The City of Sebastopol was the recipient of a $20,000 planning grant from the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission, which the City matched with $5,000 of our own funds. The purpose of this grant was to develop a
schematic plan for action to improve traffic flow, safety, livability, and pedestrian and bicycle amenities
for Sebastopol’s “Main Street”: the Highway 116 corridor in the City limits. This process produced the
"Street Smart Sebastopol" report, available at the Planning Department.
The City Council established a temporary five-member committee, with one City Council liaison and one Planning
Commission liaison to 1) recommend an initial set of implementation projects and 2) recommend how remaining
projects and issues should be addressed.
Numerous implementation concepts and alternatives are identified in the Street Smart
report. The temporary committee identified 40 priority projects to improve pedestrian
safety and highway streetscapes. The City then applied for a capital grant from the Metropolitan
Transporation Commission, and received a $500,000 grant. Together with an 11.5% City contribution to
the projects, these funds will be used to contstruct four key improvement projects. Caltrans
approvals are required.
The City has also initiated preliminary design studies for installation of roundabouts
at two locations on Gravenstein Highway South: Lynch Road and Fircrest Avenue. Caltrans approvals
are required.
Examples of projects which staff believes should be placed in a longer-term
evaluation/implementation category include the two-way street concept along with
the Llano Road extension, proposed roundabouts at existing signalized
intersections, and proposed roundabouts requiring significant right of way
acquisitions.
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