Caltrans presents conceptual Complete Streets plan for State Route 32; council raises design and downtown concerns

Caltrans presented a conceptual Complete Streets plan for State Route 32 through Orland during the council meeting on Feb. 18. The presentation covered proposed bike lanes, sidewalk gap closures, curb ramp and crosswalk work and drainage improvements through the downtown corridor.

Caltrans’ schematic showed a corridor with bike lanes (initially one direction in some segments, expanding to both sides in others), new sidewalk connections in gap areas and some curb “bulb-outs” intended to shorten pedestrian crossings. The plan also includes transit stop locations and a proposed storm-drain trunk line through downtown to address existing drainage problems.

City staff said the Caltrans concept is at an early, high-level phase: it is a planning layout rather than final design. Staff noted GHD prepared a traffic analysis for the city and that Caltrans is reviewing that analysis as it refines its concepts. Caltrans indicated the short-term “grind-and-overlay” maintenance work is separate from the full Complete Streets project; the larger Complete Streets construction is scheduled later in the planning horizon (conceptually around 2029–2030) and could take multiple years.

Council and public reaction emphasized three main concerns:

- Local streetscape detail: several council members and residents said the Caltrans layouts lacked the detail and character of the city’s existing streetscape master plan and asked for stronger incorporation of local design features (street trees, decorative paving and furnishings).

- Parking and business impacts: downtown business owners and commenters worried conceptual parking changes — including proposed parking removal on south-facing curb segments — would harm downtown businesses. Business owners asked the city to press Caltrans to balance bike/pedestrian improvements with customer parking needs.

- Drainage and safety: residents reiterated problems with existing storm drainage and urged that Caltrans’ plan include suitable drainage fixes, pedestrian safety features and improvements at key intersections such as the Dutch Brothers area where previous analyses had raised pedestrian-vehicle conflicts.

Council direction

Councilors expressed dissatisfaction with the schematic’s current level of detail and asked staff to push Caltrans for a design that better incorporates Orland’s streetscape plan. Staff suggested pursuing additional consultant work or grant-writing support to advance an enhanced design that could be bundled with Caltrans funding. Staff noted larger federal/state “build” grants are very competitive, and that Live Oak’s previous project benefited from a much larger federal grant and different right-of-way conditions.

Timing

Caltrans staff described this phase as preliminary. A near-term maintenance project (grind and overlay) is slated for about 2026; the Complete Streets construction would likely come later and could span multiple years depending on funding and right-of-way work.

Public comment

Residents urged the city to push for a design that keeps small downtown businesses viable, to press Caltrans for improved drainage and pedestrian safety measures, and to pursue grant funding and experienced design teams to get more robust streetscape outcomes.

Next steps

Council asked staff to return with options for pursuing stronger design input, including soliciting visioning or design consultant proposals, and to coordinate further comments to Caltrans on the conceptual plan.