This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Former Councilwoman Slams Pace of Interchange Improvement Project

Karen Nau says city dragging its feet on major infrastructure project to alleviate traffic on East Washington Street

The East Washington Ramp Improvement project, which would create a new interchange for U.S. 101, was approved by the City Council last January. 

But not only has work on the project not started, it has not even gone to bid, prompting criticism by a former Petaluma councilwoman.

"It's not moving forward and now six months later the public wants to know where this project is," said Karen Nau, who served on the Petaluma City Council 2005-2008. "The contractors want to bid on it and it has to start before the rains come again in the fall."

Find out what's happening in Petalumawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As part of the process, the city purchased a section of the property for the south-bound 101 ramp through eminent domain. Regency Petaluma LLC was the owner of the property, having acquired the land from the city in 2004. In using eminent domain as part of the process of making the project work, the city paid Regency more then half-a-million dollars.

"As part of the separate U.S. 101/East Washington Street Interchange Project, the city is required to obtain on behalf of Caltrans certain rights of way necessary for construction of improved Highway 101 interchange ramps at East Washington Street," said Petaluma City Attorney Eric Danly in a report to the council on January 3, 2011.

Find out what's happening in Petalumawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A portion of the required right of way is owned by Regency, has been appraised by city right of way consultants at $474,554 and an eminent domain offer of compensation in that amount was made to Regency. The city and Regency subsequently reached a tentative agreement on $546,482 as the amount of compensation.

Danly reported that California Eminent Domain Law procedures required the city to purchase the property before January 14 to posses the land prior to June. The city supported the action on January 3rd. But Nau contends that the city negotiated too high a price with Regency and spent too much time negotiating with them.

According to Nau, budget shortfalls which resulted in the Petaluma Public Works director's position being consolidated with the city's Water Department, may result in delaying the project up to a year.

"This city needs this project immediately due to the heavy traffic flow in that area," Nau said.

Petaluma City Manager John Brown was unavailable for comment at press time. But Larry Zimmer, the city's Capital Improvements Division Manager, said the project is moving forward.

"Delays in this project have occurred for several reasons, but the project is moving forward and the eminent domain process was not a problem. We are working with several state agencies, and some times the process can get complicated. But the city is not the reason this project has moved slower then everyone wants."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?