From: Ken M
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 101 Bike / Ped Overcrossing
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026 2:46:20 PM
Dear Mayor Stapp and Councilmembers,
My Family and I support the city doing what is necessary to complete the long-overdue bicycle and pedestrian crossing over 101 at Coddingtown. Our city needs this safe and
efficient
East-West connector. Please don’t kick this can down the road any further.
Sincerely,
Ken Mercado
95405
From: Serina Sirna-Blach
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item 15.3 - Contract Award for Route 101 Pedestrian Overcrossing Date: Friday, February 6, 2026 1:27:14 PM
Attachments: image001.png
GNB Response to City Recommendation 2.6.26 - C00769.pdf Hello,
I am emailing on behalf of Hal Stober, President of Gordon N. Ball, Inc., who would like to make the following comment on the above referenced agenda item:
I AM GOING TO EXPLAIN WHY THE RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD THE PROJECT TO
GHILOTTI IS WRONG AND REQUEST THAT THE PROJECT INSTEAD BE AWARDED TO GORDON N BALL, INC.. PLEASE REFER TO MY LETTER FOR MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION
Please confirm that you have received this email
Thank you
Serina Sirna-Blach
Estimating Administration
Gordon N. Ball, Inc. | General Engineering Contractors
1777 Oakland Blvd, STE 300 | Walnut Creek, CA 94596 **NEW ADDRESS (925) 838-5675 x 2309 | phone
(925) 838-5915 | fax
website | vCard | map | email
From: Nathan Spindel
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item 15.3
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026 10:16:48 AM
Dear City Council,
I'm writing in support of moving forward with the Highway 101 bike/ped overcrossing. This project has been in the works since 2003 (over two decades). While I understand the bids came back $8M over estimate, I think it's critical that the City not lose momentum on this key project.
Cost overruns are frustrating, and they're also the reality of infrastructure construction right now. The longer we delay, the more expensive it gets. This overcrossing will be a meaningful piece of Santa Rosa's active transportation network, improving safety and connectivity for people biking and walking across one of the most significant corridors in Santa Rosa.
Please continue moving forward with this project.
Thank you for listening,
Nathan Spindel
From: Tom Bahning
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 101 Bike/Ped Overcrossing
Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 12:40:39 AM
Dear Mayor Stapp and Councilmembers,
I support the city doing what is necessary to complete the long overdue bicycle and pedestrian crossing over Hwy 101 at Coddingtown, even if it means simplifying the design or substituting an existing design for the required span.
There are many existing bridges of this type in the greater Bay Area.
It is currently unsafe to walk or bike under 101 at either College Ave or Steele Lane. This bridge will provide a safe route for all residents and will be well used, given it’s central location between educational, shopping, and transit facilities as well as housing.
As a former board member of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, I know that this project has been in the works for over twenty years, and that funds have been diverted from it for other uses at least once. Please do not kick this can down the road any further.
Sincerely,
Tom Bahning
Sent from my iPad
From: [email protected]
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 101 Bike/Ped overcrossing
Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 10:37:20 AM
Dear Mayor Stapp and Councilmembers,
I support the city doing what is necessary to complete
the long-overdue bicycle and pedestrian crossing over 101 at Coddingtown. Please don’t kick this can down the road any further.
Sincerely,
Katherine Leader
Santa Rosa, Ca 95405
Sent from my iPhone- please pardon any errors!
From: [email protected]
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 10:40:40 AM
I support this Item and sincerely hope the council will continue to do what is necessary to insure this pedestrian/ cycling over-crossing project is completed as this is desperately needed to promote the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in our community.
Sincerely,
Katherine Leader
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
Sent from my iPhone- please pardon any errors!
From: [email protected]
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 10:48:59 AM
Dear Santa Rosa, city council members,
First of all, thank you for all you do for our city. I know these are challenging times with the budget and the increased cost of living.
I understand that the cost for the bike pedestrian over crossing have gone over the estimated cost. And I understand that moving forward may impact other projects in the city.
However, delaying the bike/ pedestrian over crossing will only increase the cost. This is the lowest that the cost will be from this point onward. There is no time like now to move forward.
As Santa Rosa city streets become more congested with cars, alternate, transportation becomes even more critical.
Separating pedestrians and bikes from cars decreases conflicts and traffic fatalities in alignment with our city's stated Vision
Zero goals.
Increasing the ease of walking and biking to nearby destinations encourages more people to do so, and also decreases carbon in the atmosphere, which is critical in these times of climate crisis.
Your support of this project despite the increase cost will make our city a cleaner, safe safer, and more livable place.
We need to think in terms of the future of our city and supporting and sustaining a healthy future.
Thanks again,
Cris Eggers
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
From: Calum Weeks
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 10:54:32 AM
Dear Mayor Stapp, Councilmembers, and staff:
I’m emailing you to express my strongest support for the 101 overpass at Elliott Avenue. This yearslong planning effort cannot be delayed any further. Too much time, resources, and community advocacy has gone into this effort to return to the drawing board.
While I recognize we face significant financial headwinds, this is not one of the projects the city should renege on or delay further given the economic and social benefit this crosstown connector will ultimately provide.
Please renew your commitment to this project and reallocate additional resources so it moves forward without any further delay.
I thank you for your continued support for sustainable and economically beneficial infrastructure projects in our community.
Very best,
Calum Weeks
From: Karen Mirabelli
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 11:04:45 AM
Dear Council-members,
This needs to happen. Santa Rosa is chopped in two with highway 101 and one of our greatest assets is SRJC, which needs to be accessible to all residents to share in this treasure. I understood this pedestrian/vile crossing to be a “done deal” and I’ve been patiently awaiting its construction. I kept thinking that work was in progress only to find it was the Doyle dormitory; and then a bike path; and then some sort of utility building for the dorms. As a neighborhood resident, I look forward to more pedestrian-/cycle-friendly routes across town and could envision myself using the 101 crossing to access the Santa Rosa North SMART station with my bike rather than having to risk traffic on either college or West Steele Lane and having to cross traffic at freeway entrances and exits especially during commute hours.
Please stick to the original plan that many of us in the Ridgway Historic District have been looking forward to.
Thank you,
Resident
From: Dani Sheehan-Meyer3
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Cc: FoS Jack Swearengen; Steve Birdlebough
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 101 Bike/Ped overcrossing
Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 11:20:18 AM
Dear Mayor Stapp and Council members,
We support the city doing what is necessary to complete the long-overdue bicycle and pedestrian crossing over 101 at Coddingtown. Please don’t kick this can down the road any further.
Sincerely,
Jack and Dani on behalf of the Friends
of SMART
Jack Swearengen, Chair
DANI SHEEHAN-MEYER -Treasurer, Community Advocate
Friends of SMART
www.friendsofsmart.com
• www.facebook.com/friendsofsmart
7790 Welter Lane Sebastopol, CA 95472
cell 707.486.3387. [email protected]
From: Christina Panza
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 11:59:19 AM
Dear Council Members,
As a resident of the SRJC neighborhood who frequently travels to west Santa Rosa via Steele Lane/Guerneville Road, I am so excited for the future 101 Bike/Ped overcrossing. At this time I NEVER bike to Whole Foods to grocery shop or to Coddingtown to go to Macy's or Target.
Having the overcrossing available will be a real game changer for my family and I.
But also
for so many residents, especially SRJC and SRHS students and staff who live or work in West SR.
I understand that costs for the overcrossing came in higher than expected (thanks to Trump tariffs!), but this project needs to move forward and to be a priority. We have waited so long and the light is finally at the end of the tunnel!
Thank you for voting to move forward with the proposed overcrossing.
Sincerely,
Christina Panza
Santa Rosa, 95404
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
From: Carolyn J
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 12:02:51 PM
Hello,
I’m an avid cyclist and transit rider. I’m 66 years old and I live on Hexem Ave.
I used to enjoy riding my bike to the SR North SMART station.
I must ride across Franklin Ave and continue west on Lewis Rd.
As there have been more cyclists hit by vehicles in SR, I now put my bike in my car rather than risk the heavy vehicle traffic along Steele Ln, Coddington Mall, and Guerneville Rd.
There is no continuous bike lane heading west. I must ride past unhoused people and amidst 3 lanes of traffic.
Return from SR North
Heading east, there is a crosswalk flasher at the US 101 S exit which has had a broken pedestrian light button since Dec 2024.
I feel very unsafe walking my bike across that on ramp. I submitted a TPW request in Dec 2024 and as of 3 months ago, it is still not working. It does not meet the ADA requirements bc there is no longer the beep signal or “wait” audio warning.
Once I cross under 101 east, there are often unhoused people panhandling at the North US 101 off ramp. I then must navigate this busy intersection plus the people near the crosswalk.
Steele Lane is very busy so I ride to Elliot Avenue and go east to Mendocino Ave using the crosswalk flasher.
I hope you can find the remaining funds to complete the 101 Overcrossing. This will make transit connections much safer for all!
Thank you,
Carolyn Jorgensen
From: dpeoples
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 12:10:02 PM
Dear Council Members,
It is imperative that the long-awaited Jennings Avenue overcrossing be completed. The cost may have risen but delaying will allow costs to increase even more.
Our country has designed its communities around the automobile for 100 years. That focus has succeeded in insulating us from one another as a community, fouling the air and creating the resulting negative domino effect in nature, dominating municipal budgets when so much other good could be accomplished and in the case of Santa Rosa, physically dividing our city with HWY 101.
Obviously, that's just a partial mention of the negative effects from our historically exclusive concentration on the automobile infrastructure but I'm sure you get the idea.
I'm also confident that enough of you agree with these points that the council will do the right thing tomorrow and get on with constructing the Jennings Avenue overcrossing to 101.
Thank you very much!
David Peoples
Santa Rosa
CA 95404
From: Valorie Bader
To: City Council Public Comments
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 12:11:41 PM
Dear City Council,
I, Valorie Bader, a resident of 2233 Hillside Drive, Santa Rosa, support continuing to move forward on the 101 Bicycle & Pedestrian Overcrossing despite the additional cost (over
$37 million, while the city’s
estimate was around $29 million) for the following reasons [in addition to increased safety] for :
a. This overcrossing was first suggested by the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce in the 1990s to assist in traffic control. I was a member of the Chamber’s committee at that time.
b. This overcrossing directly relates to the City’s overall bike lane plan and reduction of car traffic in favor of alternative transportation c. The overcrossing would reduce traffic congestion at the College Avenue and Steele Lane interchanges to the 101 because of automobiles’ inability to turn on red traffic light due to bicycle and foot traffic
d. This overcrossing would promote the Smart Train use from other cities. e. This overcrossing would link valuable services to both residents and JC students, such as federal social security offices, food and consumer facilities, the children’s museum and other public event centers
f. This overcrossing would decrease the divide between east and west Santa Rosa created by 101.
I appreciate all that the City has accomplished in creating bike lanes in Santa Rosa.
I will not be able to make Tuesday’s meeting, however, I thank you for your consideration and support
Valorie Bader
From: Tom Helm
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 12:20:32 PM
Dear Council members,
I urge you to support moving forward with the Hwy 101
pedestrian/bicycle overcrossing as scheduled. Any
delay will likely mean losing existing funding from the state.
This project will help reduce emissions by allowing
travel by bicycle and walking instead of driving.
Thank you
Tom Helm
Santa Rosa 95409
From: Janelle Black
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 12:34:11 PM
Hi City Council members, I am writing to express my support for the 101 Bicycle Pedestrian Over crossing project. This project is long overdue and desperately needed to provide a safe east-west connection on the north side of Santa Rosa. I am a Santa Rosa resident and long time bicyclist who now bikes with an elementary school child: I carefully plan our routes to keep him off busy roads and on safe routes, and these can end up very convoluted and out of the way, to the point where there are some places we just don't ride to.
I went to a planning meeting for this project over 10 years ago: please move this project forward and don't prolong the wait even more!
Thank you,
Janelle Black
From: Steve
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 12:37:37 PM
As long time residents of Santa Rosa and frequent bike riders, we highly encourage you to vote for the hwy 101 pedestrian/bikeway over crossing. We need to encourage safe bike ways for the benefit of our community as well as improve air quality.
Bike transportation should be paramount, especially for students and others who can’t afford or who choose not to use cars.
Sincerely
Steve and Jean Hebenstreit
From: Teresa McColley
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda - comment from Teresa McColley (district 5) Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 12:40:34 PM
To the Santa Rosa City Council,
As a resident of Santa Rosa who commuted to work for 21 years and continues to use my bicycle for almost all of my errands and activities, I am writing to advocate for the 101 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing. As you know, it is currently dangerous to use both Steele Lane and College Avenue to get across town. Because of the time it takes to go all the way around to safer routes, this causes bicyclists, and would be bicyclists, to use their cars instead. We in Sonoma County consider ourselves a world-class bicycle destination, and yet we are woefully behind compared to other Bay Area cities in creating safe, accessible bicycle routes. The 101 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing would encourage tourists to explore our beautiful city as well as allow residents to easily go to the Junior College, Santa Rosa High School, and shopping via bicycle.
The last few weeks of terrible air quality, often in the range of being dangerous to people with medical issues, has been an additional reminder of how much we need to invest in more infrastructure to encourage bicyclists.
Thank you,
Teresa McColley
From: John
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 1:26:03 PM
I’m writing in support of the long awaited pedestrian/bike bridge over busy 101. Just this morning I braved the traffic under the freeway from East to West to access the SMART train. It is always a challenge dealing with delivery trucks, cars, and unresponsive traffic lights. Please help move this project forward with your vote.
Sincerely,
John Russell
Santa Rosa Resident
From: Galen Tarrence
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 1:38:40 PM
I support overpass project. We need safe cycling routes. Cycling is transportation.
Galen Tarrence
From: Robert Rosen
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Hwy 101 Bicycle & Pedestrian Overcrossing Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 2:58:20 PM
Santa Rosa City Council,
I have been bike commuting to work my whole life in many different Cities thorough Sonoma County, Marin County and San Francisco County and fully support the Hwy 101 Bicycle & Pedestrian Overcrossing as it makes cycling safer and more practical, helping us all get out of our cars and getting much needed exercise.
Please help us continue to improve our quality of life here in Santa Rosa and get funding and approval for these projects.
Thank you.
Regards,
Rob Rosen
“Your Satellite and Wireless Communications Partner”
Robert Rosen, President
Remote Satellite Systems International Inc.
1455 North Dutton Ave,
Suite A
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Voice (707) 545-8199
Fax (707) 546-8198
[email protected]
www.remotesatellite.com
From: Lorie Obal
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 3:31:28 PM
I support the 101 bicycle pedestrian overcrossing. We need safe routes to traverse the city.
Cycling isn't just a hobby. For a growing number of people, they are a means of transportation since car ownership is getting beyond the financial means of many people. I meet more and more people who've made a cargo bike their second family car since they can't afford two cars anymore.
Please move forward with this project.
Lorie Obal
From: Dan Levitis
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Comment on City Council Agenda Item 15.3 Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 3:41:00 PM
Dear City Council Members,
I greatly appreciate your ongoing support for active transportation around Santa Rosa, and for the US 101 overpass in particular. I ask you to continue supporting the overpass (Agenda Items 15.3, 15.4, and 15.5) despite the increased cost.
My home in the Junior College Neighborhood is 1.7 miles from my work at Children's Museum of Sonoma County, and I'm an avid biker. My attempts to bike commute through the cluster of intersections along Steele Ln and Guerneville Rd led to some near misses, serious concern from my family and colleagues, and breathing a lot of very bad air. These days I mostly drive to work, knowing I'm making the traffic, pollution, and parking problems worse.
Working at the Children's Museum, I often hear from visitors, volunteers, and colleagues that they would prefer to bike or walk to the Museum but cannot do so because there is no convenient and safe way to cross 101 without a car. Friends I bike with each Santa Rosa Taco Tuesday Ride have told me that they don't often visit the Children's Museum, Schulz Museum, and Snoopy's Home Ice because they don't feel safe biking on Steele Ln with their children.
My colleagues and Schulz staff have been working closely with City Staff on a planned "Creative Corridor" to boost tourism within the City of Santa Rosa by attracting visitors to this cluster of family-focused attractions on W. Steele Ln. Because of limited roads and parking, this plan hinges upon making it easy for families to reach W. Steele without a car. Santa Rosa's active transportation network without the 101 overcrossing is not up to the job.
Again, thank you for supporting the overpass despite the increased cost. It is worth it. It is an investment in our safety, health, environment, economic development, and kids.
Gratefully,
Dr. Dan Levitis
Santa Rosa
From: David J. Harris, PhD
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Feb 10 agenda 15.3 101 Overcrossing Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 3:42:45 PM
Mayor Stapp and Members:
Awarding the contract to the 2nd lowest bidder ASAP may seem expeditious. The staff recommendation mentions the expiration of grant funds as reason for not doing a new bidding process.
Awarding the contract to the 2nd-lowest bidder has the real peril of a protracted lawsuit. Time delay and money spent......
Considering that the lowest bids received range from 29+% to 59% over engineer's estimate, the best option from the general public's perspective is a new bid process.
Avoid a lawsuit
AND likely get lower bids.
Thank you,
David J. Harris
From: emwiig
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 15.3 on 2/10 City Council agenda Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 3:50:40 PM
Dear Santa Rosa City leaders,
I am writing to express strong support for moving forward with the proposed 101 Bicycle & Pedestrian Overcrossing. While the bids have come in higher than anticipated, delaying this long-planned project will only increase its cost and risk the loss of critical state grant funding.
With construction prices and material costs continuing to rise, postponing action now would likely mean paying significantly more in the future for the same essential infrastructure.
This overcrossing is a vital east-west connection that will provide a safer, more accessible route for cyclists and pedestrians between Santa Rosa Junior College and the Coddingtown neighborhood. After more than two decades of planning and advocacy, the community deserves to see this project realized. Moving forward now represents a responsible investment in safety, connectivity, and Santa Rosa’s long-term transportation future.
Thank you for your consideration,
Evan Wiig
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
From: Lea Goode-Harris
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Thank you & 101 Bike Overpass
Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 4:31:57 PM
Dear Mayor Stapp and Councilmembers,
First, I want to thank you for all you have done, and are doing, to make our City of Santa Rosa bikeable and pedestrian friendly. I cannot believe the difference the new bike-lanes have made. I never could have imagined feeling safe while riding my bicycle in our city. And now I do, because of all of you and the many people behind the scenes that have been advocating for this bicycle infrastructure to happen.
And so, I am also writing to ask for the support from our City to do whatever is necessary to complete the long-overdue bicycle and pedestrian crossing over 101 at Coddingtown. This crossing is crucial and needs to be completed instead of being put off. This will allow for a safe ride over the freeway and will further enhance our current bike-lanes. This isn’t a frivolous request, but a responsible and needed addition to our community that use their bicycles for commuting to work, and for families and persons wanting to shop and move through our city safely on foot as well as on their bikes.
Thanks again for your assistance with this important project.
My best,
Lea
Lea Goode-Harris, Ph.D.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404