To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Public Infrastructure
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2550
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fourth
Title:
Title
Agreements with Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District to fund design and construction of the Old Redwood Highway at Eastside Road Project (County Project C26208)
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution to:
A) Authorize the Director of Public Infrastructure (SPI) to execute Funding Agreements with Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART), in a form approved by County Counsel, for payments of amounts not to exceed $4,600,000, for SMART to design and construct the Old Redwood Highway at Eastside Road Project (C26208).
B) Authorize the Director of SPI to approve the plans and specifications, and take other actions required for project completion.
C) Making findings as a responsible agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, direct the filing of a Notice of Determination, and approve the Project.
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Public Infrastructure (SPI) requests that the Board approve and authorize the Director of Public Infrastructure to execute funding agreements with the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART), in a form approved by County Counsel, for a total amount not to exceed $4,600,000 for SMART to design and construct the Old Redwood Highway at Eastside Road Project (C26208). SPI also requests that the Board authorize the Director of Public Infrastructure to approve project plans and specifications and take all actions necessary to complete the project. Lastly, SPI requests that the Board makes CEQA findings as a responsible agency and approve the project.
Discussion:
As part of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) planned extension of service to Healdsburg, SMART is planning to replace an aging and narrow railroad overcrossing at the intersection of Old Redwood Highway and Eastside Road. The existing structure creates operational and safety constraints, and the existing roadway beneath the rail bridge has no shoulders and provides limited accommodation for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Replacing the bridge creates the opportunity to widen Old Redwood Highway at Eastside Road and improve multimodal access and roadway safety. If approved, the proposed funding agreements with SMART will fund design and improvements to Old Redwood Highway including construction of two 5-foot bicycle lanes and two 3-foot buffer areas separating bicycle and vehicle traffic. The project will also include bicycle lane signing and striping and will improve sight distance at an adjacent three way intersection through roadway widening.
Incorporating County roadway improvements into SMART's existing Progressive Design-Build contract for the bridge will reduce overall project costs and streamline project delivery by leveraging efficiencies associated with the Progressive Design-Build method. Under this delivery model, a single entity is responsible for both design and construction, reducing coordination challenges and accelerating implementation. SMART has competitively procured a contract with Stacy and Witbeck, Inc. in accordance with applicable State and Federal procurement requirements, and SPI has negotiated with SMART to include the County's roadway improvements within SMART's contract.
Environmental review for the project has been completed by SMART pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). SMART certified an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (State Clearinghouse No. 2002112033) in July 2006 for approximately 70 miles of rail corridor between Cloverdale and Larkspur. To address modifications associated with the rail extension project, including the County's Old Redwood Highway at Eastside Road improvements, SMART prepared an Addendum to the certified EIR. The SMART Board approved the Addendum on December 17, 2025, and determined that no subsequent or supplemental environmental review was required.
Under the current facts, 14 CCR 15253 requires that the County, as a responsible agency, rely on the EIR and Addendum for CEQA review for approval of funding for the project, absent circumstances in 14 CCR 15162 that are not present. Prior to reaching its funding decision, the Board reviews and considers the information contained in the EIR and Addendum, and the exhibits and appendices thereto, which are attached to this item, and the Board considers the environmental effects of the project. The Board then reaches its own independent conclusions on whether and under what conditions to approve funding for the project. The attached resolution provides responsible agency findings for the Board, provides concurrence in SMART’s findings of the EIR and Addendum with respect to mitigation measures, alternatives, and environmental effects, and further provides findings that the project, as mitigated, will have no significant environmental impacts. The resolution also directs the SPI to file with the County Clerk and the Office of Planning and Research a Notice of Determination pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21152.
SPI is requesting Board approval authorizing the Director of Public Infrastructure (SPI) to execute funding agreements with SMART, in form approved by County Counsel, for payment of an amount not to exceed $4,600,000, which includes design, environmental permitting, construction, and construction inspection for the project. If approved, the Director of Public Infrastructure will also be authorized to approve the project plans and specifications and take other actions necessary to complete the project.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal: Goal 3: Continue to invest in critical road, bridge, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure.
Objective: Objective 3: Invest $5 million by 2024 on new pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and adopt maintenance guidelines on roads to consider bicyclists and pedestrians.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
None.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$4,600,000 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$4,600,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$3,329,000 |
|
|
|
Fees/Other (Countywide Mitigation Funds) |
$1,271,000 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$4,600,000 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Appropriations for this project are included in the FY 2026-27 Roads Capital (11051-34010103) Adopted Budget. Appropriations for expenditures in future fiscal years will be included in subsequent Roads Capital Recommended Budgets.
The total estimated project cost is $4,600,000. Of this amount, $1,271,000 will be funded through the Countywide Mitigation Fund, with the remaining $3,329,000 funded through traditional Road funding sources, including the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (SB1).
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
Resolution
2006 EIR
2025 Addendum
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.