California Highways (www.cahighways.org): Route 102

This route remains as defined in 1963.

Elkhorn Blvd ended up being changed from the original proposed alignment. McClellan AFB bought more land to the north to extend the primary runway. Elkhorn was realigned with a curve northward between Dry Creek and 18^th, moving from the I Street alignment to an M Street alignment eastward.
(Source: Comment by John Todd on FB, June 2025)

Around 2000, planning for Route 102 had realigned it from the Auburn-Folsom-Rio Linda-Elkhorn routing of Route 102 (which would've crossed I-80 twice and paralleled Folsom Lake and Elkhorn Boulevard/Greenback Lane) in 1994 to a direct route from Auburn to Elkhorn/Natomas crossing through undeveloped areas in Sacramento and Placer County.

This was a "dotted line on the map" route extending east from near the I-5/Route 99 interchange between Natomas and the airport, and paralleling Elkhorn Road and Greenback Way out to the Orangevale area, then turning north via Granite Bay, terminating at I-80 near Auburn. It was never more than a proposed corridor concept, and later planning shifted it to a more northeastern trajectory from its west terminus, skirting Lincoln to the south and crossing Route 49 north of Auburn before turning east to intersect I-80 near Applegate, where Route 102 would terminate. It was explicitly intended to be a traffic reliever for I-80 in the Sacramento-Auburn corridor; it would have likely also prompted the decommissioning of the Route 193 segment from Lincoln to Newcastle.
(Source: Sparker @ AAroads, 7/23/2016)

In 2002, the Traversable Highways Report noted that a Feasibility Study has been completed in 1991 but further corridor studies are needed. Budgetary constraints have stalled these studies. Placer County is pursuing Placer Parkway, an access controlled facility to be built to freeway standards between Route 65 near Roseville and Route 99 near Lincoln north of Sacramento. It would be a freeway with only a few local interchanges. The intent is to serve as a reliever route for I-80. This proposal came out of the routing study for Route 102 which was conducted in the 1980s and follows much of the recommended alignment that came out of that study. The project is led by the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency. The City of Rocklin is nearly finished building an interchange on Route 65 (Whitney Ranch Parkway) that is intended to serve as the western terminus of Placer Parkway and Placer County is planning to build the first piece of the parkway which would run about 1-2 miles west from this interchange. Placer County has a transportation sales tax on the November 2016 ballot which, if it passes, could also help pay for the remainder of the project. There is the possibility that it could be built as a toll road. The Route 65 Whitney Ranch interchange will be the Eastern end of the Placer Parkway. It will be an L-9 parclo interchange. There are no plans to extend Placer Parkway east of Route 65 or west of Route 99. The western terminus at Route 99 would have flyover connections, and not be a trumpet interchange. It would tie in between Sankey and Riego Roads. The proposal is to limit the number of interchanges on the Placer Parkway and have a wide right of way to minimize growth and sprawl. The project is being developed locally and it's unclear if the state would adopt it after completion.
(Source: Joe Rouse at AAroads, 7/30/2016)

The 2013 Traversable Highways Report indicated that the general routing was not determined and there was no traversable highway. Placer County is pursuing the Placer Parkway between Route 99 and Route 65, which would fulfill some, but not all, of the Route 102 need and purpose. Presently in the PA&ED phase, the Placer-Parkway would be an Access-controlled facility. The CTC authorized a Feasibility Study for the Placer Parkway in October 1988. The Feasibility Study was completed by Caltrans in February 1991. In October 1991, the CTC authorized continued corridor studies, but various constraints later stalled study activity.

Placer Parkway

Placer Parkway Potential Corridors As noted above, "In 2002, the Traversable Highways Report noted that a Feasibility Study has been completed in 1991 but further corridor studies are needed. Budgetary constraints have stalled these studies. Placer County is pursuing Placer Parkway, an access controlled facility to be built to freeway standards between Route 65 near Roseville and Route 99 near Lincoln north of Sacramento. It would be a freeway with only a few local interchanges. The intent is to serve as a reliever route for I-80. This proposal came out of the routing study for Route 102 which was conducted in the 1980s and follows much of the recommended alignment that came out of that study. The project is led by the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency. The City of Rocklin is nearly finished building an interchange on Route 65 (Whitney Ranch Parkway) that is intended to serve as the western terminus of Placer Parkway and Placer County is planning to build the first piece of the parkway which would run about 1-2 miles west from this interchange. Placer County has a transportation sales tax on the November 2016 ballot which, if it passes, could also help pay for the remainder of the project. There is the possibility that it could be built as a toll road. The Route 65 Whitney Ranch interchange will be the Eastern end of the Placer Parkway. It will be an L-9 parclo interchange. There are no plans to extend Placer Parkway east of Route 65 or west of Route 99. The western terminus at Route 99 would have flyover connections, and not be a trumpet interchange. It would tie in between Sankey and Riego Roads. The proposal is to limit the number of interchanges on the Placer Parkway and have a wide right of way to minimize growth and sprawl. The project is being developed locally and it's unclear if the state would adopt it after completion.
(Source: Joe Rouse at AAroads, 7/30/2016)

Placer Parkway Phs 1 In September 2022, it was reported that the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved advance funding for Phase 1 of the Placer Parkway project. Placer Parkway is a 15-mile long, limited-access expressway that will connect Route 65 to Route 70/Route 99 in south Sutter County. According to the staff report, the Placer Parkway was approved by the South Placer Regional Transportation Authority in 2009 to relieve congestion in southern Placer County. The first phase of the project will go from the Route 65 interchange at Whitney Ranch Parkway and over the Union Pacific Railroad track to end at a signalized intersection with Foothills Boulevard. The first phase will also include improving the functionality of the Whitney Ranch Parkway interchange. The project is in the right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation phase, which is intended to continue through 2023. Bidding and construction is anticipated for spring 2024.

Placer Parkway Routing (Indyroads) In October 2025, it was reported that the Placer County Board of Supervisors had approved plans and specifications for the long-anticipated Placer Parkway project, a new regional expressway in West Placer designed to reduce congestion and improve connections to key destinations across the region. Phase I of the project, managed by the Placer County Department of Public Works, carries an estimated construction cost of $106 million and will soon be advertised for construction bids and start of construction in the spring or summer of 2026. Placer Parkway has been a decades-long regional transportation priority, envisioned to serve some of the fastest-growing communities in Placer County while easing traffic on state Route 65, Interstate 80 and local roadways. When fully built, the approximately 15-mile limited-access expressway will connect Route 65 in West Placer to Route 70/Route 99 in south Sutter County, improving access to the I-5 corridor, downtown Sacramento and Sacramento International Airport. Phase I begins at the Whitney Ranch Parkway/Route 65 interchange in Rocklin and will extend to North Foothills Boulevard. Key improvements include: • Upgrading the Route 65 interchange at Whitney Ranch Parkway with new ramps and a six-lane bridge over Route 65. • A four-lane roadway extension from Route 65 to North Foothills Boulevard. • A grade-separated crossing over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. In partnership with the Placer County Water Agency, Phase I will also incorporate a new water line to support future development in West Placer. PCWA will reimburse the county for the cost of construction and administration. The county has completed all necessary design work, right-of-way acquisitions and permitting to move the project forward. Environmental review is consistent with prior approvals, including the 2015 Mitigated Negative Declaration for Placer Parkway Phase I and the 2019 Sunset Area Plan/Placer Ranch Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report. The total project cost is estimated at $160 million -- $106 million for construction and $56 million for costs related to project development, engineering, environmental review and project management. Funding will come through a combination of the South Placer Regional Transportation Authority’s Tier 2 development fees, contributions from the United Auburn Indian Community and PCWA infrastructure funds. County staff are preparing a financing plan to cover upfront costs before reimbursement through future development fees. Construction of Phase I is expected to be a multi-year effort once a construction bid is awarded.
(Source: County of Placer, 10/7/2025; Image source: Indryroads Wiki, Placer Parkway Page, reviewed 6/5/2026)

In April 2026, it was reported that the Placer County Board of Supervisors had unanimously approved a $61.6 million contract for the first phase of the long-planned Placer Parkway project, aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving regional connectivity. The first phase will create a new connection between Route 65 and North Foothills Boulevard. Plans include building an elevated roadway using more than 400,000 cubic yards of soil, along with a 30-foot bridge over Industrial Avenue. The parkway is part of a larger plan to build a nearly 15-mile expressway connecting West Placer County to Route 70 and Route 99 in south Sutter County. The project is largely funded through development fees, meaning builders contribute to the cost as new homes are constructed. Phase I of the project is estimated to cost about $90 million. Funding comes from a mix of sources, including South Placer Regional Transportation Authority fees, contributions from the United Auburn Indian Community, and support from the Placer County Water Agency. The county is also advancing general fund dollars upfront, with plans to be reimbursed over time through future development-related fees. Construction is expected to start in Summer 2026, with a projected finish by 2028.
(Source: KCRA 3 Sacramento, 4/15/2026)