City of Santa Rosa seeks public input on possible SMART crossing at Jennings Avenue

The city of Santa Rosa is seeking the public’s input on a new proposal for a pedestrian crossing over the SMART tracks on Jennings Avenue near Coddingtown Mall, a project that has been debated and postponed since 2013.

The project has been under a stalemate between the city of Santa Rosa and Sonoma-Marin Area Regional Transit, with the city pushing for the construction of a ground-level footpath that would allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross the tracks. Currently, they have to cross at Guerneville Road, which amounts to a 15- to 20-minute detour.

But SMART officials maintain that a ground-level crossing would be a public safety hazard and recommended the city pay to build an overpass at the site.

In 2016, the cost to construct a ground-level crossing had jumped 50% from an earlier estimate to $2.25 million, mostly fueled by additional SMART costs, which shocked city officials.

But now there’s an alternate proposal for a bridge crossing, which will be presented at 6 p.m. March 2 during a community meeting, said City Council member Chris Rogers, who represents the city’s fifth district.

The cost, which would be higher due to inflation, is under dispute between SMART and city officials, Rogers said.

“Our neighbors and my constituents have told us that they would prefer an at-grade crossing, but if SMART can come in and have a conversation with neighbors about this new design and it's something that neighbors can get behind the metal, that could shift the conversation,” Rogers said.

“But as it sits right now, I still support the at-grade process — it's the simplest, it's the cheapest and it's what the community wants.”

The city first considered building a tunnel under the tracks but, when time on that expired, then explored the construction of a $9 million bridge over the tracks, even securing an $8.2 million grant to help fund it. Neighbors, however, called illustrations of it a “monstrosity” and some leaders worried that residents — including the dozens of children who live on the east side of the tracks but attend Helen Lehman Elementary on the west — would cut the fence and cross the tracks anyway.

Participants can attend the March 2 community meeting in person, at the Helen Lehman Elementary School’s multipurpose room, or virtually via Zoom. The meeting link can be found at SRCity.org/JenningsCrossing. Those who are interested can also call into the meeting at 699-900-9128, with meeting ID 899 0351 3421.

Spanish interpreters will be available in person and online with closed captioning also available. The city will also provide supervision for children over 3 years old.

Residents who can’t attend the meeting in person or virtually can watch a recording and provide online feedback through March 9 on the city’s website.

You can reach Staff Writer Alana Minkler at 707-526-8531 or alana.minkler@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @alana_minkler.