Windsor highlights safety in award-winning intersection and pathway project
With its Windsor River Road and Windsor Road intersection improvement and multi-use pathway connector project, the city of Windsor, Calif., was the overall winner of the Cal Cities 2024 Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project Awards.
The improvement project became a priority because of the upcoming arrival in Windsor of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit. The city was aware that existing conditions for the Windsor River Road and Windsor Road intersection would not meet the requirements of the California Public Utilities Commission for a signalized railroad crossing. This caused the city to begin taking steps to improve the intersection.
“In March 2018, Windsor approved an agreement for preliminary engineering,” Alejandro Perez, Windsor senior civil engineer, stated. “The preliminary design phase of the project included evaluations of a signal modification alternative and a roundabout alternative, environmental review, and public outreach. It was determined that at the end of the public outreach phase and alternative evaluations phase, staff would return to the council and ask that a preferred alternative be selected.”
On Feb. 6, 2019, after extensive public outreach and meetings with Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, California Public Utilities Commission, and local safety experts, Windsor Town Council chose the roundabout alternative to be constructed. In June 2021, the council approved a construction contract with Ghilotti Construction to build the roundabout, railroad safety improvements, and the multiuse pathway at the intersection.
curb ramps, realigned crosswalks, a refuge median and slower vehicle speeds, the intersection became safer. Vehicle traffic also flows better during peak hours. (Photo provided by the city of Windsor, Calif.)
The primary concern surrounding the road improvement project was pedestrian and traffic safety. The intersection is close to Windsor High School, which would cause major delays during peak hours in both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
“During the preliminary engineering, using traffic simulation software, it was discovered that a roundabout provided greater pedestrian and traffic safety as well as better flow of vehicles through the intersection,” Perez said. This alternative would help reduce traffic delays and greenhouse gas emissions and help with necessary major improvements for the intersection to meet current rail safety standards for Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit.
“The improvements have been in place for just about one year, and we have seen a significant reduction in delay,” Perez said. “During off-peak hours, vehicles flow through. During peak commute hours, there is still a delay, but nothing close to what we used to see with the signalized intersection. Vehicles move through the intersection, albeit at slower speeds. However, they keep moving. And vehicles moving at slower speeds means that potential collision impacts are greatly reduced for both drivers and pedestrians.”
The improvements included new sidewalks, ADA-accessible curb ramps, realigned crosswalks, a refuge median, and a 760-foot connector segment.
It was a great honor for Windsor to be nominated and then named overall winner at the Cal Cities award ceremony. It was also a great personal honor for Perez to be involved with the project, he said.
“It’s always an honor when your project is recognized for an award. As an engineer and public servant, I do my work because I believe it is the right thing to do and best for the community at large. Working on this project has been the highlight of my 20-year career in public works. Meeting and working with new people from public outreach to design and finally to construction was a pleasant experience. Taking a project from early inception that began years ago to finally seeing it constructed and working as expected is a great feeling.”
While the community had some concerns regarding the project when it was first announced, residents now seem to enjoy the benefits that come along with the improved intersection.
“With every project we do, there is negative feedback from those in the community who don’t like change. And they are always the most vocal,” Perez admitted. “This project was no different. Before the project design began, we would get lots of calls to improve the intersection due to the peak hour delays. After the town council decided to build the roundabout option, we heard a lot of complaints that it would not work and that it would cause more problems for young drivers going to the high school.
“Since it was built, we have heard from residents who did not think the roundabout would work. But they have told us that they are pleasantly surprised with how the intersection is working.”
Windsor is currently directing its attention toward another road improvement project, the downtown pedestrian and bicycle crossing of U.S. Hwy. 101, located within a priority development area. Following the Connecting Central Windsor study, the need for such a crossing was identified and is currently in the design phase.
“U.S. Hwy. 101 runs north-south through the center of Windsor and bisects into east and west sides,” Perez explained. “With only three crossing locations along the three-mile corridor, the highway limits access between the eastern and western sections of the town. The highway interchange at Old Redwood Highway is heavily traveled and challenging for pedestrians and bicyclists. This project proposes to improve active transportation facilities through the existing U.S. Hwy. 101 underpass by widening the space under U.S. 101.
“The project proposes to widen the space under U.S. 101 using Caltrans Standard retaining walls and adding Class I paths with separated pedestrian and bicycle facilities, including two-way bike-only paths and widened sidewalks,” Perez noted. Further improvements will include landscaping, new lighting, and artwork.
This project earned Windsor the prize of overall winner at the Cal Cities award ceremony. Its design, collaboration, public outreach, and construction earned it the recognition from the state. (Photo provided by the city of Windsor, Calif.) 
Improvements to the intersection were deemed necessary after complaints of traffic during peak hours and the decision of Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit to come to Windsor. The intersection did not meet the requirements for a signalized rail crossing and needed improvements. (Photo provided by the city of Windsor, Calif.) 
The main concern in improvements was to promote both vehicle and pedestrian traffic safety. With new sidewalks, accessible curb ramps, realigned crosswalks, a refuge median and slower vehicle speeds, the intersection became safer. Vehicle traffic also flows better during peak hours. (Photo provided by the city of Windsor, Calif.) 
While there was some concern within the community regarding a roundabout, now that residents have seen it in action many have been pleasantly surprised by how well the traffic flows. (Photo provided by the city of Windsor, Calif.)
