It seems that The Springs is one step closer to sidewalks, as plans for the improvements were discussed at the July 12 Springs Redevelopment Advisory Committee meeting.
In July, Kevin Howze, Engineering Division Manager of the Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW), reported on the status of the Highway 12 construction project and presented an aerial map of the highway corridor showing the various project stages.
For those of you who are just joining us in the Highway 12 sidewalk saga, I will share with you the most accurate history that I am able to provide. The Highway 12 improvement project, which reaches from Verano Avenue north to Aqua Caliente Road, was originally broken into two phases. Phase I addressed the southern end while Phase II dealt with the northern portion. Almost a decade ago, the project got off to a rousing start on the west side of Highway 12 with a wide sidewalk, curbs and pedestrian-friendly lighting beginning at Verano Avenue, but as the new concrete approached the bridge at Aqua Caliente Creek, a problem emerged. The narrow bridge could not accommodate a pedestrian walkway, and the county could not get the details of the issue worked out with CalTrans, so progress came to a halt and the new stretch of sidewalk ended abruptly with an unceremonious ramp of asphalt. The stretch of highway from the end of the new sidewalk over the Aqua Caliente Creek Bridge became known as Phase IB.
With the creation of the Redevelopment Advisory Committee (RAC) four years ago, residents found a voice for the frustration of the stalled project, but the answers still didn’t come easily. In public meetings, various county staffers informed RAC members that in all likelihood, all of Phase II could be completed before Phase IB could be resolved. The RAC began focusing attention on Phase II, but found no more fertile ground for quick resolutions on the north end of the corridor. Month after month and year after year, the list of issues, reasons and excuses from the county and the state stacked up in front of us like an insurmountable hill of bureaucratic dirty laundry.
Fast-forwarding our story to July 2007, it seems that the hill of laundry is at long last beginning to seem surmountable. The county DTPW has a plan and it begins with sorting. The phases have been subdivided and now we will focus our attention on the newly formed Stage 1 of Phase II. Stage 1 of Phase II will run from Encinas Lane to West Thomson and is scheduled to begin construction next summer.
You read that right, folks. Though I will remain cautiously optimistic until I see the construction crews begin work, it looks as though there might actually be light at the end of the Highway 12 corridor.
As I write, county staff is working to acquire the temporary construction and permanent road easements needed for the project. There are 41 parcels in Stage 1 of Phase II that require owner permission to proceed. As of July 24, 14 easement agreements had been signed, 18 offers were pending and the remaining 9 were to be issued shortly. The county plans to advertise for construction bids in early spring 2008, with construction to start shortly thereafter, but this schedule can be affected by acquisition delays. This being said, if you or someone you know has property that fronts Highway 12, for the benefit of your community, please act quickly to settle your agreements.
While Stage 1 of Phase II plans are finished and construction begins next year, we will turn our attention to Stage 2 of Phase II, which will finish the corridor, picking up at Thomson and running to Aqua Caliente.
Buck up, Springs campers. Sidewalks, curbs and lighting are on the way, one stage, one phase and one parcel at a time.
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