and 230 miles north of San Francisco, equidistant between Seattle and Los Angeles. The County comprises 3,858 square miles bordered by Siskiyou, Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Tehama, and Trinity Counties.

The County's metropolitan area enjoys the unique distinction of being a modern business community comfortably situated in the midst of the finest recreational area in California. Residents and visitors enjoy excellent shopping, the latest in cultural and educational facilities, and a wide variety of outdoor leisure-time activities.

The adjacent Cities of Anderson, Shasta Lake, and Redding are the only three incorporated urban areas in the County, with Redding being the largest city and the county seat. The three communities are general-law cities with a council and manager form of government.

The metropolitan area shown on the map at the conclusion of this section stretches from the community of Mountain Gate, located south of Lake Shasta, to the community of Cottonwood, located 18 miles south of Redding. Aside from the three cities, this area includes 11 unincorporated communities and utility districts including:

Unincorporated CommunitiesWithin the Redding Metro Area

• Mountain Gate

• Cottonwood

• Palo Cedro/Millville/Oak Run areas

• Bella Vista and Jones Valley areas (northeast of Redding)

• Centerville (west of Redding)

• The Keswick area (northwest of Redding)

• Summit City and Buckeye areas (northwest of Redding)

• Happy Valley, Olinda, and Cloverdale areas (southwest of Redding)

• French Gulch (west of Redding)

• Old Shasta (west of Redding)

• Churn Creek Bottom area (south of Redding)

The metropolitan area is the regional center of Northern California for health and legal services, retail shopping, and employment. The area also serves as a gateway to the Cascade and Trinity Alps recreation areas and as the hub of north-south Interstate 5 and two east-west State highways--Highway 299 and State Route 44. Shasta Dam and Shasta Lake, with 350 miles of shoreline, exemplify the area's abundant water supply and inexpensive electrical power.

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

In the last decade, the City of Redding's population grew by 61 percent. Why the booming growth? Because more and more people and companies are searching for a higher quality of life, including clean air, pure drinking water, and a sense of community and neighborhood pride. New companies also prize the area's safe and healthy environment for their employees' families and the access to the great outdoors. Newcomers to the region have a wide variety of occupations and skill levels which permit lateral shifts into most manufacturing and industrial occupations. This includes equipment repair, health care, electronics, logging, telecommunications, clerical, machinist, shipping and receiving, and construction.

The outdoor life-style and air quality of the metropolitan area have attracted many highly skilled people from larger urban areas, creating a choice labor force. Favorable zoning laws, and the availability of low-cost electric power in Redding affords many industries a competitive advantage over other regions. Other considerations are affordable housing, low-cost skilled labor, and a lower crime rate.

The area's quality of life also contributes to a higher productivity rate. Major industries that have relocated to the County testify that their absenteeism and turnover rates are significantly lower compared to their urban counterparts. Not only can skilled and management-level employees in Shasta County be recruited, they can be retained.

Approximately 75 percent of Shasta County consists of national forests and parklands. From Redding, you can be houseboating on Shasta Lake or sailing on Whiskeytown Lake in less than half an hour. How people are able to live and enjoy their time off makes a big difference in their attitudes on the job.

The metropolitan area's quality of life is renowned. In a 1989 publication entitled California: Where to Work, Where to Live, Helena Barreta examined California cities relative to affordable housing, job growth, school facilities, climate and cultural assets, and high-tech employment opportunities. Ms. Barreta's publication lists 40 top cities of which Redding is one. The publication summarizes the Redding metropolitan area as a "medium-sized community with affordable housing and a high quality of life."2

In a more recent publication by Money Magazine Redding was ranked No. 9 in a 1994 study/survey of the nation's 20 best places for starting, relocating, or expanding a small business. The magazine ranked Redding high in overall job growth and proprietors' earnings and supply of affordable commercial real estate. Mark Bautz, senior reporter for Money Magazine, said that Redding's overall job growth in the past five years is more than double the national average (19.9 percent compared with 8.7 percent). Further, the City's increase in its number of businesses is almost triple the national average (38.8 percent compared with 13 percent) for the same period. The study considered factors ranging from employment growth to gains in the number of small businesses to the education level of the local work force.

This acknowledgment is further supported by the fact that Redding is becoming known as a "manufacturing paradise." At least this is what Expansion Management magazine is touting. The magazine has a circulation of 40,000 business executives nationwide. The publication, based in Overland, Kansas, set out to find the manufacturing paradise and settled on 12 finalists with Redding being one of them. The first place winner will be announced in 1996.

The Redding area continues to balance urban growth and enhance the natural and landscaped environment through a variety of programs such as stream protection and grading regulations. Each year since 1981, Redding has been named "Tree City USA" by the National Arbor Day Foundation. This honor is bestowed on communities that have tree enhancement and protection programs.

CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY

Climate. Winter temperatures fall below freezing an average of 27 days, from November through March, which is just enough to produce a kaleidoscope of autumn leaves. About two-thirds of the rainfall occurs between December through March, and another 15 percent from April until June. Rainy days average 80 days per year; average annual precipitation is 38.6 inches. Snowfall is infrequent, seldom lasting more than 24 hours. Winds, predominantly from the northwest or the southeast, are gentle with velocities over 16 miles per hour occurring only 5 percent of the time. Clear weather predominates about 200 days each year.

Of all the West Coast counties, Shasta County is where the sun shines the most. According to the National Climatic Data Center, the metropolitan area has an 88 percent chance of sunshine throughout the year. Redding's warm summertime temperatures exceed 100 degrees for about 39 days per year, but the actual response to this temperature is not the same as one finds in other parts of the nation because Redding's humidity is low. For example, the average summertime humidity in Redding is 25 percent and the mean temperature in July is 83 degrees. Due to the difference in humidity, Redding's dry summertime temperatures feel about ten degrees cooler than similar Midwest, Eastern, and Coastal summertime temperatures.

Air Quality. Redding's air quality compares favorably with other Sacramento Valley cities and California metropolitan areas. The quality of air meets federal standards and is superior to that of Los Angeles and the Bay Area. As a consequence, businesses and residents are not hindered by Federal air quality sanctions.

HISTORY OF METROPOLITAN AREA

One of the things that makes the metropolitan area so interesting is the history. The first people lived in the Redding area perhaps 4,000 to 6,000 years ago. The famous haunts of Ishi can still be experienced in the foothills of Mt. Lassen. The Wintu and Yana Indians hunted in the hills around Redding and fished along the tributaries of the Sacramento River until the mid-1800s.

In 1844, Pierson Barton Reading obtained a Mexican land grant of nearly 27,000 acres and became the first white settler in the area. Reading discovered gold on Clear Creek in 1848 and set off a frenzy of gold fever that brought thousands of miners into the region. Over night, Shasta, French Gulch, and Whiskeytown were three boom towns that thrived in Western Shasta County during the 1850s. Although the town of Shasta was the first county seat until the decline of gold mining activities, it lost its prominence to the City of Redding when the latter became a railhead in 1872. In that year, the Central Pacific Railroad undertook building a railroad to connect San Francisco and Portland. As tracks were laid to the north, Central Pacific decided to establish a temporary terminus at the northern end of the Sacramento Valley before pushing on through more difficult mountainous terrain into Oregon.

The 1880s witnessed the construction of four churches, three major hotels, and two banks. Redding incorporated in 1887 and was named the county seat in 1888. Between 1890 and 1920, copper mining became the backbone of the local economy. Five major smelters were built in the outlying areas. Redding also continued to be the trade center for the agricultural region in the southern part of the County.

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Central Valley Project, a comprehensive water plan for the State, infused millions of dollars into the local economy. Shasta Dam, located 12 miles north of Redding on the Sacramento River, was the project's keystone. The dam was built between 1938 and 1944, and the County population grew from 13,900 in 1930 to 28,800 in 1940.

After World War II, wood products, agriculture, and tourism became major industries. The municipal airport and several motels were built during the 1940s.

In 1956, the City of Anderson incorporated to become the County's second city.

Urbanization continued during the 1960s and 1970s; and in the 1970s and 1980s, a large number of shopping centers, office buildings, and industrial centers, were developed to complement urban facilities. In 1993, the City of Shasta Lake became the third incorporated city.

In summary, the history of the red soil encircling the metropolitan area is rich in Indian lore, gold mining yarns, monumental construction of a railroad and two dams. It is steeped in wild west stories with real heroes and villains. All of this is the stuff--the glue--that holds a community together. There is much about the area's history that remains to be said. As poet Joaquin Miller remembered it in his later years, " ... that storied land, whereon the light of other days gleams faintly still ... that warm, red, rich and human land, that flesh-red soil, that warm red sand, where one gray miner still sits down 'twixt Redding and sweet Shasta town." This is the Redding metropolitan area, home to 11 communities, 3 cities, and 170,000 folks.

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POPULATION

GROWTH OF URBAN AREAS

1990 study of U.S. metropolitan areas by Woods and Poole Economics, located in Washington, D.C., showed that the Redding metropolitan area was among the 50 fastest growing areas in the nation. The 1991 recession has slowed the annual population growth rate (1980-90) from 4.7 percent to an annual rate of 3 percent for the last five years.

The five-year annual growth rate for the City of Anderson has been 1.2 percent. Last year (1994-95), the growth rate for the City of Shasta Lake was 2.1 percent. The growth rate of the unincorporated area is about 1.4 percent, according to the January 1, 1995, estimate by the State Department of Finance.

Based on the 1990 Federal census, the incorporated area of the County represented 49 percent of the total population. With the 1993 incorporation of the City of Shasta Lake, the incorporated areas now account for 58 percent of the County's population. As of January 1995, the City of Redding represented 47.3 percent of the total population in contrast to 45 percent in 1990.

According to the Federal census, the County's 1990 population was 147,036. The January 1995 estimate by the State Department of Finance was 166,091. This amounts to a five-year annual growth rate of 2.4 percent. Prior to the 1991 recession, the ten-year annual growth rate was 2.7 percent.

The growth rate for Anderson will continue to be a little over 1 percent annually, while the rate for Shasta Lake will be about 2 percent. Shasta Lake may grow at a faster rate because it has a municipal utility, offering electric rates much lower than any other city its size in the State. Its proximity to I-5, Redding, and Shasta Lake is another reason for a higher growth potential.

The overall projected population growth rate of the County has been estimated by the State Department of Finance to be 2 percent a year which will yield a population of 250,000 by the year 2015. By that time, Redding population is expected to reach 144,952, or 58 percent of the County's entire population.

The principal source of population growth will continue to be net migration as opposed to the natural increase of birth/death. The County receives about 4,000 migrants (net) per year according to driver's license registration figures. About 85 percent of the migration is from other California Counties including:

1. Los Angeles
   
2. Santa Clara
   
3. Orange
   
4. Contra Costa
   
5. Alameda
   
6. San Bernardino
   
7. Ventura
   
8. Siskiyou
   

With regard to net State migration, the most notable gains are from Texas, Arizona, Alaska, and Michigan.

AGE DISTRIBUTION

Every couple of years, the City of Redding contracts with Economic Science Corporation of Berkeley, California, to forecast its population. As the table indicates, the forecast includes a population distribution by age. Interestingly enough, Redding's age distribution is almost the mirror image of the State's distribution. This was true in the 1990 Federal census as well.

The median age of the County in 1990 was 34.7. In 1995, it was estimated to be 36.2. By the year 2010, the State Department of Finance estimates it will be about 36. Overall, school-age children for 1996 will be about 23 percent of the population; adults in the 20-64 age range will make up 56 percent; and those in the 65+ retirement group add up to 14 percent of the total population.

One factor that the Cities of the County will be faced with as well as the State and nation is that the consumer demands and political desires of the County will shift with the aging baby boomers who were born between 1946 and 1964. The first baby boomer turned 50 on January 1, 1996. Between 1996 and the year 2000, boomers will reach their economic peak affluence. According to demographers, boomers in the next 15 years will continue to set the agenda for public policy in education, work/family ethics, and retirement programs. For the Cities of Shasta County, the boomer will likely have a dominant influence over government services, recreation, schools, retail products and services.

ETHNICITY

Over the past decades, Shasta County's ethnic composition has been fairly stable with about 94 percent of the population being White. It has only been in the last decade that the ethnicity has slightly changed with the influx of Asians. Although the percent increase in Asians from 1980 to 1990 has been about 420 percent for the County and 805 percent for Redding, the actual numerical growth is small compared to the total populations for each of these areas. The tables above reflect the change in ethnic make-up between the decennial census and forecast to 1995 using the same percentage of the census.

URBANIZATION AND DIRECTION OF GROWTH

Growth of Retail and Manufacturing

Urbanization of the Redding area, particularly for commercial development, is continuing at a fast pace. In 1996, several commercial developments will either be completed or break ground. This includes Circuit City, Holiday Inn Express, and Cinemark Movies 10. Major retail expansions of existing businesses including a 32,000-square foot addition to Sears (to be completed in 1996) and Gottschalks, which has plans for expansion. Other pending retail projects include Home Depot, a 20-acre Wal-Mart store, an Ernst Home Center, and six other stores. All are jockeying for property in East Redding around the Dana Drive area.

With regard to manufacturing, the City has benefited from several manufacturer's relocating to the area, including two in 1995. According to the County's Economic Development Corporation, 46 manufacturers are actively pursuing Redding as a site for relocation or expansion of their businesses. Finally, a 1995 survey of County manufacturers revealed that 23 plan on expanding in the next two years. One recent success is the expansion of SECO Manufacturing Company. The company manufactures surveying equipment sold worldwide. In 1995, the company added 23,000 square feet of floor area and 46 full-time jobs to bring its total work force to 84 employees. In exchange for the creation of these jobs, the company received a significant financial incentive package from the City. New manufacturing additions in 1995 include Mallard Medical, which makes ventilators, and Exceed Composite Technology, which makes lightweight robotic devices. Related to the expansion of the manufacturing sector is the recent establishment of Multiplex of Information Services, Inc., a document storage and retrieval company that relocated from the San Francisco Bay Area.

In the long term, (10 to 15 years), the City expects one to two major shopping centers to develop in North Redding on either side of Interstate 5 at the Oasis Road off-ramp. The combination of these sites could have the same retail intensity as the Mount Shasta Mall area on Hilltop Drive.

Related to retail expansion is the development of the $50 million Turtle Bay Museum and Arboretum complex located adjacent to the Civic Auditorium on the Sacramento River. The first phase of the Museum complex is under way. By the year 2005, the complex is expected to draw one million visitors per year, which will reinforce Redding's destiny as a West Coast destination point.

Other ongoing projects include two major hospital expansions--one of which is for $38 million--and the development of a multimillion dollar Civic Center. In 1996, a new elementary school will be completed. Then, of course, there is the infrastructure that is programmed to service all this new development, which includes bridges, roads, and utility lines.

One final note on the City of Redding--while the City has a pro growth stance, it also is mindful of the need to protect its quality of life which is so attractive to investors. In 1995, the City Council appointed a community task force to work with consultants in developing a comprehensive update of its General Plan, which is due in 1997.

The City of Anderson has several pending projects, including a 20-acre auto dealership, 100-unit motel complex, and $1.5 million California Welcoming Center which will be completed in 1996.

The City of Shasta Lake is making way for the development of an $8 million retail center at the entrance to the City off Interstate 5. Then there is the planned development of an 18-hole municipal golf course off Interstate 5 near Mountain Gate. The metro area is already served by seven golf courses.

Development Permit Activity

Countywide, an average of 1,260 building permits for dwelling units are issued each year based on building permit activity between 1990 and 1994. The City of Redding averages about 800 units per year, and the Cities of Anderson and Shasta Lake are about 40 units each per year. The unincorporated area of the County accounts for about 380 permitted units per year.

For commercial buildings, the City of Redding issued permits totaling 2.94 million square feet of floor area over the last six years. This amounts to an average of 500,000 square feet of floor permitted each year.

Direction of Growth

The map following this section of the report indicates the direction of the urbanization discussed above along with the residential development. It is important to note that the magnitude of growth indicated by the arrows is only relative to each City as reported by the planning agencies of the Cities. Related to this is the fold-out map which depicts residential growth in the Redding area over the last ten years. The bulk of this growth has been to the east and, of course, the bulk of growth has been in the City of Redding.

For the next 20 years, the major growth area for the City of Redding will be to the east, northeast, and southeast. This is because of topography, abundance of vacant land, and available infrastructure.

The direction of rural growth of the unincorporated area as reported by the Shasta County Planning Department is illustrated on the map following the City growth map.

A comparative analysis of population and housing development trends during the period of 1980 through 1995 in the unincorporated portions of Shasta County indicates an abundance of new development occurring around the Redding metropolitan area, commonly referred to as the South Central Region. The area is comprised of several small rural communities served by special districts. Recent building permit activity indicates a heavy distribution of permits in the Olinda/Cloverdale, Cottonwood, and Palo Cedro communities.

The balance of the growth beyond these areas of the County has occurred, in order of rank, (1) in the Eastern Upland area, principally in the areas centered around the rural community centers of Shingletown, Millville, Oak Run, and Whitmore; and (2) in the Northeast planning areas with growth centered around the communities of Burney, Johnson Park, Fall River Mills, McArthur, and Cassel.

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TRANSPORTATION

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS

The Redding metropolitan area enjoys a truly strategic market location among the Pacific Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington. United States Interstate 5 is the major transportation artery running north and south from Mexico to Canada and connects Redding to an estimated Pacific Coast marketplace of 31 million people. Redding lies equidistance (approximately 600 miles) between Los Angeles and Seattle. Redding is also a crossroad with major east-west State highways connecting major Northern California cities and connecting the area with Nevada. Via Interstate 5, almost all north-south interstate freight traffic on the West Coast funnels through Redding, providing industrial and manufacturing firms in Shasta County with freight-delivery schedules to the Midwest and the East Coast.

TRUCK, BUS, AND PACKAGE DELIVERY

There are eight truck terminals serving Redding and the surrounding region with daily service by eighteen local carriers, 12 of which are major carriers. Three of the major carriers serve 48 states; two serve 11 western states, and seven carriers serve the west coast.

An average of 6,500 trucks per day travel through Redding on Interstate 5. Most of this travel is supported by manufacturing and packaging plants located hundreds of miles away. Redding has several fuel card-lock truck facilities and offers privately operated truck-driving schools. The region's residents and business community enjoy a full range of trucking and transportation services available to any other metropolitan area.

Greyhound provides commercial bus services with overnight delivery schedules to all cities within a 400 mile radius including, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Oakland, California; Reno, Nevada; and Salem, Klamath Falls, and Portland, Oregon.

Redding is served by a United Parcel Service Packaging Center. The UPS Center, located just south of Redding, provides the following local services:

UPS SERVICES: One-day air delivery within the State and throughout the Continental United States.

Unlimited valuation of mail and package delivery.

Maximum of 150 pounds per package within and out of State.

Pickup and delivery to rural areas up to 10 p.m.

Federal Express operations are located in an airport station located on the southern edge of the airport property. There are two manned locations in Redding and over 20 drop boxes in the area for the convenience of the surrounding business community. Federal Express currently employs 31 in Redding and the surrounding communities. Express Operations have a dedicated aircraft serving Redding and offer 10:30 a.m. delivery.

Federal Express offers worldwide delivery of time-sensitive documents, packages, and freight. A worldwide satellite and computer-tracking system enables Federal Express to read bar codes on all packages and track the status of shipments almost instantaneously.

Other delivery services include:

RAIL SERVICE

The Southern Pacific Railroad through Redding carries heavy volumes of freight, since it is the primary rail link between California and the Pacific Northwest. Train movements average 24 per day, plus local switching movements. The several industrial parks located within the Cities of Redding and Shasta Lake have access to railroad lines and spurs within the parks.

Amtrak also services Redding and the surrounding region with both train and bus service. Although the Redding station is unmanned, there are two daily arrivals and departures from the Bay Area, as well as the one arrival and departure by the Coast Starlight, which carries travelers from Los Angeles to Seattle, Washington. In addition, bus service is available to the Sacramento area with connections to the San Joaquin Train Route and the California Zephyr which has connections as far east as Chicago, Illinois.

AIR SERVICE

The Redding Municipal Airport is designated in the National Airport Plan as a certificated airport for commercial airline operations. It is served by airlines from San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles, providing combined 30 arrivals and departures per day. The airport is eight miles from Downtown Redding.

General aviation aircraft are large users of the facility. Total operations for the calendar year 1994 amounted to 115,700 with general aviation activity accounting for 60,000 operations. Passenger enplanements and deplanements amounted to 111,000 in 1994. At the airport, there are approximately 142 based aircraft and one fixed-base operator, International Air Service Company (IASCO). The U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Forestry operate a large fire air-attack base located at the north end of the airport.

The Municipal Airport has two runways including the 7,003-foot-long, primary-instrument Runway. The secondary Runway 12/30 is 5,062 feet long and is not lighted.

Other Operation Amenities:

• High-intensity runway lights
• Lighted runway-distance markers
• Medium-intensity, approach-lighting system with runway-alignment indicator lights (MALSR)
• Instrument landing system (ILS)
• Runway-end identifier lights (REIL)
• Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) for Runway 34
• Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI)
• Back course ILS for Runway 16

• Municipal Airport FacilitiesAmerican Propeller Service
• IASCO (FBO)
• Redding Aero Enterprises
• Federal Express
• Redding Aerotronics
• Redding Air Service
• Eight 10-place T-hangars
• One 8-place T-hangar
• Six Twin-engine Hangars
• FAA Control Tower
• Fire Station No. 7
• Sierra Pacific Corporate Hangar
• Peri Corporate Hangar
• U. S. Forest Service
• California Dept. of Forestry

Other services include charter flights, aircraft rental, flight instruction, maintenance and fuel, helicopter-repair service, and propeller repairs. Up to 24 aircraft operate from the U.S. Government's forest fire-suppression attack base.

The Airport and associated businesses employ an estimated 400 employees, including 35 part-time employees. Of these, 220 employees are employed by the U. S. Forest Service and California Department of Forestry.

Within the City of Redding, there is one smaller airfield. Benton Airpark, located near the downtown area, is used exclusively by general aviation and primarily single-engine aircraft. The Airpark is owned by the City of Redding and is the air ambulance service center for Mercy Hospital. The California Highway Patrol bases its Northern California air operations from Benton Airpark.

As you can see from the "Market Distribution" map following the table of contents, Redding has an excellent air-transportation base and centralized location for tapping the Western States' marketplace. Air travel times from Redding to major cities are given below:

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Public transportation in the Redding area is well served by the Redding Area Bus Authority (RABA), which provides both fixed route and demand response transit services. The fixed route service consists of 12 routes with over 450 individual stops using a fleet of 20 coaches. Twenty-three vehicles are used in RABA's demand response service. This is curb-to-curb transportation for individuals who, because of a mobility impairment, are not able to utilize a regular fixed route system. RABA's transportation system links residential, industrial, commercial, and retail centers within the Greater Redding Area covering 71 square miles. The map following this section depicts the service area of the transit system.

RABA began service in 1981, and has expanded to meet the needs of the community. Through route extensions, fleet acquisition, and facility upgrades, RABA continues to meet the challenges of an expanding urban center. RABA is also under contract with the County of Shasta and the City of Anderson to provide transit services. Rural services consist of Dial-A-Ride in the communities of Bella Vista and Express Routes (commuter) to Burney. Fixed route and demand response services are provided for the City of Anderson.

In the spring of 1996, the first phase of RABA's intermodal passenger transfer facility will be completed in Downtown Redding. This facility will accommodate not only the demands of the public transportation service, but will also provide a common transfer point for Amtrak, social service providers, taxis, and inter-City bus lines.

Ridership continues to increase, carrying over 60,000 passengers per month. The commitment of RABA management to meet the needs of the community has resulted in strong financial backing of Federal, State, and local sources.

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