PENNGROVE AREA PLAN

Adopted by Resolution No. 84-675 April 10, 1984

Modified by Resolution No. 93-0337 March 9, 1993

Modified by Resolution No. 08-0808 September 23, 2008

  1. Policies

Transportation

  1. (1)  Continue to evaluate alternative routes for the Petaluma Hill Road arterial which would divert traffic around central Penngrove.

  2. (2)  Intersection improvements affecting circulation and traffic volumes through the Penngrove area shall be considered in the context of the roadway classifications and existing regional cumulative traffic impacts.

  3. A goal of this Area Plan is to maintain the rural character of local roadways while providing for necessary capacity, traffic calming, and safety improvements and maintenance, especially with regard to school bus requirements and safety of children. 

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Sonoma County General Plan 2020

Circulation and Transit Element

Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department
2550 Ventura Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Adopted by Resolution No. 08–0808
of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
September 23, 2008

Amended by Resolution No 10–0636 on August 24,2010
Amended by Resolution No. 16–0283 on August 2, 201

Section 7.7  Rohnert Park – Cotati and Environs

Traffic patterns in the Rohnert Park-Cotati region are significantly affected by north/south commute travel on Highway 101. Other important roadways include Old Redwood Highway Highway 116, the Rohnert Park Expressway, Snyder Lane, Petaluma Hill Road, and East Cotati Avenue. Regional commute transit and intercity transit exist along the Highway 101 corridor. Local service is provided in the two cities.

The City of Rohnert Park has identified the Petaluma Hill Road corridor for urban development in its most recent General Plan and has agreed to assist in the funding of improvements needed to mitigate resulting traffic impacts in the Penngrove area. These may include traffic calming improvements on Adobe Road, Main Street, and Petaluma Hill Road in combination with capacity improvements on Old Redwood Highway, realignment of Petaluma Hill Road, safety/capacity improvements on Petaluma Hill Road and Railroad Avenue, and the southbound on ramp from Railroad Avenue to Highway 101.

The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria have proposed a large casino and hotel facility near the City of Rohnert Park. The casino has the potential to generate significant demand on the local road network and the Highway 101 corridor.

SMART has identified passenger rail station sites in City of Rohnert Park and City of Cotati.

The following policies apply within the Rohnert Park – Cotati Planning Area:

Policy CT-7u: Work with the Cities of Rohnert Park – Cotati to provide supporting land uses and circulation infrastructure to accommodate passenger rail service in the Cities.

Policy CT-7v: Utilize the SCTA traffic model as a foundation to prepare a detailed operational analysis of roads and streets in the unincorporated community of Penngrove to identify specific traffic calming improvements within the community and to route through traffic to the Highway 101 and SMART rail corridor. As part of this study, consider designating Adobe Road from Davis Lane to Frates Road and Petaluma Hill Road from Formschlag Lane to Railroad Avenue for traffic calming improvements. Also consider improvements to the intersections of Adobe/Corona Roads and Adobe/Frates Roads that could reduce congestions along Adobe Road, provided the improvements are consistent with the applicable road classifications. Develop a phasing mechanism for these improvements that provides for completion of traffic calming improvements on designated roadways in the community prior to improvement of other roads that accommodate through traffic.*

Policy CT-7w: Request cooperation by the Cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, and Petaluma in the funding and implementation of traffic calming and capacity improvements in this area. Work with these Cities in establishing a nexus between development and impacts to the transportation system in order to determine equitable funding contributions. In light of the City of Rohnert Park’s General Plan Policy TR-21A, request that the City assist in the funding of, at a minimum, the following specific improvements necessary to reduce congestion in the unincorporated community of Penngrove resulting from development within the City:

(1)   Highway 101 southbound on ramp at Railroad Avenue,

(2)   Widening at Railroad Avenue and Petaluma Hill Road to 3 lanes where necessary,

(3)   Traffic calming improvements on Main Street, Adobe Road east of Davis Lane, and Petaluma Hill Road south of Formschlag Lane,

(4)   Widening of Old Redwood Highway to 4 lanes, and

(5)   Realignment of Petaluma Hill Road at Railroad Avenue.*

Policy CT-7x: Consider traffic calming improvements on local streets in the unincorporated community of Penngrove in order to reduce through traffic trips attempting to avoid congestion on Petaluma Hill Road, Adobe Road, Old Redwood Highway, and Railroad Avenue.*

Policy CT-7y: Work with the Cities of Rohnert Park, Petaluma, and Cotati to enhance east/west traffic flow through these cities to the Highway 101/SMART rail corridor and to evaluate the feasibility of closure of Petaluma Hill Road and diversion of traffic from the Petaluma Hill corridor near Railroad Avenue to Highway 101.*

Footnote: * Mitigating Policy

Circulation and Transit Programs

Circulation and Transit Program 9: Penngrove Traffic Calming Program

Program Description: The County would utilize the countywide traffic model to prepare a detailed operational analysis of potential traffic calming improvements that would be effective in reducing the amount of through traffic that would utilize the local streets and roads in that community. The analysis would be conducted in cooperation with the community with opportunities for citizen input. This program should be initiated immediately so as to coincide with the new development proposed by the City of Rohnert Park along the Petaluma Hill Road corridor (Policy reference; CT-7v).

Circulation and Transit Program 10: Petaluma Hill Road Diversion Feasibility Study

Program Description: The County would work with adjoining Cities to evaluate the feasibility of diverting traffic from the Petaluma Hill Road corridor onto Railroad Avenue to and from Old Redwood Highway and Highway 101. The study would also include other options for providing east/west connection to the Highway 101/SMART rail corridor (Policy reference: CT-7w, 7y).