Elected officials and Caltrans employees gathered on Tuesday to
celebrate the completion of the widening of Highway 101 between
Santa Rosa and Windsor. The ribbon cutting ceremony offered a
bright spot amid sobering budget decisions for local and statewide
transportation agencies, including a recent decision by the Sonoma
County Board of Supervisors to limit pavement maintenance to only
150 miles of the county’s country roads.
“It’s a very exciting day for me. I spent a lot of years working
hard to get 101 widened. After serving on the board of supervisors
for 16 years, this is a great accomplishment,” said Fourth District
Supervisor Paul Kelley, who served on the Sonoma County
Transportation Authority for 15 of those years.
Local officials couldn’t refrain from commenting on another
local bright spot—the color orange, and the previous night’s World
Series win for the Giants.
“Not only have they been able to bring this project in a year
ahead of schedule and on budget, but they’ve also been wearing
Giants orange for years now,” Tom Roth, senior policy advisor for
Rep. Lynn Woolsey, said to laughter as the audience contemplated
the classic Caltrans orange reflective vests and cones. “So
congratulations, Caltrans, on the Giants win!”
The widening of 101, the addition of northbound and southbound
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, and the repavement between
Steele Lane and Windsor River Road cost $120 million. The project
received funding from a variety of federal, state, and local
sources, including Measure M dollars—the quarter cent sales tax
approved by Sonoma County voters in 2004.
The project utilized rubberized asphalt, which derives from
tires. According to Caltrans spokesman Bob Haus, the product
reduces noise pollution, has a long lifespan, offers a smooth ride,
and is environmentally friendly because it recycles tires that
would otherwise end up in landfills.
The completion of the project, speakers agreed, was an important
step for Sonoma County as well as neighbors to the north and
south.
“We needed this project to support the economic boom here in
your county,” said Caltrans Director Cindy McKim.
“We needed the space to handle families as well as the
transportation of raw materials,” Fred Euphrat, field
representative for State Sen. Pat Wiggins, said. “San Francisco has
roads within the city that are wider than 101 was.”
But officials also noted that, to maximize the project’s
effectiveness, local habits would have to change.
“There’s a need to get out and do the ridesharing and carpooling
in order to take advantage of the project we’ve completed here
today,” McKim said.
“We cannot be in our single occupancy vehicles forever.
Physically and financially, we cannot support another widening
project. HOV lanes and high frequency buses are going to be our
future,” said Sue Gorin, Mayor of Santa Rosa.
When it comes to road maintenance, both Sonoma County and
Caltrans face budget shortfalls. Caltrans anticipates a $60 billion
shortfall in funding over the next ten years, due in part to
decreasing tax revenues.
“We have a significant issue with regards to maintaining our
infrastructure,” McKim said. “All of the focus is on getting
projects done. But the day to day maintenance and operating
expenses are not federally reimbursable.”
McKim noted that Sonoma County’s Measure M had a similar
bias.
“The county is fortunate enough to have a sales tax measure, but
it’s still based on improvement… something concrete, no pun
intended,” McKim said.
Forgoing maintenance may provide short-term budget relief, but
results in added expenses in the long term.
“For every dollar we do not invest now in maintenance, we’ll pay
$6 later to rehabilitate it or $20 to reconstruct it,” said
Caltrans District 4 Director Bijan Sartipi. “The money that
Caltrans has available for our maintenance is 40 percent of our
need.”
Given the uncertain state of road maintenance, Sonoma County
residents might be advised to enjoy the smooth, newly paved roads
along 101 while they last.
According to Caltrans Public Information Officer Bob Haus,
freeway speeds of 65 m.p.h. are expected to return to the Windsor
stretch of 101 in the next couple of weeks, pending completion of
some work on guard rails.
