By Sara Beth Williams–
The Citrus Heights City Council unanimously approved amendments related to the Gateway Activation Project, a planned trail and roadway improvement project connecting Citrus Heights to both local and neighboring jurisdiction trail networks.
The city describes the Gateway Activation Project, or GAP, as a step toward its goal of creating a “well-connected, safe, and sustainable” Complete Streets network.
The project proposes road safety and traffic improvements along Old Auburn Road and Wachtel Way, including safer crossing access at Argo Drive and changes intended to address speeding and vehicle queuing along Old Auburn Road.
The proposed safety improvements include adding three single-lane roundabouts at Old Auburn Road and Argo Drive, Old Auburn Road and Wachtel Way, and Old Auburn Road at Oakwood Hills Circle/Linda Creek Court. Other planned improvements in safety include adding Class I and Class IV multi-use paths along Old Auburn Road and Wachtel Way.
One of the project’s primary goals is to connect the existing Old Auburn Multi-Use Trail and Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail in Citrus Heights with the Dry Creek Greenway trail being constructed in Roseville. The eventual goal of regional trail connections is to create a continuous route extending toward Folsom Lake and, ultimately, Lake Tahoe, city staff said.
The project will require removal of some existing trees and additional right-of-way acquisition to accommodate the proposed paths, roundabouts, roadway and sidewalk improvements.
The amendments approved “ensure the city’s regulatory documents remain consistent with the planned improvements,” which staff said will help position the project for future grant funding.
Community feedback:
City staff said they conducted extensive community outreach over the past year, including two workshops at Big Oak Senior Mobile Home Park, pop-up workshops along the existing Old Auburn Road trail, mailers, a project webpage and a 30-day environmental review period.
The city received six public comments during the environmental review. Most supported the project, while some raised concerns about noise and privacy and requested additional fencing.
Roundabouts remained one of the more significant concerns raised by residents.
Community feedback collected in April 2025 showed mixed opinions on the roundabouts. About half of residents surveyed said they did not favor roundabouts, while most also did not favor installing a traffic signal at Wachtel Way and Old Auburn Road. Some residents supported removing the stop sign at Oakwood Hills Circle East.
During a City Council meeting in May, one Citrus Heights resident cautioned against the proposed roundabouts, saying some drivers may not understand how to navigate them and could fail to yield or speed through the intersections.
City staff said roundabouts were discussed at community workshops, where conceptual designs, traffic simulations and interactive displays were used to demonstrate how the proposed intersections could improve traffic flow and pedestrian and bicycle safety.
A traffic analysis by Fehr & Peers found a single-lane roundabout would be the best option at Old Auburn Road and Argo Drive when compared with a traffic signal or pedestrian hybrid beacon. The analysis found the roundabout would reduce travel speeds and improve pedestrian crossing opportunities.
At Wachtel Way and Oakwood Hills Circle East, the city’s analysis found the proposed roundabouts would significantly reduce vehicle que delays during the morning peak period. Average delays at Wachtel Way are currently about 56 seconds and 38 seconds at Oakwood Hills Circle East. With the proposed roundabouts, those delays are projected to fall to 13 seconds and nine seconds, respectively.
Though the possibility of adding more roundabouts throughout the city has been discussed more frequently by city staff and the City Council as of late, few roundabouts exist in Citrus Heights currently. One was added at Stock Ranch Road and Fountain Square Drive in the early 2000s to help traffic flow through the housing subdivision off Stock Ranch Road, while another one was added more recently in 2021 on Arcadia Drive during the construction of the recent Mitchell Village housing project.
Despite differing opinions on specific intersection designs, dozens of community members identified improving safety, slowing traffic and making pedestrian improvements as important priorities during community workshops held by the city.
The Gateway Activation Project’s environmental study and development to date have been funded through state budget allocations received in 2022. Construction funding has not yet been identified.
Community Development Director Casey Kempenaar said the city would begin pursuing grants and other funding for final design and construction following approval of the amendments. Construction is still several years away, he said.
Since May, the city has also sought to advance other trail projects, including two trail extension projects, one from Mariposa Avenue to Sylvan Road, and another from Sylvan Road to Stock Ranch Nature preserve.
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