A ten-year legal deadlock in North Santa Rosa has finally been broken.
The Press Democrat reports the SMART rail board voted 8-to-2 Wednesday to approve a pedestrian and bike crossing at Jennings Avenue. The project has been stalled since 2017, when the rail line was fenced off, forcing residents of the working-class neighborhood into long detours to reach schools and bus stations.
The breakthrough came after state regulators threatened to intervene in a long-standing dispute over liability insurance.
While construction isn’t expected to finish until 2028, local leaders say the deal marks a vital step in reconnecting a divided community.