Willits Bypass Project Update
For current information, see the Caltrans District 1 website for the Willits Bypass project. Refer to "Project Details" at the menu sidebar. Meanwhile, MCOG continues to address project updates on its Board of Directors agendas. For MCOG agendas and meeting minutes, refer to MCOG Meetings on this website. |
| Letter to the Editor, The Willits News dated June 26, 2007 - "I would like to extend our appreciation to all those concerned citizens who recently wrote letters to the California Transportation Commission in support of the U.S. 101 Bypass of Willits. Approximately 500 letters of support were received by the Commission from Willits, Brooktrails and beyond..." - signed Phillip J. Dow, Executive Director. |
The first phase of the four-lane U.S. 101 Bypass of Willits is now funded, so this project can proceed toward construction in 2010. In a unanimous vote of the California Transportation Commission (CTC) on Thursday, June 7, 2007, the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) 2006 Augmentation was approved as recommended by CTC staff. The program includes $60 million of Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP) funds, adding to all fu"nds previously programmed for the bypass. No further funds were required from MCOG as the regional partner. Next steps are continuation of design, acquisition of right-of-way (which is fully funded), and environmental mitigation. According to MCOG Executive Director Phil Dow, benefits of the phased project include:
Although safety and other concerns remain unresolved,
MCOG's Board of Directors unanimously supported the first phase at their
meeting of June 4, with the intent that their concerns will be worked
out over time. |
| Letter from MCOG Board to Caltrans Director Kempton dated May 10, 2007. "The Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) met on May 7, 2007, and had its first opportunity to discuss the Caltrans/CTC proposal for a staged improvement of the U.S. 101 bypass of Willits..."
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| On April 4, 2007, Caltrans District 1 convened a special meeting at the City of Willits council chambers. Visiting dignitaries included California Transportation Commission Chair James Ghielmetti, Commissioner Bob Alvarado, CTC Executive Director John Barna, and Caltrans Director Will Kempton. Invited guests included MCOG Executive Director Phil Dow, local elected officials, legislative district representatives, city staff members, and Willits Bypass design engineers. District 1 project manager John Bulinski chaired the meeting, which was open to the public. The purpose of the meeting was to "summarize the statues of the Willits Bypass project and explore possible options for phasing the project" and to "gather public input." District 1 proposed a first-phase project alternative with a full freeway interchange at the southern end of the bypass route for a Route 20 exit, transition to two lanes, several bridges, a shortened section of viaduct over the flood plain, and a two-lane roundabout intersection at the north end. In lieu of the hoped-for bond funds, Caltrans Director Will Kempton described available funding sources and indicated that he would seek funds from Caltrans' Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP) to augment the existing bypass funding, with the goal of building a first phase of the project. He emphasized that the project would be in competition with statewide needs, so no promises could be made. Afterward, the group was led on a "field review" of the bypass route. A more thorough report of the meeting will be posted to this site when available.
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| MCOG Press Release dated March 5, 2007. "At its regular meeting today, Mendocino Council of Governments considered how best to react to the California Transportation Commission’s rejection, in a blatantly political move, of MCOG’s top project and the Commission’s own staff’s recommendation..."
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| The CMIA Program adopted by the California Transportation Commission at their meeting of Wednesday, February 28, 2007 is available on the CTC website at http://www.catc.ca.gov/ (refer to “Highlights”). Although CTC staff continued to recommend funding for the Willits Bypass through their final revisions on Monday, the project was eliminated from the funding list by vote of the Commissioners.
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| MCOG Press Release dated February 20, 2007. "On Friday, February 16, the California Transportation Commission released its initial staff recommendations on applications for Proposition 1B bond funds within the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) program. The Willits Bypass project is recommended for funding at $177 million..."
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| On January 12, 2007, Executive
Director Phil Dow submitted the project nomination for Corridor Mobility
Improvement Account funding, as directed by MCOG's Board of Directors.
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| MCOG Press Release dated January 10, 2007. At its January 8 meeting, after hearing both supporters testifying strongly in favor and a vocal minority objecting to the project, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to adopt the resolution "Endorsing the Willits Bypass Project as the Candidate for Funding Under the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA)." Resolution
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| The U.S. 101 bypass of Willits is the region’s top priority project. MCOG is a funding partner with Caltrans. A description of the project can be found at the Caltrans District 1 website.
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| The Environmental Impact Report has been completed after 14 years of environmental review, public comment, and response to comments. The EIR requires a mitigation plan that Caltrans District 1 will implement. Copies of the EIR are available from Jeremy Ketchum, Project Environmental Branch Chief in Sacramento, at (916) 274-0621, and may also be viewed at the County public library or online at District 1.
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| Upon completion of the environmental phase, Caltrans may proceed with right-of-way acquisition, which is fully funded. The design phase is well underway with identification of the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA), the route alternative named “Modified J1T.”
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| The construction phase is partially funded to date. MCOG and Caltrans are seeking remaining construction funds needed from Proposition 1B bonds under the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) program of the California Transportation Commission (CTC). The CTC’s adopted CMIA guidelines may be viewed at http://www.catc.ca.gov/ (refer to “Highlights”).
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| Executive Director Phil Dow’s letter to City of Willits for their Council meeting of December 13, 2006 summarizes status of the project and responds to some local concerns.
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| The MCOG Board of Directors met January 8, 2007 to take action on the proposed application for CMIA funds. Agenda
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| Materials for Agenda #6a - Technical Advisory Committee Recommendations of December 20, 2006: Adoption of Resolution No. M2007-__ Endorsing the Willits Bypass Project as the Candidate for Funding Under the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA):
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Photos by J. Orth
Top: Traffic on Main Street-101 and Route 20 in central Willits.
Bottom: Traffic backed up on South Main Street-101 looking south from
the hospital at Madrone Street.
