FOLSOM — The Folsom City Council on Tuesday approved the next major phase of the East Bidwell pedestrian overcrossing project, authorizing $1.65 million in design and engineering services for the long-planned grade-separated crossing over one of the city’s busiest transportation corridors.
The project is intended to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety along East Bidwell Street, which carries heavy traffic between Highway 50 and the Clarksville Road and Scholar Way area and currently lacks a nearby grade-separated crossing. City officials say increasing development, employment centers, medical offices and regional retail destinations along the corridor have intensified the need for safer, more efficient pedestrian movement.
“The East Bidwell pedestrian overcrossing will provide a critical connection across one of Folsom’s most congested corridors, while reducing conflicts between vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists,” Kelly Gonzalez, the city’s Parks and Recreation Director, said in the staff report presented to council pedestrian.
The overcrossing project is being advanced as part of transportation mitigation associated with the Broadstone Crossing II development, a Sutter Medical Office Building project located at the northeast corner of East Bidwell Street and Iron Point Road. That development was approved with conditions requiring improvements to address its impacts on nearby roadway operations and pedestrian circulation.
Under the development agreement adopted in 2025, the developer is required to fund up to $2.5 million for the design, environmental review and right-of-way acquisition needed for a pedestrian overcrossing. Construction of the structure, along with future maintenance and repairs, will remain the responsibility of the City of Folsom.
According to the staff report, the pedestrian overcrossing is anticipated to be located somewhere between Via Sol and Iron Point Road, connecting future segments of the Folsom-Placerville Rail Trail on the east side of East Bidwell Street with shopping centers, schools, parks and office uses on the west side.
City staff issued a request for proposals in October 2025 seeking professional engineering design and environmental clearance services. Two firms submitted proposals, which were evaluated by a review panel consisting of Parks and Recreation and Public Works staff, along with a representative from the developer.
Following proposal scoring and interviews, Wood Rodgers Inc. was selected as the highest-ranked firm based on experience, project approach and technical qualifications. Staff noted the firm’s familiarity with similar infrastructure projects in Folsom, including previous work on the Highway 50 Class I undercrossing and East Bidwell operational improvements.
“Wood Rodgers demonstrated a strong understanding of the project constraints and identified opportunities to coordinate work across multiple city projects, which could result in efficiencies and cost savings,” Gonzalez said in the report pedestrian.
The approved agreement authorizes $1.652 million for design and engineering services, with an additional $200,000 allocated for city staff time, bringing the total design-phase budget to $1.852 million. Funding for this phase will come entirely from developer contributions deposited into the city’s Transportation Improvement Fund, with no impact to the general fund.
While construction funding has not yet been identified, preliminary estimates place construction costs between $9 million and $14 million, depending on the final alignment, structure type and design features. As part of the approved scope of work, the design team will assist the city with identifying and pursuing potential grant funding sources for construction.
The scope of work includes conceptual planning, public outreach, environmental clearance under both the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, preliminary engineering, right-of-way coordination and final design, including ramps and trail connections.
A tentative schedule presented to council shows preliminary engineering beginning in early 2026, with environmental clearance extending into 2027. Final design and right-of-way work are expected to conclude by October 2027, positioning the project as shovel-ready by that time.
“With continued growth along the East Bidwell corridor, providing a safe, grade-separated pedestrian crossing is essential to maintaining acceptable levels of service and supporting multimodal transportation in Folsom,” Gonzalez said in the report pedestrian.
City staff are expected to return to the City Council at a later date with environmental documents for certification and future recommendations regarding construction funding.
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