Sonoma City public works outlines Ghost Sonoma bike-and-pedestrian improvements, $1.6 million grant

The Sonoma City Climate Action Commission heard a presentation from Public Works Director Mike Berger on the Ghost Sonoma citywide bicycle and pedestrian improvements project, including funding, design status and a tentative construction timetable. Berger said the city received a competitive grant of $1,600,000 through the Sonoma County Transportation Authority as part of the Go Sonoma funding program, and the design contract with consultant GHD is for $380,000. He said the consultant’s 65% design submittal has been received and the next steps are city comments, revisions and a move to 90% design.

The update matters because the project implements elements of the city’s recently updated Active Transportation Plan and includes several safety and accessibility improvements. Berger described project elements that target higher-volume crossings and school access, including raised crosswalks, flashing beacons (RRFBs), new pedestrian ramps, a pedestrian refuge at Studley and Fifth Street West (near the Safeway), and a Class I trail connecting the rear of Sassarini School to the existing trail network.

“The contract was awarded to our consultant engineering firm, GHD, in September,” Berger said. “Currently, we just received the 65% design submittal and the next steps are going to include comments from the city, possible revisions, and moving forward to a 90% design completion.” He also noted the funding gap: “The first opinion of probable cost for the project that we got was $2,900,000. And then when you add in $350,000 for construction management, that comes up to $3,300,000.”

Berger summarized how the project would be paid for: $1,600,000 in SCTA competitive grant funds with a required 15% match; the city is seeking scope revisions with Sonoma County to reduce costs so the grant covers a larger share. Clarifying figures Berger gave: design contract $380,000; initial engineer’s estimate $2,900,000; construction management allowance $350,000; total program estimate about $3,300,000. He told commissioners staff is working to reduce scope and identify other funding to improve the grant coverage percentage.

Project features described in the presentation include raised crosswalks (one planned at Unipercera Drive), flashing beacons at multiple higher-volume trail crossings, new ramps and crosswalks at Seventh Street West and West Main Street, a pedestrian refuge and RRFB at Studley and Fifth Street West (near Safeway), and a Class I separated trail behind Sassarini School that runs between the school fence and the creek to adjacent solar panels. Berger cautioned that more expensive treatments such as raised concrete crosswalks will be used selectively because of cost and operational concerns.

Commissioners pressed Berger on the raised crosswalk design and location criteria. Commissioner McCloskey asked what a raised crosswalk would look like; Berger compared it to previously installed speed tables and said the feature would likely be a raised concrete table spanning the crosswalk width, designed to slow vehicles. On why a raised table is proposed at Unipercera but not at other crossings, Berger said site selection is driven by traffic characteristics: “the traffic on Unipercera tends to go faster than Joaquin or Robinson,” and cost considerations — he cited an engineer’s estimate of about $213,000 for a raised table — plus concerns from emergency responders who prefer limited use of vertical traffic calming that may slow response times. Berger also noted Traffic Safety Committee guidance and a draft traffic calming handbook are informing where such measures are or are not recommended (for example, generally not on collectors or arterials).

Commissioners discussed how the Climate Action Commission and resident groups can support implementation. Vice Chair Conlon and other commissioners offered ad hoc support for outreach, grant assistance and public education while acknowledging the distinction between city-approved projects and resident-led initiatives. Berger identified public works staff points of contact for the next competitive Go Sonoma grant cycle: project manager Ashley Cotter and other public works staff who attend Sonoma County Transportation Authority meetings.

On schedule, Berger said staff aims to complete plan, specifications and estimate and to put the project out to bid possibly before the end of the year; if that occurs, construction could begin the following summer under a single contract for all elements. “That could happen before the end of the year. If that does happen, we’re looking at constructing next summer,” Berger said. He added that budget shortfalls or scope changes could delay the work.

No formal action or vote on the Ghost Sonoma plan or funding was taken by the commission at the meeting. Commissioners and staff agreed to continue coordination, to review Traffic Safety Committee guidance on traffic calming, and to route questions or offers of partnership to Jessica, Ashley Cotter or Jacob (public works/staff contact) for follow-up. Berger directed people who want to help on future grant rounds or community outreach to contact Ashley Cotter, the project manager who is attending SCTA meetings. The presentation included links and a map for project updates that Berger said will be posted on the city’s project pages.

Next steps Berger outlined: city comment and 90% design completion, scope-reduction conversations with Sonoma County to improve grant coverage, final plans/specs/estimate to bid, and conditional construction in summer if bids and budget permit. Staff also said they will coordinate with police and fire on locations of vertical traffic calming before final designs are approved.

Votes at the meeting’s opening were procedural and recorded separately: the commission unanimously approved the evening’s agenda and the consent calendar (minutes). Those votes were not specific approvals of the Ghost Sonoma project.