Caltrans to address Verano/Highway 12 intersection at next Springs Municipal Advisory Council meeting

After three pedestrian deaths in three years at the intersection of Highway 12 and Verano Avenue, Caltrans and Sonoma County Public Infrastructure will make reports about the dangerous roadway during the next Springs Municipal Advisory Council meeting on April 12. The public is welcome to attend, in person or online, or submit comments for consideration.

SMAC-Agenda-04122023-REV.pdf

Community members have long lamented that the high-traffic corner is dangerous and should be equipped with more safety features. Public officials have said it’s a challenging area for infrastructure, as Highway 12 is managed by the state while Verano Avenue is a county road.

On Jan. 16, 36-year-old Julio Estrada, of Santa Rosa, was killed while he walked a dog through the crosswalk at the Springs intersection. In response Sonoma County Public Infrastructure officials added buckets filled with bright orange traffic flags, which pedestrians were meant to wave as they crossed to provide better visibility for cars. Most of the flags were stolen in the first week, and as of March 31, the buckets had been removed as well.

Two other pedestrians were struck and killed around the Verano-Highway 12 intersection in the past three years, in addition to multiple serious but non-fatal accidents.

During the meeting, a Caltrans representative will also discuss the Adopt a Highway Program and on the Caltrans Transportation Art Proposal Program. The Springs MAC will consider an ad hoc committee for the proposed Utility Box Art Project, which could allow artists to transform the utilitarian infrastructure into works of art.

Community members are invited to weigh in on the agenda items during public comment. Written comments can be submitted ahead of the meeting by emailing Karina.Garcia@sonoma-county.org. They must include the agenda date and item number/topic in the subject. Comments will be shared with the council and included in the meeting material. Public comments will also be accepted in real time at the meeting both in person and via Zoom.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sonoma Valley Union School District boardroom, located at 17850 Railroad Ave., Sonoma. Visit sonomacounty.ca.gov/springs-mac for instructions on how to join via Zoom.

You can reach Staff Writer Rebecca Wolff at rebecca.wolff@sonomanews.com. On Twitter @bexwolff.