(On City Letterhead)
August 9, 2022
Dina El-Tawansy
District Director
Department of Transportation (Caltrans), District 4
111 Grand Avenue/ Mail: P.O. Box 23660
Oakland, CA 94623-0660
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR RELINQUISHMENT OF ST. JOSEPH WAY, COTATI Dear Ms. El-Tawansy:
This letter is to serve as a formal request of relinquishment of St. Joseph Way, located in the City of Cotati, for continued use as a local public street.
In 2002, the City of Cotati (City) transferred St. Joseph Way to Caltrans through a Section 83 transfer. At the time, Caltrans apparently requested the roadway to build an accessible pathway from the Caltrans St. Joseph Way Park and Ride to the nearby bus stops on a local street. It’s unclear if Caltrans ever moved forward on the pathway project, but St. Joseph Way was not relinquished back to the City. The City, unaware of the transfer until recently, has continued to maintain St. Joseph Way as a city street.
As part of a broader redevelopment effort in downtown Cotati, in 2014 Caltrans transferred the sparsely used St. Joseph Way Park and Ride to the City through a Functional Replacement Agreement. In essence, this agreement required the City to replace most of the parking spaces in high use locations along the US 101 corridor when the City takes the spaces at St. Joseph Way out of operation for redevelopment. The design of the replacement facilities complete and the encroachment permit has been issued to begin construction. Concurrently, the City is about to begin redevelopment of the St.
Joseph Park and Ride and the surrounding areas, and is requesting that Caltrans formally relinquish St.
Joseph Way back to the City.
Attached is an exhibit showing St. Joseph Way, as well as a copy of the signed resolution of the City Council requesting relinquishment of the roadway in its as-is condition.
Thank you for your attention to this request. Please me contact at [email protected] or 707-665- 3622 regarding next steps and any additional information required.
Sincerely,
Damien O'Bid
City Manager