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Caltrans project manager updates MCOG on Willits downtown streetscape; right-of-way and maintenance for landscaping remain unresolved
Summary
Caltrans project manager Katie Everett told the MCOG board the Willits downtown streetscape project is approaching the bid phase and that one property agreement and landscaping maintenance remain unresolved.
Caltrans project manager Katie Everett briefed the Mendocino Council of Governments on the Willits Downtown Streetscape Enhancement Project, an Active Transportation Program (ATP) and STEP-funded effort intended to reduce conflicts between motorized and nonmotorized users.
Everett said the project is in final project plans/specifications development with an anticipated "ready to list" (bid) date in February 2026 and construction expected in 2026 and 2027. Right-of-way work is ongoing: Caltrans reported agreements with all but one property owner are in place; the remaining property is the subject of continued outreach.
The final project design includes a two-way left-turn lane, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, mid-block crosswalks with pedestrian-activated flashing beacons, a left-turn pocket at Ocean Drive, radar feedback signs and drainage improvements. Project iterations removed informal on-street parking within state right-of-way after guidance that such parking would not be approved by the California Coastal Commission.
Landscaping requests — two small public planting areas identified in the plan — are not standard under Caltrans' highway design manual. Everett said any landscaping within the state right-of-way would require a landscape maintenance agreement or similar maintenance arrangement (typically with a city or county signatory). If a maintenance agreement is not secured, Caltrans would plant a native seeding mix approved by resource agencies as a lower-maintenance alternative.
Board members asked whether grants could fund landscaping installation; Caltrans replied grant timelines would likely not align with the project's construction schedule and that installation funding would not solve the maintenance requirement. Everett said Caltrans and Mendocino County staff continue conversations with county planning and supervisors on how to address ongoing maintenance responsibilities and potential local funding mechanisms.
