The Cotati City Council at its June 20 meeting unanimously approved the donation of city property to facilitate a Caltrans safety improvement project at the intersection of Highway 116 and Madrone Avenue.
The council had long wanted to find ways to improve safety at this particular intersection, where there were two fatal car collisions in 2009. It is still considered a dangerous intersection in the city, which also serves Thomas Page Elementary School.
“We have been advocating for a left turn lane at Madrone Avenue for years,” said Vice Mayor Pat Gilardi, Cotati's representative on the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA). “The project has taken quite some time to go through the Caltrans design process. This donation is a clear indication that these long-awaited improvements are truly moving forward.”
Cotati City Engineer Damien O’Bid said the total area of the donated land is 23,558 square feet, which consists of two slivers of city property between Highway 116 and Derby Lane, which are bisected by Madrone Avenue.
The project will widen Highway 116, including adding a center turn pocket for both east and westbound traffic turning onto Madrone Avenue.
Caltrans currently is in the process of getting final construction funding authorization from the California Transportation Commission and finalizing design plans. 
Caltrans will then list the project for advertisement, then advertise and award the work.  However, actual construction cannot begin until June 15th, 2013, because of environmental restrictions.
According to Cotati Mayor Susan Harvey, “This project is a high priority to Cotati and will provide public benefit by improving safety for children and parents at Thomas Page School, as well as all motorists who pass through this intersection.”