SCTA, in partnership with the City of Santa Rosa, conducted a feasibility study that examined near-term, mid-term, and long-term improvements in the SR 12/Fulton Road and SR 12/Merced Avenue study areas. SCTA and the City examined improvement options to enhance safety and provide active transportation options for the Santa Rosa community. Throughout this process, SCTA and the City prioritized community input and participation.
Past Engagement
The first phase of engagement for the project took place in Spring 2024; thank you to everyone who participated and shared feedback with the project team! This feedback helped to refine the proposed study area improvements, which were presented to the community at the virtual public meeting in October 2024.
Virtual Public Meeting #2: October 2, 2024
This virtual public meeting provided an update on the feasibility study including a summary of prior community engagement, presented current concepts for near-term/mid-term/long-term improvements, and the next steps to complete the study. Community members were able to ask questions and provide comments about the study as part of the virtual meeting format.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
6:00 – 8:00 pm
View meeting presentation slides (pdf)
Download Spanish interpretation audio file
View meeting recording below:
Public Meeting #1
This meeting was held on April 17, 2024 at the Wright Charter School in Santa Rosa.
This in-person public meeting introduced the feasibility study, including project goals, potential improvements under study, and timeline. Community members were able to share their input and ideas for the study.
Pop-Up Events
Feasibility Study Survey
In coordination with the first phase of engagement conducted in Spring 2024, an online survey was distributed to better understand community concerns and priorities for the study areas. This survey was shared at the March 12 pop-up, online via SCTA and City of Santa Rosa social media and newsletter communication channels, and at the in-person public meeting on April 17.
The survey was conducted from March 11 through April 30; the following is a brief overview of the main findings from community responses.
Most respondents travel by car within the study area, with biking and walking the second and third most frequent mode of transportation. The primary concerns with the current SR 12/Fulton and SR 12/Merced intersections were Traffic on local streets, Improved bike and pedestrian safety, and Traffic from other parts of the region passing through the study area. Reflecting these concerns, the preferred opportunities for study area improvements were Intersection improvements and Sidewalk and trail gap closures.
32% of respondents use the Joe Rodota Trail at least once a month, 26% never use the trail, 25% use the trail rarely, and 16% use the trail at least once a week. Better access and connectivity to the trail were the primary improvements that would encourage community members to use the trail more.
What is a Feasibility Study?
A feasibility study is an assessment performed before any formal project initiation to identify potential improvements in the study area. This study will consider alternatives for the near-term (complete within 4 years), mid-term (complete within 4 to 10 years), and long-term (longer than 10 years) by studying existing conditions, conducting supporting technical analyses, and collecting community input. The study’s goal is to eventually lead to a phased project implementation of improvements.
How will my input be used?
SCTA, City of Santa Rosa, and Sonoma County are seeking input from all community members, with a focus on equity priority communities, to inform project priorities and potential improvements.
What parts of the study area should be made safer? Where do the roads get congested? How can the study area be more accessible to different modes of transportation? How do you move through the area now and would that change with different facilities? Your input and ideas on these questions and more will be used by the project team to advance concepts for potential improvements.
When will the improvements be implemented?
The improvements will be implemented in a phased approach that could be dependent on the complexity of the proposed improvements and funding availability.
What alternatives are being considered?
The project team is currently evaluating existing conditions and will use community input as part of the process to evaluate alternatives for the study area. Some alternatives being considered include mobility hubs linking active transit, providing EV charging, and parking; transit stop improvements; sidewalk/trail gap closures; signalized intersection improvements; grade separated facilities for bicycle and pedestrian use; and an interchange.
What is active transit/transportation and why is it important?
Active transportation is non-motorized mobility, primarily referring to walking and cycling. One of the goals of this study is to evaluate active transit alternatives to reduce vehicle emissions and allow for increased safe pedestrian and bicycle access in the project study areas.
This study is funded by Measure M funds.
