Public Outreach

Ongoing community outreach and partnering agency coordination has been an essential part of the Gleason Beach Roadway Realignment Project at every stage of the project beginning with the EIR scoping meeting in 2014 held to identify environmental constraints through to the SR 1 Sonoma Coast Emergency Repair Town Hall meetings held in Spring/Summer 2019 to keep the community informed about multiple, ongoing roadway repairs critical to keeping the roadway operational.

Based on proactive dialogue with the community, Caltrans has continued to refine the project design to minimize environmental impacts that will keep the roadway operational for decades and to incorporate public access and design elements that will provide community benefits (for Changes Since the EIR click here).

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An overview of community outreach to-date is included below.

Community Outreach and Meetings Timeline

Community meetings were held March 2014, July 2015, April 2016, February 2017, November 2017, April 2018, May 2019, and July 2019. Project newsletters were issued Spring 2016, Winter 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, and Summer/Fall 2018.

Community Outreach and Meetings

March 2014 Community Meeting
A project scoping meeting was held in Bodega Bay to provide project information and to receive comments from the community regarding the proposed project. Key comments received during and after the project scoping include the following*:
- Visual Impacts of the project.
- Access to houses on Old Highway 1, and issue of public parking.
- Consideration of a shorter bridge design.
*A complete overview of community meetings is included in the SR 1 Gleason Beach Roadway Final EIR/EA.
July 2015 Community Meeting
Caltrans held an Open House with a Q&A panel to solicit public comments on the Draft EIR/EA. Comments were taken into consideration in the Final EIR/EA. Key comments received during and after the public open house include the following*:
- Visual impact and design of the roadway, bridge and public access improvements.
- Restoration of Scotty Creek.
- Public access to Gleason Beach and other public improvements.
*A complete overview of community meetings is included in the SR 1 Gleason Beach Roadway Final EIR/EA.
April 2016 Community Meeting/Spring 2016 Newsletter
Caltrans held a community meeting and Q&A forum to provide a project update since the release of the Draft EIR/EA including the Preferred Alternative. Key comments received during and after the project update meeting include the following*:
- Status of SR 1 roadway and emergency repairs.
- Safety concerns and status of plans to limit heavy trucks from traveling on SR 1.
- One-way traffic control and emergency repairs.
*A complete overview of community meetings is included in the SR 1 Gleason Beach Roadway Final EIR/EA.

Project Status

The Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) was made available for a 45-day general public and public agency review period from July 9, 2015 to August 24, 2015. Final EIR/EA is expected June 30, 2016.

As a result of public input and Caltrans’ evaluation of potential environmental impacts associated with the three alternatives discussed in the Draft EIR/EA and public input, Alternative 19A was selected as the preferred alternative.

Project Benefits
- Continued access along SR 1 for residents, visitors and businesses near Gleason Beach
- A long-term approach to address continual coastal bluff erosion that threatens the stability of the roadway
- Preservation of the highly scenic coastal landscape by maintaining the road as a two-lane roadway
- Daylighting Scotty Creek is expected to improve the flow of Scotty Creek and thus have a beneficial effect upon the creek
- Recreational enhancements including bicycle and pedestrian access
- Enhanced public access including some parking, vehicular turnarounds and beach boardwalk/stairs
Download full newsletter here
February 2017 Community Meeting/Winter 2017 Newsletter
Caltrans held a community meeting in Bodega Bay. Technical specialists provided an overview on the bridge design (including height, length, bulk) and related constraints including environmental, structural, and visual.

The community selected Design Concept 3 (see rendering below). Caltrans selected this design as its official type selection, based on community and California Coastal Commission and Sonoma County input. The bridge design evokes the classic Bixby Bridge style and seeks to complement the natural surroundings and provide a cohesive, regional design aesthetic.

Project Status

Caltrans certified the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) on June 30, 2016. Next, Caltrans is preparing to submit permit applications and obtaining agency approvals by early-2018 to commence construction in 2019, including, but not limited to:
- Water Quality Certification by the Regional Water Quality Control Board under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
- Permits approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
- 1602 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Coastal Development Permit/Local Coastal Plan Amendment
Download full newsletter here
November 2017 Community Meeting/Fall 2017 Newsletter

Caltrans and its partnering agencies facilitated a followup community meeting in Bodega Bay to share the latest project plans with the community including bridge and roadway designs and the latest public access and biological restoration plans.

Project Update

Based on community and partnering agency input, received at the Community meeting in February 2017, Caltrans has selected Design Concept 3 (see graphic below) as its official type selection. The bridge design evokes the classic style of other coastal highway bridges and seeks to complement the natural surroundings and provide a cohesive, regional design aesthetic.

The project also maintains access to homes and enhancements to public access, including considerations for beach and pedestrian/bicycle access and parking.

Caltrans also continues to work with agencies on the biological restoration along Scotty Creek and to obtain approvals by spring-2018 to commence construction in 2019.

Download full newsletter here
Spring 2018 Newsletter/Sonoma County Board Meeting
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution authorizing the Coastal Commission to consolidate approvals required for this project into a single Coastal Permit to be processed by the Commission.

Project Update

In partnership with Sonoma County and the Coastal Commission, the Gleason Beach Realignment Project balances the need to protect the scenic qualities of the Sonoma Coast and improve connectivity and resiliency of the transportation network for coastal communities for years to come.

Caltrans has maintained the roadway as a two‐lane highway and provided for safer access for pedestrians and bicyclists; the inland bypass of the roadway would also accommodate sea level rise and bluff erosion, both long‐range planning efforts for each entity; the project would also protect and enhance sensitive coastal resources, including wetlands and public access.

The project will provide resources to fund public access enhancements and biological restoration that will benefit the region, including the following:
- Cleanup of the bluff at Gleason Beach
- Maintain parking and beach access
- Development of the California Coastal Trail within the project limits
- A bicycle/pedestrian bridge across the mouth of Scotty Creek
- Restoration of the lower reach of Scotty Creek for fish passage and on‐site wetland mitigation plan
Download full newsletter here
Summer/Fall 2018 Newsletter
Project Update

The project will provide resources to fund public access enhancements and biological restoration that will benefit the region, including the following:
- Cleanup of the bluff at Gleason Beach
- Maintain parking and beach access
- Development of the California Coastal Train plan within the project limits
- A bicycle and pedestrian bridge across the mouth of Scotty Creek
- Restoration of the lower reach of Scotty Creek for fish passage and on-site wetland mitigation plan
Download full newsletter here
May 2019 Community Meeting

A community meeting was held in May. Caltrans initiated emergency repair projects along the Sonoma Coast including at post mile 15.4 within the Gleason Beach project area. Caltrans completed the installation of one-way traffic control in May 2019 to conduct minor repairs due to cracking and subsidence.
July 2019 Community Meeting

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