The first phase of improving pedestrian safety at Sonoma Valley’s most dangerous intersection is in place with the installation of solar street lights at two of the four corners of the Verano Avenue/Sonoma Highway intersection.
After numerous accidents over the years and three pedestrian deaths since 2020, Caltrans – the state agency responsible for highway safety – developed a plan to make passage safer for pedestrians accessing two nearby shopping centers, fast food outlets, two major bus stops, and Maxwell Park.
One element of the plan is better curbside lighting. City of Sonoma Public Works Streets Division, along with Sonoma County Public Infrastructure and the Sonoma County Water Agency, placed the light poles at the northwest and southeast corners of the intersection.
As part of its long-term safety improvement plan, Caltrans is slated to replace the temporary poles with permanent fixtures.
Another strategy is modifying the timing of the traffic lights at the intersection, as recommended by traffic experts. This adjustment introduces an “all phase” pedestrian timing scheme.
Under this setup, whenever a pedestrian triggers the pedestrian signal, all vehicular movement will come to a stop through red lights.
To complement the standard signals, Caltrans will also put in place electronic signs that read “No Right on Red,” aiming to prohibit right turns once the pedestrian signal becomes active.
Write some tickets . Speed , following close and red light running .