FOLSOM—A long-anticipated pedestrian bridge connecting Broadstone Crossing to the Palladio shopping and entertainment district is moving closer to reality after the Folsom City Council approved a development agreement with Elliott Homes, Inc.
The agreement, approved unanimously on Aug. 26, requires Elliott Homes—the developer behind the Sutter Health complex at Broadstone Crossing Phase II—to contribute $2.5 million toward the design and construction of a pedestrian overcrossing across East Bidwell Street at Iron Point Road. The funding will come in the form of cash and land value, since Elliott owns property on both sides of East Bidwell at the proposed bridge site.
City staff said the project could be completed within 10 years, but a five-year timeframe is possible if state or federal matching funds are secured. The city will oversee construction of the bridge as part of its capital improvement program, while the developer will fund its share of design, environmental review, and construction.
“This agreement ensures that traffic and pedestrian needs are addressed as development continues in one of the busiest corridors of the city,” said Community Development Director Pam Johns in the staff report.
The pedestrian bridge requirement stems from a transportation impact study prepared for Broadstone Crossing II, which projected the project would generate more than 5,500 daily vehicle trips, including over 700 during peak evening hours. The study identified deficiencies at eight key intersections, including East Bidwell and Iron Point, East Bidwell and Broadstone Parkway, and the U.S. 50 eastbound ramps.
To mitigate those impacts, Elliott Homes is also required to fund roadway improvements totaling an estimated $3.6 million. The agreement calls for an initial $1.445 million deposit, followed by an additional $2.155 million to cover the balance of the improvements. Work will include updated signal coordination, restriping intersections, extending turn pockets, and adding new turn lanes.
Together, the developer’s commitments cover both traffic abatement and the fair share contribution for the pedestrian overcrossing. City staff emphasized that the arrangement ensures there will be no impact to Folsom’s General Fund.
Broadstone Crossing Phase II subdivides an 18.7-acre site at 1565 Cavitt Drive into three parcels with three buildings totaling more than 200,000 square feet. The centerpiece is a 106,500-square-foot Sutter Medical Office Building, which will be the largest of the three structures.
The medical campus is expected to generate significant new trips into the area. By funding both roadway improvements and the pedestrian bridge, the developer is addressing both vehicle congestion and pedestrian safety concerns that would otherwise hinder traffic flow along East Bidwell.
Planning commissioners voiced support for the agreement at their Aug. 20 meeting, while also raising concerns about timing. To expedite eligibility for state and federal funding, Elliott Homes agreed to make an initial $1 million deposit toward the pedestrian bridge within 30 days of the city releasing a request for design and engineering proposals. The balance will be due once that first deposit is largely spent.
The pedestrian bridge is intended to provide a safe connection between Broadstone Crossing, which will house Sutter Health facilities and other offices, and the Palladio across East Bidwell. Without an overcrossing, pedestrian crossings at street level could worsen congestion and reduce the effectiveness of signal coordination along the corridor.
City officials emphasized that while the developer’s $2.5 million share is significant, additional funding from state or federal sources will still be required to complete the bridge. The project remains on track to be finished well within the 10-year term of the agreement once those resources are secured.
With approval of the development agreement, work can now move forward on both the new Sutter Health complex and the public improvements designed to support it—an investment city leaders say will benefit Folsom residents, businesses, and visitors for years to come.
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