Ross has some big projects coming down the line in the next five years, including repaving on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.

The Town Council received an update on its capital improvement plan on Feb. 13 as part of the annual budgeting process.

“There are a few elements that are variable and we need to make sure we’re not overloading our capital projects beyond the ability to fund those projects,” said Richard Simonitch, the town’s public works director.

Simonitch suggested focusing on repaving and restriping Sir Francis Drake Boulevard between El Camino Bueno and Bolinas Avenue this year instead of fiscal year 2027-28. In return, a fiscal year 2025-26 project to repave Canyon and Walters roads will be planned for 2027-28.

A contract with a consultant to design the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard repaving project will be brought to the Town Council at its next meeting. Simonitch said some safety features can be added.

“We’re not going to look at installing a new traffic light or crosswalks or things like that,” Simonitch said. “That’s for another time. I think we want to get this repaved and get into the modern standard of striping there at Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.”

Councilmember Mathew Salter asked if there is a way to use grant funding, like from Safe Routes to Schools, to help pay for safety improvements in the project. Simonitch said the town would have to wait for the next grant cycle in about four years.

Simonitch also said repaving Morrison Road is essential.

“It’s an utter, complete failure as far as pavement condition concerns,” Simonitch said. “I’ve been promising those people up there that we would get Morrison Road paved.”Several projects listed in the plan are already in the design phase or near construction. Simonitch said he hopes to get the pedestrian bridges at Natalie Coffin Greene Park completed this year. The project to replace the Winship Bridge is undergoing National Environmental Policy Act evaluation.

Mayor William Kircher asked how long construction could take. Simonitch said the consultants estimated six to seven months of continuous construction, potentially beginning in April 2026.

“I think we’d have to demo the bridge a few months before school gets out, so there will be that impact,” said Simonitch, adding that students would have to take a different route to school.

A path project on Allen Avenue should be completed this year, but a project to rebuild the Civic Center campus is just beginning, and Simonitch hopes to have the final design by the 2028-29 fiscal year. Phase two of a drainage project on Bolinas Avenue is scheduled for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

In fiscal year 2027-28, staff plan to start phase three of a new pedestrian path on Laurel Grove from Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Canyon Road. Phase three is an extension to the original project and will costs around $750,000. Simonitch said he is looking at some Safe Routes to Schools funding to come in for it.

Simonitch said he is also looking at Safe Routes to Schools funding for path projects along Shady Lane and Allen Avenue.

A utility undergrounding project in west Ross is in the final design phase. Officials are also working on various petitions to form undergrounding districts, but emphasized the burden these projects have on the town’s limited staff.

“I think the fear we’re all realizing is these districts start mushrooming and then there’s no control over it, so I think it’s trying the amend the policy so we incorporate a timeline and a vision of how we would lay out the resources over a period of time,” Salter said.

Salter also asked staff to add a project to address a drainage issue at Ross Common “whenever you can slot it in.” Councilmember Elizabeth Robbins agreed that it was a big issue at the park. Simonitch said it would be a small, doable project.

Road paving is funded by road impact fees — which are 1% of the valuation of building permits that the town receives — plus gas tax revenues, Tam Measure A and AA and some grants, Simonitch said. Drainage is paid for by drainage impact fees and a federal program. Improvements to town facilities can be funded through grants and the operating fund.

The town has around $10 million in its capital fund, but Simonitch predicts the fund will go down to approximately $6 million once design and environmental consultants are hired for various projects. He said $6 million will not likely not be enough for construction costs, which are hard to predict.