Rainier Avenue Paving & Traffic Calming Upgrades

COMMUNITY INPUT

We have been seeking community input since September of 2021, with significant community engagement taking place before and after the installation of the demonstration project. Outreach has included: 

• Mailers 
• Virtual Community Workshop 
• Website form
• Neighborhood Meeting
• Social media posts
• Online surveys 

Below are links to notes and videos of our Virtual Community Workshop:

• CLICK HERE to view notes recapping the workshop and input from the public.
• CLICK HERE to view a recording of the workshop.
• CLICK HERE to view the presentation shared during the workshop. 

CLICK HERE to view the responses from the webform. 

Thank you to all who took the time to engage in this crucial conversation with us. Rainier is an important road in Petaluma and our goal is to make it the best it can be for all users and residents. Your feedback is valuable tool in our process.

WHAT WE’VE SEEN & HEARD 

Since the demonstration project was installed, we have tracked safety data and received feedback from the community.  

• Safety Data:
  • Demonstration Stretch (Maria Drive to N. McDowell Blvd)
    • 72% of drivers complying with 35mph speed limit
    • Top speed recorded: 45mph 

• • Non-Demonstration Stretch (north of Maria Drive)
    • 48% of drivers complying with 35mph speed limit
    • Top speed recorded: 50mph 

• • No adverse congestion impacts were observed or reported anywhere on Rainier Avenue 

Community Feedback 

• Challenges seeing oncoming traffic when pulling out of driveways 
• Complaints about difficulty entering/exiting parked cars on driver’s side due to proximity of travel lane 
• Generally unpopular with drivers – opposition to lane reduction, unfamiliarity with new configuration 
• Popular with people using bicycles 

Presentation to City Council

We presented safety data and community feedback to City Council as part of our Active Transportation workshop on October 16, 2023. At that meeting, City Council directed staff to “harden” or permanently install the demonstration configuration.

NEXT STEPS 

Rainier is scheduled to receive upgrades to underground utility pipes (water services) in the summer of 2025. The City will also install a recycled water pipe that will supply recycled water to the parks and schools in the area.

After the utility work is complete, we will do a full road reconstruction on Rainier Avenue. This will provide a smooth road surface and give us the opportunity to install permanent safety upgrades. We will share and seek input on the final roadway design with the community as we get closer to construction, currently estimated to occur in early 2026.

We recently made updates to the current demonstration project to ensure it is easily visible until the permanent changes are installed.

Read on for details on the water services and paving work.

Project Manager

Jeff Stutsman, Deputy Director of Operations

Project Location

The project will take place on Rainier from North McDowell Blvd. to Sonoma Mountain Parkway.

Traffic Impacts & Benefits

There will be minor delays during construction. When completed, the project will help keep the road protected and ensure more extensive reconstruction will not be required in the future and will offer improved safety conditions for motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and those with limited mobility.

Timeline/Project Status

Tentative schedule (dates subject to change): 

1. August 2022: Demonstration Project installed & community survey launched
2. December 1, 2022: Survey closes
3. December 7, 2022: Project team presented survey results and traffic data to Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee
4. October 16, 2023: Project team presented survey results and traffic data to City Council
5. Spring 2024: Water services replacement underground work to commence
6. Summer/Fall 2024 (Dates TBD): Final roadway configuration to be installed following paving project
7. Summer/Fall 2024: Final active transportation build-out, including striping, crossings, and other bike/ped improvements to be installed immediately upon completion of paving

Council Goals and Priorities

This project reflects the following City goals, with Safe Streets/Safe Mobility being one of the top ten City Council priorities. 

A CITY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE 

• Provide City infrastructure that is safe, sustainable, multi-use, efficient, inspiring civic pride. 
• Establish and improve paths, as useful transportation options, and make walking and biking easy, fun, and safe. 
• Better integrate multi-modal transportation with street designs 

A SAFE COMMUNITY THAT THRIVES 

• Maintain and enhance public safety and prepare for emergencies and disasters, through crime and fire prevention, and traffic safety. 
• Implement City Vision Zero plan with a focus on pedestrian and cyclist safety with improvements to uncontrolled crosswalks, curb ramps, sidewalk, and bicycle infrastructure. 
• Enhance pavement management program to improve the safety and serviceability of our roads to protect drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. 

This project will help meet our Climate Action goals by allowing roadway users to feel more comfortable and safer walking and riding bikes. Also, this project helps to implement safer routes to nearby schools.

Funding

Funding is provided by California State Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 supported by the gas tax, and Measure U, a community-supported revenue measure.

Rainier FAQ's

Over the course of community outreach, there were some common questions and concerns that were raised. The following FAQs respond to what we’ve heard from the community. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact project manager, Ken Eichstaedt, Senior Traffic Engineer.