The question: In the “California’s Rules of the Road” bicyclists are to follow the same rules of the road as motor vehicles. I understand some communities allow bicycles on sidewalks, but does the law allow them the right-of- way in the crosswalks as well?

Many near misses have occurred as a bike speeds across a crosswalk. Drivers have warning when a pedestrian steps into a crosswalk but not as much with a bike. The uncertainty of what a bicyclist is going to do leaves driver and cyclist in peril. — Janet Lowy

The answer: Just because a behavior is allowed does not mean it is safe or even a good idea. The sidewalk issue is a bit cloudy since people of all ages can ride bicycles.

For example, parents might be nervous about allowing a 6-year-old to ride in the street, but it is still more dangerous (to ride on the sidewalk) than riding in the road. The danger is cars backing out of driveways that do not expect a fast moving kid on a bicycle. With the exception of major arterial roads, it’s safer for kids (and everyone else) to ride on the street.

The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition feels the safest way for people to enjoy the road on a bicycle is to behave like a vehicle, not a pedestrian. This means that if people riding bicycles use a crosswalk, they need get off their bikes and become pedestrians. We also recommend that even if riding on the sidewalk is allowed, people walk their bikes rather than ride them. — Gary Helfrich, Executive Director, Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition

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Steve Mosher wrote in to ask about a lot near the Airport Boulevard freeway exchange that was so full of weeds he could barely walk past them on the sidewalk. He said last year mowing crews never visited the parcel, which runs from the Chevron Station to the U.S. 101 southbound on ramp.

“This year nothing except for the trees they cut down nearby,” Mosher said. “The stickers and even the ticks are a nuisance. Some folks have gotten ticks on themselves and their dogs, plus it is now a fire hazard. Can you get someone to mow that section please?”

Tom O’Kane, deputy director of the county’s Department of Transportation and Public Works, knew the location and described it as a kind of “no person’s” land that falls between jurisdictions. “The area is most likely within the limits of the U.S. 101/Airport interchange project,” he said, adding that “the writer is correct. The weeds encroach onto the sidewalk.”

Two days later he reported that the Caltrans maintenance officer was very responsive to his request for service. In two more days, Mosher reported a happy ending: “They mowed it! Thank you very much!”

There are two ways to report similar problems with Sonoma County roads. Send an email from THIS LINK on Sonoma County’s website, or call the county’s Road Maintenance Division at 565-5100.

She described the scene as “A LOT of car carrier trailers, new cars with car covers, cameras, CHP stopping traffic. Expect delays here, out to the coast.”

Guerneville Towns Correspondent Stephen Gross was on the road this morning and had this to say about 11:15 a.m.:

“Yes it is true. Traffic was stopped and apparently it no longer is, because after a five-minute delay at Duncans Mills the CHP allowed me to continue east on Hwy 116. They told me it was indeed a car commercial but were not inclined to share details. The road was opened to westbound traffic at that time, too.”

Update: CHP Officer Jon Sloat confirmed that photographers were shooting a car ad Wednesday on Highway 116 at Monte Cristo.

What’s up with the sign?

The question: What is with the electronic sign in Rohnert Park on NB 101 that states to turn Radio to 840 AM? It was on for a week, no message is on 840 AM.

The answer: Caltrans’ electricians were testing the sign.  In the future Caltrans will use the Highway Advisory Radio for construction projects on U.S. 101, but for the test, there was no corresponding radio broadcast, said Allyn Amsk, Caltrans public information officer. Watch for it to go live soon as construction begins on the Airport Boulevard interchange north of Santa Rosa and work heats up on the widening project in Petaluma.

Why is the median off-kilter?

The question: I understand the reasons for the cable divider on the median of Hwy 101 in Ukiah.  But every time I drive that route I am wondering why was it placed so off-center?  I really am not OCD, just curious. – Harry Martin

The answer: The cable median barrier was placed off-center so that it would not interfere with the drainage in the median, or with any future work to maintain or improve the drainage in the median. — Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie, Jr.

Soundoff: Why not restripe Lakeville (Hwy. 116)?

Petaluma’s getting pretty tough to get around. D street closed at Lakeville, the bridge thing, and of course the horrors of the Washington overpass and environs. One thing that could improve one thing: Westbound Lakeville narrows to one lane under 101 now until sometime in 2014 per the signage. At 5 pm, the backup extends out to McDowell.

A major improvement would be to restripe the lanes back to Marina such that the right lane is “exit only” for 101 North. That will solve some of the jam-up as drivers in the left lane realize at the last minute they need to merge right. Restripe, and by all means provide good signage – there isn’t any right now until you’re already in the soup. Put signs further back, please! — Mike

As part of a weekly Monday through Friday special enforcement program, Officer Jeff Adams says officers particularly will be looking for drivers not wearing seat belts, who are illegally using cellphones, are speeding, running red lights or committing lane violations.

Each week, the officers pick one of the city’s top 25 collision-troubled intersections to monitor.

To read about the city’s other top intersections for collisions, CLICK HERE.

The question: I’d like to learn about the change in the way the golden gate bridge toll is handled now that cash is no longer accepted. One specific question I’d to know about is what are travelers supposed to do?  I’ve family coming up from LA and will be taking the “scenic” 101 route.  Will they have to buy a fast pass some how? – Stephen Kirschenmann

The answer: They have two choices: paying once they return home or making a one-time payment while they’re visiting. The first is the easiest.

Cameras on the bridge photograph license plates and can use them to find mailing addresses, even for people driving rental cars. Invoices are mailed four or more days after people cross the bridge, failure to pay the $6 toll will result in a $25 penalty and other sanctions.

One-time payments can be made online, by phone or in person up to 30 days beforehand or within 48 hours after they cross the bridge. During week days or from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, your guests can call (877) BAY-TOLL or (415) 486-8655 to make a payment or visit the Bay Area FasTrak Customer Service Center at 475 The Embarcadero (at Broadway) in San Francisco.

If they’ve got cash, they can visit the self-serve kiosks at RD Wireless, 585 Barham Ave. in Santa Rosa, the Golden Gate Bridge Round House or dozens of other places around the Bay. Click HERE for a map with those locations. Or they can make an online credit card payment by clicking HERE.

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Follow the Road Warrior on Twitter at @PDRoadWarrior.

Send questions to Linda.Castrone@pressdemocrat.com, with Road Warrior in the subject line.

The answer:  No, at least in Santa Rosa, because the color contrast and fonts of the letters and numbers, which confuse the machines. Janet Reisner, supervising parking enforcement officer, says the vendor that created the plate reader system reports that it might be possible to modify the system to read the older plates, but they didn’t see it as a necessary feature because of the small number of old plates out there.

And even so, having a classic plate isn’t a get-off-free card for parking scofflaws who overstay timelimits, Reisner said, because the city’s parking enforcement system has multiple methods of identifying cars, including a laser-based device that recognizes vehicles by their size, shape, and color.

In any case, the human officer operating the system can easily do manual checks on the license plates if the machines don’t read them correctly. The officers are accustomed to having to double check all the machines they use, since even the sophisticated laser system sometimes has trouble distinguishing between cars of similar shapes and colors, so checking manually on classic car plates that don’t read properly isn’t a major distraction.

The state is now considering issuing reproductions of those classic plates and the Department of Motor Vehicles says they will meet modern standards, including using easy-to-read reflective characters.

Reisner said the city has not heard whether the reproduction plates will be easily machine readable, but if not, the creators of the system “can tweak that – they’re very smart.”

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Follow the Road Warrior on Twitter at @PDRoadWarrior. Send questions to Linda.Castrone@pressdemocrat.com, Subject: Road Warrior.

“I commute from Marin to Santa Rosa 4 days a week and regularly drive in other high traffic areas around the Bay Area,” Lisa writes. “This problem is isn’t completely unique to Sonoma County, but i see it here a whole lot more than other areas.” 

She passes along this Facebook post that lays out the problem and includes a little easy to understand instructional material.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re going the speed limit. You may feel like you’re doing the right thing by slowing a speeder down, or you may feel it’s your right to drive in any lane you darn well please. It’s not. You are breaking the law.

“If a faster driver comes up behind you and begs you to move over, you should. But you don’t. Now cars start lining up behind both of you. In some cases you actually slow down ON PURPOSE.  Now there’s four or five vehicles lining up behind you and the sixth vehicle back finally jets across two lanes of traffic to go around not only you and the cars behind you. Note that he used the ‘SLOW’ lane to do this in.

“Move over. Don’t cause traffic jams and contribute to road rage. Please share.”

A rafter of wild turkeys spotted in the heart of Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

We’ve got the perfect environment for wild turkeys in Sonoma County, with enough open grasslands and rolling oak woodlands to support thousands. So with all that available habitat, why do they wander into parks, backyards and even onto highways? At least two Road Warrior readers have encountered them on the asphalt.

Wildlife officials describe wild turkeys as highly tolerant of humans, adding that they have moved into places they clearly don’t belong because their numbers have grown. Turkeys usually keep themselves busy eating bugs, but during the spring they’re also mating, hatching poults and generally enjoying the good life.

We like that kind of thing here in Sonoma County. Just ask Andrew Smith of Santa Rosa, who writes:

“On Friday afternoon after a day of golf at Bennett Valley Golf Course, I drove home on Yulupa to Bethards towards Summerfield Drive. After turning left on Summerfield towards Montgomery Drive, the traffic comes to a halt in both directions.

“There is no crosswalk, I cannot see anyone crossing the street or someone riding a bicycle. So then the traffic starts up, and as I pass the place where the cars stopped, a group of wild, grown turkeys had crossed the street. People were patient and courteous to these turkeys. No complaints or horn honking.

“Now only if drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians acted this way, many of the issues on the road would go away.“

 Mark Heydon of Tomales approaches the subject from another perspective. He asks: “Is a driver under any legal obligation to avoid wild life, specifically turkeys, crossing a road in front of him/her?”

CHP Officer Jon Sloat provides the answer: “A driver is under no legal obligation to avoid wildlife. However, size is a factor you have to take into account when deciding to hit or take evasive action. I saw a turkey hit on the freeway last week. Exploded like a feather bomb.”

There’s something else about wild turkeys that might make Road Warriors curious. Turkeys can run at speeds up to 25 mph and fly at up to 55 mph. So if they’re flying full speed down a street with a 35 mph speed limit, can they be ticketed?

Still want more? These facts come from the National Wild Turkey Federation:

* Turkeys usually feed in early morning and in the afternoon.

* Turkeys have excellent vision during the day but don’t see as well at night.

* When mating season arrives between February and April, courtship usually begins while turkeys are still flocked together in wintering areas.

* After mating, the hens begin searching for a nest site and laying eggs. In most areas, nests can be found in a shallow dirt depression, surrounded by moderately woody vegetation that conceals the nest.

* Hens lay a clutch of 10 to 12 eggs during a two-week period, usually laying one egg per day. She will incubate her eggs for about 28 days, occasionally turning and rearranging them until they are ready to hatch.

* A newly-hatched flock must be ready to leave the nest within 12 to 24 hours to feed. Poults eat insects, berries and seeds, while adults will eat anything from acorns and berries to insects and small reptiles.

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Follow the Road Warrior on Twitter at @PDRoadWarrior. Send questions to Linda.Castrone@pressdemocrat.com, Subject: Road Warrior.

“I’ve seen him swerving and coming over blind sections in the wrong lane,” Robert writes. “So far I have not been able to call the police before he parks at his house. When I do call 911, they tell me that there’s not much they can do if he isn’t in the vehicle anymore. “Yesterday it was so bad, he could have easily killed a bicyclist or pedestrian. Is there anything I can do?”

If Robert lives in Sonoma County, CHP Officer Jonathan Sloat recommends offering to make a citizens arrest.

“If this person is in our jurisdiction and calling 911, they should give all of the pertinent information and inform the dispatcher that they will perform a citizens arrest once an officer arrives on scene,” Sloat said. “This allows the officer to detain the offender and have them perform sobriety tests.

“However, it also means that the witness will be required to attend court proceedings to testify to his observations, otherwise the case could be dropped.”

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Follow the Road Warrior on Twitter at @PDRoadWarrior. Send questions to Linda.Castrone@pressdemocrat.com, and write Road Warrior in the subject line.

As part of a weekly Monday through Friday special enforcement program, Officer Jeff Adams says officers particularly will be looking for drivers not wearing seat belts, who are illegally using cellphones, are speeding, running red lights or committing lane violations.

Each week, the officers pick one of the city’s top 25 collision-troubled intersections to monitor.

To read about the city’s other top intersections for collisions, CLICK HERE.

Crews will continue to work on sewer systems around Montgomery Village in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)

Updated May 6 with road projects throughout Sonoma County.

Watch for road closures and detours in Petaluma as work heats up on the Highway 101 widening project. Here’s the latest information about it and other road construction projects throughout the North Coast during the week of May 5-10.

Petaluma

State Route 116 will be closed Tuesday through Friday while portions of the southbound U.S. 101 bridge are demolished. Hours are 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday nights and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday night. Traffic will be detoured to Caulfield Lane and South McDowell Boulevard.

As construction begins on the Old Redwood Highway Interchange Improvement project, northbound and southbound lanes on U.S. 101 will be closed from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Northbound off and on-ramps will be closed Monday night while the roadway is restriped. Similar work will cause the southbound on and off-ramps to close Tuesday night.

The second part of the city’s Petaluma Boulevard South “Road Diet” work begins on Monday, May 6, with construction crews scheduled to install new traffic signal poles at Western and B streets. It’s part of a project that will reduce the number of lanes from four to two and add a middle turn lane between East Washington Street and D Street. City sources predict the project will take six weeks to complete, and warn drivers to expect occasional lane closures.

Santa Rosa

City crews continue working on water main construction surrounding Montgomery Village. Expect delays this week along Midway Drive between Farmers Lane and Hahman Drive, performed during daytime hours Monday through Thursday. (No construction work will be done on Friday to allow Mother’s Day shoppers to have full access to Montgomery Village stores.)

Crews also have closed the westbound lanes of Sonoma Avenue near Montgomery Village, funneling traffic into one lane each way.

Water main construction will take approximately two weeks and sewer main construction in this same area will directly follow. Streets impacted by the work include Midway, Magowan and Hahman drives, as well as Sonoma Avenue. See a map of the project and updates HERE.

Sonoma County

A crack seal crew will begin Tuesday and Wednesday on Bloomfield Road from Hwy. 116 west of Sebastopol to the end of the improved road section just beyond Tiller Lane, a private road. The length of the section is 1.3 miles. On Thursday the crew will move to Llano Road to fill cracks between Hwy. 12 and Todd Road, 2.27 miles. One lane traffic controls will be in place while crews are working these sections, beginning at 7:30 a.m. daily to 4 p.m.

Two other roads being prepped for chip seals this week include High School Road between Occidental and Sebastopol and Adobe Canyon Road in Kenwood. The Cotati crew will be grinding damaged asphalt and re-paving on High School Road near Analy High School, and Sonoma staff will be grinding and paving along Adobe Canyon from Hwy. 12 to the Sugarloaf Ridge State Park entrance. One lane traffic controls will be in effect daily on these routes.

The Bridge crew will continue work on Geysers Road this week building a retaining wall, and also a second crew will be on Dry Creek Road replacing the first of three failed culverts. The first culvert beginning today is located near the Wilson Winery on Dry Creek Road, followed by two others near the Coffaro Winery. Minor traffic delays are expected with one lane traffic controls.

Lastly, CDF crews are scheduled to assist with roadside brush removal if available on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both Delta Camp in Suisun and Konocti Camp in Lake County have sent strike teams to fight fires this past week. Brush removal is scheduled for Barnett Valley Road and Martinelli Road this week.

Humboldt County

Route 96 (27.0) – A project to build a retaining wall 0.5 mile south of Bluff Creek Road will continue.  One-way traffic control with temporary stop signs will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. of Walnut Creek.  LC#C96BA

Route 101 (43.3/46.2) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Barkdull Road Undercrossing Bridge to the Jordan Creek Bridge on Tuesday, May 7. Work hours are 7:30AM to 4:30PM.  Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel.  Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. LC#M101FA

Route 101 (78.6/78.8) – PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work from K Street southbound to G Street in Eureka on Thursday, May 9. Nighttime work hours are 3AM to 5AM. Southbound traffic will be restricted to two lanes.  Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. LC#P101IA

Route 254 (13.5/21.0) – Six Rivers Running Club of Arcata has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold the 42nd Annual Avenue of the Giants Marathon from Williams Grove to 0.2 mile north of Bull Creek Road on Sunday, May 5 from 7:30AM to 2:30PM.  During event hours this portion of Route 254 will be closed.  Motorists are advised to use an alternate route and may experience minor delays.  LC#P254CA

Route 299 (8.3/8.7) – Slide repairs from 1.0 to 1.5 miles east of SMT Road will continue.  Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate
5-minute delays.  Contractor – G R Sundberg, Inc. of Arcata.  LC#C299AA

Lake County

Route 20 (0.0/31.6) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Mendocino County line to the junction of Routes 20/53 beginning Tuesday, May 7.  Work hours are 8AM to 5PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  LC#M20DA

Route 20 (11.9/12.4) – Construction of a roundabout at the Route 20/Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road intersection will continue through Friday, May 3.  Work hours are 6AM to 6PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction, Incorporated, of Ukiah.  LC#C20AA

Route 53 (3.0/7.5) – Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue.  Work hours are 8PM Sunday evening though 3PM Friday afternoon, 24 hours per day.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.  LC#C53AA

Mendocino County

Route 1 (14.4/25.5) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Curley Lane to Mallo Pass Creek through Friday, May 3.  Work hours are 7AM to 4PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  LC#M1BA

Route 1 (33.4/33.9) – Replacement of the Greenwood Creek Bridge will continue.  One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Golden State Bridge, Incorporated, of Martinez.  LC#C1AA

Route 1 (37.3) – Slipout repairs 1.6 miles south of Navarro Bluff Road will continue.  One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Green Right O’Way Constructors of Willits.  LC#C1DA

Route 1 (42.5/44.4) – Bridge painting at the Salmon Creek Bridge and the Albion River Bridge will continue.  One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Jeffco Painting and Coating of Vallejo.  LC#C1EA

Route 1 (71.3/77.1) – Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Abalobadiah Creek to Pacific Avenue South will continue.  Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.  LC#C1EA

Route 1 (92.6/93.0) – Replacement of a culvert with a bridge at Dunn Creek will continue.    One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Shasta Construction of Redding.  LC#C1FA

Route 20 (5.9/32.1) – Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Road 350 to Willits Cemetery Road will continue.  Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.  LC#C20EA

Route 20 (7.0/17.3) – A pavement repair project from 1.4 miles west of Little Lake Road to Three Chop Road will continue.  Work hours are 7AM to 6PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.  Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.  LC#C20BA

Route 20 (33.2/44.1) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the southern junction of Routes 20/101 and the Lake County line beginning Tuesday, May 7.  Work hours are 8AM to 5PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  LC#M20DA

Route 20 (33.6) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the Russian River Overhead on Wednesday, May 8.  Work hours are 8AM to 4PM.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  LC#M20CA

Route 101 (4.5/5.0) – Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock).  Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.  LC#M101GA

Route 101 (9.0/12.9) – Destination Hopland has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold the Hopland Passport event from 0.2 mile south of East Side Road to 0.3 mile south of the CAL FIRE station on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, from 11AM to 5PM.  Brief intermittent closures will be in effect to allow for pedestrian crossing.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. LC#P101HA

Route 101 (10.7) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the Feliz Creek Bridge on Tuesday, May 7.  Work hours are 8AM to 4PM.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  LC#M101CA

Route 101 (26.2) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the North State Street Undercrossing on Monday, May 6.  Work hours are 1PM to 5PM.  Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane.  Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.  LC#M101CA

Route 101 (43.0/44.0) – Vegetation removal just south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue.  Work hours are 7AM to 6PM, Monday through Saturday.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  Contractor – DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin.  LC#C101CB

Route 101 (47.8/49.0) – Vegetation removal just south of the railroad crossing will continue.  Work hours are 7AM to 6PM, Monday through Saturday.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  Contractor – DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin.  LC#C101CB

Route 162 (0.0/28.9) – Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from the junction or Routes 101/162 to Eberle Street will continue.  Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.  LC#C162BA

Del Norte County

Route 101 (15.2/15.4) – Slipout repairs 1.5 miles north of Rudisill Road will continue.  One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor – CalEx of Newhall. LC#C101HB

Today’s question involves broad, multi-lane intersections. It’s followed by a list of the crosswalk violations most frequently seen in traffic court.

How much should we yield for pedestrians in a crosswalk?

The question: I was headed Southbound on B Street in Santa Rosa, waiting at the light to turn right on Third Street.  When the light turned green a pedestrian started into the crosswalk from the opposite side of the intersection, heading Northbound.  There was a line of cars behind me waiting to procede straight through the intersection and the pedestrian was seven lanes of traffic away from the lane I was turning into, a safe distance.  Am I required to wait until the pedestrian has crossed the street or can I turn right as long as I’m not endangering them?

How does this apply to the lighted crosswalks like those on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa or Washington Street in Petaluma?  After the pedestrian has crossed my lanes of the road can I proceed before they’ve finished crossing the street?  Do I have to wait until the lights stop flashing or just until the pedestrians have crossed the street? - George 

The answer: Yes, your reader can proceed before the pedestrian crosses the street as long as the driver of a vehicle does not impede the stride of the pedestrian.  Another way to state it: if the ped is walking a normal pace across the crosswalk and he does not feel the need to brake or slow his stride because of your turn, then you are allowed to proceed.  Now, we all know some peds are braver than others, so there is some subjectivity to this interpretation. The second question is also yes, you may proceed after the ped crosses your pass as long as you do not endanger their safety.  – Sgt. Mike Numainville, Santa Rosa Police Department, Traffic Bureau

Most common crosswalk tickets

Commissioner Lawrence Ornell of the Sonoma County Traffic Court picks out these violations as the ones most likely to end up in his courtroom:

The most common one I see – Driver must yield right-of-way at crosswalk except as otherwise provided (Veh.C. 21950(a)].

The second most common — When vehicle is stopped at crosswalk for pedestrian, vehicle approaching from rear may not overtake and pass [(b) Veh.C. 21951].

This is number 3 – Driver approaching pedestrian in crosswalk must exercise due care and reduce speed or take other action necessary to protect pedestrian’s safety [Veh.C. 21950(c)]

Most common pedestrian ticket I see – Pedestrian may not cross roadway between adjacent intersections controlled by signal devices or police officers, except in crosswalk [(d) Veh.C. 21955 ]

I haven’t seen this one yet — Although it is unlawful for a person to ski or toboggan on or across a roadway in such a manner as to interfere with the movement of vehicles, a person skiing across a highway at a speed no greater than a walk has the rights of a pedestrian. [Veh.C. 21959]

The rest of the Vehicle Code as it pertains to Pedestrian’s Rights.

(c) Veh.C. 21952 [driver crossing or on sidewalk must yield to approaching pedestrian].

(d) Veh.C. 21970(a) [person may not stop vehicle unnecessarily in manner that blocks marked or unmarked crosswalk or sidewalk].

Pedestrian’s Duties and Restrictions. The Vehicle Code specifies various duties of pedestrians.

(a) Veh.C. 21950(b) [pedestrian may not enter path of vehicle so close as to constitute immediate hazard or unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in crosswalk]; Veh.C. 21950(d) [Veh.C. 21950(b) does not relieve driver from duty to exercise due care for safety of pedestrians within marked crosswalk or within unmarked crosswalk at intersection].

(b) Veh.C. 21953 [pedestrian must yield right-of-way to vehicles when crossing roadway by means other than available tunnel or overhead crossing].

(c) Veh.C. 21954(a) [pedestrian must yield right-of-way to vehicles so near as to constitute immediate hazard when on roadway at point other than crosswalk]. (People v. Ramirez (2006) 140 C.A.4th 849, 852, 44 C.R.3d 813 [defendant who crossed intersection diagonally, outside of crosswalk, did not violate Veh.C. 21954(a); defendant did not fail to yield right-of-way or create immediate hazard to others on road].)

(e) Veh.C. 21956(a) [pedestrian may not walk on roadway outside of business or residence district except close to pedestrian's left-hand edge]; Veh.C. 21956(b) [pedestrian may walk close to pedestrian's right-hand edge of roadway if crosswalk or other means of safely crossing roadway is unavailable or if traffic or other conditions would compromise safety of pedestrian attempting to cross road].

(f) Veh.C. 21957 [pedestrian may not stand in roadway to solicit ride (hitchhiking)].

(g) Veh.C. 21960 [Department of Transportation or local authorities may prohibit or restrict pedestrian use of freeways].

(h) Veh.C. 21961 [local authorities may adopt ordinances prohibiting crossing roadways at other than crosswalks].

(i) Veh.C. 21966 [pedestrian may not walk on bicycle path when there is adjacent adequate pedestrian facility].

(k) Veh.C. 21450 et seq. [pedestrians' duty to obey traffic signals].

(l) Veh.C. 22451 [pedestrians have same duties as drivers at railroad grade crossings when train is approaching or crossing gate is closed]. 

Still want more? 

Read an earlier Road Warrior post answering the question, “Do you have to wait until the pedestrian is all of the way across and on the sidewalk? Or can you drive on when the pedestrian is no longer at risk from being hit by your car?” by clicking HERE.

Take a look at what is planned for the project that will be with us until late 2014, when the newly designed Airport Boulevard exit will include a new five-lane bridge across Highway 101, a sidewalk for pedestrians and Class II bike lanes. The Fulton Road exit will disappear, and sound walls will be built in Windsor.

For more details and larger images, visit dot.ca.gov/dist4/101airportblvd/index.html.

The $28.7 million project will include: 

- Closing the Fulton Road northbound on-ramp will take place on June 3, detouring traffic to Airport Boulevard via Fulton Road;

- Constructing the new northbound Airport Boulevard off-ramp;

- Constructing the new southbound Airport Boulevard on-ramp;

- Constructing the new Airport Boulevard Overcrossing;

- Building soundwalls in Windsor between Shiloh Road and Windsor River Road (starting with Soundwall #4, located in front of the Windsor Mobile Country Club community).

“I know it is illegal to feed other people’s meters, but is it legal in Santa Rosa to put more money in your own parking meter?” Arielle asked. “Is it legal to put more change into the meter when it is about to run out allowing you to park for more than 2 hours theoretically? By the same token, since with the parking kiosks you can only pay for a maximum of 2 hours, can you go buy another slip when the time expires, allowing you to park for more than 2 hours?”

Neither will help you because they circumvent the intent of the ordinance, says Kim Nadeau, Santa Rosa’s parking programs coordinator.

“The purpose of the time limit is to provide for turn-over of parking spaces and access to more parkers.  Long term parking is provided in the surface lots and parking garages,” she said.

“The posted time limit controls the length of time a parker is permitted to park in a space.  So, if a person puts additional time on a meter that causes them to exceed the posted time limit, they are in violation of the parking ordinance and can be cited for over-time parking.  The City ordinance is shown below.  The parking fine for this violation is $40.”

The only safe solution is moving the car, Arielle.

11-24.060 Overtime parking prohibited.

(A)       It is unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle registered in his or her name or operated or controlled by him or her on a City block in excess of the posted time limit.

(B)       It is unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle registered in his or her name or operated or controlled by him or her at a City-owned or operated off-street parking facility in excess of the posted time limit, or 72 hours if not posted, except by authorization from the Director of Transit and Parking or by a City lease agreement. (Ord. 3871 § 5, 2008; Ord. 3518 § 6, 2001: Ord. 2713 § 1 (part), 1988)

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Follow the Road Warrior on Twitter at @PDRoadWarrior.

Get the lights working, already

The 6th Street crossing at Morgan that goes under Hwy 101 continues to have Traffic Signal Issues. Traffic on 6th can sit for 3, 4, 5 up to (what seems like) 10 mins at times, typically resolved when a pedestrian pushes the button to cross. While it is never LEGAL to ignore a Red Light, drivers have had to cross thru on Red “When Safe” I assume most officers would understand as I have seen SRPD pull out to stop traffic on Morgan at times. What does Caltrans or SR City Traffic control have to say about this intersection? - Frustrated

City traffic engineer Rob Sprinkle said it sounds like there is a detection problem where vehicles are not getting detected correctly.  He sent the signal tech to check it out and “tweak the detection a little. Let us know if your reader continues to experience a problem.”

When it comes to when it’s safe to run a red light, Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Mike Numainville declined to answer but added, “I can tell them who would be at fault if a collision occurred if they did run a red light.”  You got it, Frustrated. That would be you.

Why hasn’t the new traffic light at Fulton Road and Airport Drive been activated? It has just been blinking red since at least January. – K. Frazer

The signal could not be activated until the final paving & markings were completed – the asphalt was being placed the week of April 15 & the pavement striping is scheduled for the following – the signal will be activated as soon as this work is finished, maybe even this week. – Tom O’Kane, deputy director of the Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works.

Four lanes south of Hopland?

Could you find out from Caltrans if they are ever planning to reopen the closed 101-North lane by Squaw Rock again? Thank you! — AB

Caltrans has a permanent repair project scheduled for next summer (2014).  However, we will be monitoring the roadway and if we lose another lane, an emergency contract will be initiated to temporarily reopen all four lanes. – Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie, Jr.

As an aside, the rock formation towering over the Russian River and Highway 101 south of Hopland was renamed Frog Woman Rock in 2011, a less offensive name that reflects a Pomo Indian legend of a man-eating creature, part frog and part woman, who lived in a cave in the face of the rock. Read about the decision to rename it HERE.

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Follow the Road Warrior on Twitter at @PDRoadWarrior.

Petaluma

SMART crews will start replacing the railroad crossing at D Street at 6 a.m. Monday, April 29. The work is expected to be finished by 7 a.m. Sunday, May 5. During that time the road will be closed to traffic, although pedestrians will have controlled access.

As part of its ongoing Highway 101/State Route 116 construction, Caltrans has closed one lane of westbound State Route 116 at the U.S. 101 interchange through late 2014 as it begins work on a new bridge. Nightly closures continue on northbound and southbound U.S. 101 from just north of the Sonoma County line to the Kenilworth Pedestrian Overcrossing in Petaluma. In addition, there will be lane closures on eastbound and westbound State Route 116 at the U.S. 101 Interchange in Petaluma. Within the construction zone, at least one lane will remain open in each direction on northbound and southbound U.S. 101, and on eastbound and westbound SR 116.

Previously Announced Construction and Lane Closures include:
U.S. 101, County Line to Kenilworth Pedestrian Overcrossing. Northbound U.S. 101: Monday night through Thursday night, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., Friday night from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., and Saturday night from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. Southbound U.S. 101: Monday night through Thursday night, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., Friday night from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and Saturday night from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

State Route 116 at the U.S. 101 Interchange: Eastbound SR 116: Monday night through Thursday night, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., and Friday and Saturday nights, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Westbound SR 116: Monday night through Thursday night, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., Friday and Saturday nights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Santa Rosa

The City’s Contractor, Argonaut Constructors, is scheduled to begin water main construction in Midway Drive between Farmers Lane and Hahman Drive starting Monday, April 29. The work in Midway Drive is to be performed during daytime hours. Water main construction will take approximately two weeks and sewer main construction in this same area will directly follow. Streets impacted by the work include Midway, Magowan and Hahman drives, as well as Sonoma Avenue. See a map of the project HERE.

Sonoma County Road Crews

This week, the Bridge crew will continue building a wall on Geysers Rd – up to 30 minute delays can be expected when the crane is set in the roadway. The location is about 2 miles west of the Geysers Resort on the Cloverdale end. A second crew will be repairing a damaged guard rail on the Laughlin Rd bridge today, and sidewalk repairs in the Sonoma area later this week.

On Tuesday ,crews will be cutting roadside brush along Martinelli Rd and Barnett Valley Rd.

Cotati and Sonoma crews will continue preparing roads in their area for summer chip seals – Cotati will be working on High School Rd, and Sonoma will be doing grinding/paving work on Adobe Canyon Rd. All other Road crews will be roadside mowing and clearing brush for sign visibility.

Del Norte County

Route 101 (15.2/15.4) – Slipout repairs 1.5 miles north of Rudisill Road will continue.  One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor – CalEx of Newhall. LC#C101HB

Route 101 (23.0) – Paving near Hamilton Road will continue through Friday, April 26. Work hours are 7:30AM to 3PM.  Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Northwest Paving of Redding. LC#C101CB

Humboldt County

Route 96 (27.0) – A project to build a retaining wall 0.5 mile south of Bluff Creek Road will continue.  One-way traffic control with temporary stop signs will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  Contractor – Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. of Walnut Creek.  LC#C96BA

Route 101 (46.1/48.7) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Jordan Creek Bridge to the Richard Fleisher Memorial Bridge on Thursday, May 2. Work hours are 7:30AM to 4:30PM.  Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel.  Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. LC#M101FA

Route 101 (51.1/54.6) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Pacific Lumber Company Undercrossing Bridge to South Metropolitan/Eel River Saw Mill on Wednesday, May 1. Work hours are 7:30AM to 4:30PM.  Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel.  Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. LC#M101FA

Route 101 (53.9/56.8) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Nello J Barsanti Memorial Bridge to the James Van Duzen Memorial Bridge on Tuesday, April 30. Work hours are 7:30AM to 4:30PM.  Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel.  Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. LC#M101FA

Route 101 (60.5) – PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work at the Twelfth Street Overcrossing Bridge on Monday, April 29. Work hours are 9AM to 1PM. There will be a full closure of the northbound Twelfth Street onramp to Route 101.  Motorists are advised to seek an alternate route. LC#P101BA

Route 101 (77.8) – Rotary Club of Old Town Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment permit for the Rhododendron Parade in Eureka on Saturday, April 27. Event hours are 8AM to 10AM. Turns onto Seventh Street in Eureka will be restricted. Motorists are advised to seek an alternate route. LC#P101TK

Route 101 (78.2/77.9) – PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work from B Street southbound to Sixth Street in Eureka through Friday, April 26. Nighttime work hours are 10PM to 5AM. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane.  Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. LC#P101IA

Route 101 (88.2/89.6) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the junction with Route 299 to the northbound Mad River Bridge on Sunday, April 28. Work hours are 6:30AM to 12:30PM.  Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane.  Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. LC#M101DA

Route 299 (8.3/8.7) – Slide repairs from 1.0 to 1.5 miles east of SMT Road will continue.  Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate
5-minute delays.  Contractor – G R Sundberg, Inc. of Arcata.  LC#C299AA

Lake County

Route 20 (11.9/12.4) – Construction of a roundabout at the Route 20/Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road intersection will continue.  Work hours are 6AM to 6PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction, Incorporated, of Ukiah.  LC#C20AA

Route 20 (14.4) – Lake County Special Districts of Lakeport has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs near Burpee Drive on Tuesday, April 30.  Work hours are 7:30AM to 4PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  LC#P20AA

Route 53 (3.0/7.5) – Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue.  Work hours are 8PM Sunday evening though 3PM Friday afternoon, 24 hours per day.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.  Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.  LC#C53AA

Mendocino County

Route 1 (14.4/25.5) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Curley Lane to Mallo Pass Creek beginning Tuesday, April 30.  Work hours are 7AM to 4PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  LC#M1BA

Route 1 (33.4/33.9) – Replacement of the Greenwood Creek Bridge will continue.  One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Golden State Bridge, Incorporated, of Martinez.  LC#C1AA

Route 1 (37.3) – Slipout repairs 1.6 miles south of Navarro Bluff Road will continue.  One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Green Right O’Way Constructors of Willits.  LC#C1DA

Route 1 (42.5/44.4) – Bridge painting at the Salmon Creek Bridge and the Albion River Bridge will continue.  One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Jeffco Painting and Coating of Vallejo.  LC#C1EA

Route 1 (64.2/88.0) – PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for tree trimming from Odom Lane to Rockport Street beginning Monday, April 29.  Work hours are 7AM to 4PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  LC#P1EA

Route 1 (71.3/77.1) – Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Abalobadiah Creek to Pacific Avenue South will continue.  Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.  LC#C1EA

Route 1 (92.6/93.0) – Replacement of a culvert with a bridge at Dunn Creek will continue.    One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Shasta Construction of Redding.  LC#C1FA

Route 20 (5.0/6.0) – PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from 1.6 to 2.6 miles east of Wildwood Campground on Tuesday, April 30.  Work hours are 9AM to 4:30PM.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  LC#P20AA

Route 20 (5.9/32.1) – Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Road 350 to Willits Cemetery Road will continue.  Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.  LC#C20EA

Route 20 (7.0/17.3) – A pavement repair project from 1.4 miles west of Little Lake Road to Three Chop Road will continue through Friday, April 26.  Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.  LC#C20BA

Route 20 (33.2/40.9) – Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from the south junction of Routes 20/101 to the Cold Creek Bridge #5 will continue through Friday, April 26.  Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.  LC#C20EA

Route 101 (4.5/5.0) – Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock).  Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.  LC#M101GA

Route 101 (9.5/9.9) – Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Hopland Overhead Bridge to La Franchi Road beginning Tuesday, April 30.  Work hours are 8AM to 4PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  LC#M101CB

Route 101 (43.0/44.0) – Vegetation removal just south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue Tuesday, April 30.  Work hours are 7AM to 6PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  Contractor – DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin.  LC#C101CB

Route 101 (47.8/49.0) – Vegetation removal just south of the railroad crossing will begin Tuesday, April 30.  Work hours are 7AM to 6PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  Contractor – DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin.  LC#C101CB

Route 162 (0.0/28.9) – Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from the junction or Routes 101/162 to Eberle Street will begin Monday, April 29.  Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays.  One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.  Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.  LC#C162BA

My beef and concern is the way the City of Santa Rosa is working with Kaiser Hospital in managing traffic at their main hospital entrance. Coming from the 101 headed East, it is the only entrance to the hospital available and it’s half as wide as it should be, especially for emergency vehicles.

The Kaiser entrance at the intersection of Bicentennial Way and Ventura Ave is a bottleneck for Kaiser doctors, employees and patients. The left turn lane waits far too long and doesn’t change often enough. I often have to sit through two light cycles before I am able to make the turn into Kaiser. The turn lane is too short also.

(Once inside the campus) the main entrance to the hospital en route to the front door requires going over a huge dip in the very narrow driveway, an abrupt stop sign that limits the number of cars that can enter at one time, and then a maize of turns back and forth and around just to get anywhere in there. I’m amazed the ambulances and EMTs put up with it. 

I’m hoping you may be able to help me with some ideas here about how to generate some interest in making the hospital entrance better?? – Judson

Rob Sprinkle, supervising traffic engineer for Santa Rosa, responds:

“We are already working with Kaiser with some of their internal circulation and how that may affect the entrance and some back-ups in the A.M. commute. I do have some ideas about the left turn into the site and some signal timing adjustments that may help.  That will take a little programming, but we will try to get to it soon.” 

Yes, there was a plan to build a Highway 12 bypass on that strip of apple orchard and across Spring Lake Regional Park, with the state buying parcels of land along what was then the city’s southern border between the 1950s and the 1970s. Opponents successfully fought that plan, leaving behind a two-mile swath of undeveloped land.

The Santa Rosa City Council has since thrown its weight behind a plan to turn that land into a greenbelt for bicycles, pedestrians, parks, gardens, public places, environmental restoration and limited development. The so-called Southeast Greenway would also provide an east-west link for bicycles.

In October 2012, Press Democrat city hall reporter Kevin McCallum wrote that the council agreed to ask Caltrans to consider “alternative non-motorized uses” for the 300-feet wide strip of unused land between Farmers Lane and Summerfield Road.  That would set the stage for the agency to declare the property surplus, which would allow it to sell or transfer the land to another agency or nonprofit. 

City staff members and Southeast Greenway Committee members continue to discuss that option with Caltrans.

Double yellow lines on Occidental Road 

When is the County going to restripe the double yellow lines on  Occidental Road from Fulton Road to Highway 116? When it’s dark or foggy the lines are nonexistent, even in the day light they are hard to see. – Stephen A. Herman

The first answer comes from Rob Silva, Road Department Operations Manager, Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works:

Occidental Road is one of many county roads in need of restriping. We lost our pavement marking truck in 2008 in part because of funding reductions that created several cuts to our department, and California air quality restrictions that made it too costly to repair. Last fall the County Board authorized funding to purchase a new truck. We hope to have that equipment delivered and put into service by late this coming summer or early fall. In the mean time our Traffic Engineering department is preparing to bid some contract striping work for a number of roads this summer. I do not have a date at this time as to when the work will be done, but Occidental Rd is on that list.

Tom O’Kane, deputy director of the Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works, adds more information:

The Board has authorized and funded a replacement pavement striping truck. It has been ordered & should be delivered later this year. There is a fairly long lead time in the purchasing of new equipment  We had to phase out our striping truck in 2008 because of California air quality standards. Unfortunately, we were in such a serious budget situation at the time we were not in a position to fund a replacement until this fiscal year.

New Sutter Hospital traffic light

Recently the new light was added at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts and the new Sutter Hospital.  They have striped the road with two lanes at the light, but there is a strange merge before that. When you get to the light at Old Redwood Highway and Mark West Springs Road going west, there are also two lanes.  But suddenly the new striping has a merge to one lane and then 50 feet later it goes to two lanes again. It seems really strange. – Mack Schwing

Tom O’Kane also answers this one:

There is an active development along this portion of the road (the north side). One of their conditions is to provide a sidewalk & connect the existing curb & gutter section which will result in a full width travel lane. Currently we do not have a date when this project will have construction begin, but the second through lane is part of this project.