Senate approves interim Highway 37 resilience authorization after extended debate over scope and mitigation

Senate Bill 697, presented Sept. 5 by Senator Wilson and discussed at length on the floor, authorizes incidental take for four species as part of an interim project on State Highway 37 designed to make the corridor resilient to near-term sea-level rise while the state continues work toward a longer-term elevated-causeway solution. Senator Wilson described Highway 37 as a vital regional corridor linking Solano, Sonoma and Marin counties, emphasizing both the scenic value of the route and its importance to essential workers commuting across the North Bay.

Wilson said the interim half‑billion-dollar project is an essential step — and that the incidental-take permit and mitigation obligations required by the bill will apply whether the interim or the longer-term project moves forward. He noted the elevated…