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Verano Avenue and Hwy 12 Intersection in the Springs

Caltrans and Partners to Make Pedestrian Safety Improvements to Verano Avenue/Highway 12 Intersection in the Springs, Sonoma County

Highway 12 and Verano Intersection

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Yield Signs on Verano

Update January 16, 2026

The target date for the start of Construction is Spring 2027.

Update September 26, 2025

On November 16, 2023, Caltrans removed the Yield to Pedestrians Signs (see picture) on eastbound and westbound Verano Avenue before the intersection with Route 12. The signs were deemed unnecessary because Caltrans installed new No Left Turn arrows that are activated by pedestrians pushing the button on the signal pole.

UPDATE, August 17, 2023, click below:

Caltrans to Change Signal Timing at Hwy 12/Verano Avenue Intersection on August 23

                                                                     *****

Caltrans and its partners are working on plans to increase pedestrian safety at the Verano Avenue/Highway 12 intersection in the Springs. 

See Collison Data

Typically, improvement projects, including safety upgrades, take many years to implement as a project must go through a process where funding is secured, environmental impacts are assessed, designs are engineered, and traffic movements analyzed. However, the spike in pedestrian collisions at Verano/Hwy 12 and the surrounding area has caused Caltrans to expedite this project.

Still intersections are complicated, and this one is particularly populated with features that require consideration. Maxwell Park, a nearby bike lane, and numerous ingresses and egresses to businesses, creates a bundle of conflicting movements that include pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.  

As opposed to a traditional project where improvements are made during a single phase, Caltrans has broken this project into three components: Improvements Made to Date, Phase I Improvements, and Phase II Improvements.

 

Improvements Made to Date

  • The Sonoma County Transportation Public Works Department upgraded the traditional crosswalk, replacing it with a ladder-style crosswalk.
  • Caltrans refreshed the remaining striping in the intersection to increase visibility.
  • Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) have been implemented at this intersection, giving pedestrians a “WALK” signal before traffic gets a green light. This gives pedestrians a head start across the intersection, but more importantly, it makes them more visible to motorists. 
  • Install larger speed limit signs for the enhanced driver awareness.
  • Install "Yield to Pedestrian" signs near the intersection.
  • Sonoma County Install temporary solar luminaires (overhead lights) at the northwest and southeast quadrants of the intersection to brighten these areas.  Caltrans will install permanent luminaires during the long-term project. 
  • Caltrans implemented a phase where traffic is stopped in all directions including right turns and pedestrians can cross on any leg of the intersection. An exclusive pedestrian phase is rarely implemented on state highways but can be seen in use in many downtowns.
 

The Build Alternative consists of the following engineering features:

  1. Cold plane existing pavement and stripe to install an exclusive left-turn lane from westbound (WB) Verano Avenue to SR 12 and refresh existing striping at all approaches at Verano Avenue and remove the two right-turn pavement markers on eastbound (EB) Verano Avenue going into the driveway.
  2. Upgrade the signalized intersection at SR 12 and Verano Avenue to the latest standards, including the following additions:
    1. Modify WB and EB traffic signals on Verano Avenue and install separate left-turn with protected signal phases to SR 12.
    2. Remove existing lighting and install new lighting per latest standards at SR 12 /Verano Avenue signalized intersection.
    3. Remove the two porkchop islands (slip right turns) and remove free right-turn at the intersection of Verano Avenue and SR 12 install permitted right-turn signals.
    4. Upgrade existing APSs at the SR 12 / Verano Avenue intersection with touchless audible APSs.
  3. Install traffic cameras for analytics at all approaches to the SR 12 / Verano Avenue intersection and controlled and maintained by Caltrans.
  4. Install speed feedback signs on all approaches to the SR 12 / Verano Avenue intersection.
  5. Extend the existing pedestrian railing at the Sonoma Bike Path (at approximately PM 36.10) up to the adjacent driveway (an additional 55 feet).
  6. Extend the curb and gutter to close Lomita Avenue from SR 12, creating an opening for a bike lane leading to Lomita Avenue and all traffic signs will be updated.
  7. Close the sidewalk gap from Donald Street to 150 feet east of Harley Street on SR 12 and construct curb ramps within the State right of way.
  8. Construct a retaining earth system based on geotechnical recommendations between Harley Street and Donald Street.
  9. Add additional signage along the pedestrian railing at the end of the Sonoma Bike Path.
  10. Remove and replace the existing GO inlet located on the south side of Donald St, upgrade existing 12” CMP pipes to 18" APC. Install a concrete gutter behind the wall and G5 (Mod) inlets will be installed to intercept the runoff collected in the wall gutter.
  11. Modify the existing curb opening inlet in the northwest quadrant at Verano Avenue to a manhole. A new curb opening inlet and approximately 11’ of 18” APC will be installed on SR 12 in the northwest quadrant to intercept the runoff from the southbound SR 12 pavement and the adjacent residential areas. This new drainage will connect to the new manhole that was modified.

View Project Visualization