Following the approval of Proposition 68, plans were made to develop a Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan with the goal of improving various parks and open spaces throughout Albany.  The City Council adopted the master plan and PROS Commission approved the scope of work proposed for Memorial Park, including dog park improvements.  Starting November 12, 2024, construction will begin for irrigation and drainage improvements; a new sidewalk along Carmel Avenue; a new entrance with a holding area; a new small dog area; a new bottle filler; new benches; trees and other amenities.  This means the dog park will be open to the public on an adjusted schedule November 12-22, open from 4pm-8pm.  The bulk of the work will be completed during the annual Winter closure of the dog park starting in December.  This project is made possible by the Prop 68 Recreational Infrastructure Revenue Enhancement grant program.   

Check out a video of the project concept here!

Renderings

The San Pablo Avenue Pedestrian Improvements Project developed out of the 2016 San Pablo Avenue and Buchanan Street Complete Streets Project (CIP Project 24001), which was supported by funding through a state Active Transportation Project (ATP) Cycle 1 Grant. Development of the project advanced through 90% design development in 2019 when the project was subdivided into three phases to fit available funding.

Phase 1

UPDATE 10/29/24: Construction began on March 18, 2024 and work is ongoing. The project has experienced delays during construction due to adjacent projects in construction and unforeseen obstructions; City staff are coordinating project completion.

Phase 1 work consists of pedestrian safety improvements along San Pablo Avenue at Brighton, Castro, Garfield, and Portland Avenue. Project work includes ADA compliant curb ramp construction, crosswalk relocation at Brighton Avenue, pedestrian refuge islands, high-visibility crosswalks, audible pedestrian push buttons, and installation of solar flashing beacons at the intersections of Castro/San Pablo and Portland/San Pablo.

Phase 1 improvements are supported through federal funding from the One Bay Area Grant 2 (OBAG2) Program, as well as Measure B and BB DLD funds distributed by Alameda CTC.

Project History:

• December 4, 2023: Award of Contract No. C23-08 to GradeTech Inc. for Construction of the Project (Resolution No. 2023-75)
• July 17, 2023: Authorize Call for Bids for Phase I Construction (C23-08) (Resolution No. 2023-53)
• May 16, 2022: Award of Contract C22-32 to Zoon Engineering for Project Management Support (Resolution No. 2022-44)

Note: Planned improvements at the Clay/San Pablo Avenue intersection will be constructed by Alameda County Transportation Commission (CTC) under the “San Pablo Avenue Safety Enhancements Project” due to inter-project coordination needs. For more information about this and other Alameda CTC projects along the San Pablo Avenue Corridor, please visit: https://www.alamedactc.org/programs-projects/multimodal-arterial-roads/sanpabloave

Phase 2

Phase 2 work under the San Pablo Avenue and Buchanan Complete Streets project consisted primarily of adding traffic signalization at the southern Washington/San Pablo Avenue intersection for pedestrian and cyclist safety. Recognizing a need for coordination with Alameda CTC’s work along San Pablo Avenue Corridor and benefits to a single unified project, implementation of the Phase 2 work will be constructed in conjunction with other Alameda CTC project work under the “San Pablo Avenue Safety Enhancements Project”.

For more information about this work and other Alameda CTC projects along the San Pablo Avenue Corridor, please visit: https://www.alamedactc.org/programs-projects/multimodal-arterial-roads/sanpabloave

Phase 3

Phase 3 work consists of improvements along Buchanan Avenue. This phase is currently awaiting funding availability and completion of work under Phases 1 & 2.

Since March 15, 2024, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) have been working install a new water pipeline to improve water service in Albany & Berkeley. EBMUD will work on San Pablo Avenue between Kains Avenue & Harrison Street (Berkeley). Intersecting side streets will be temporarily affected as work progresses.

UPDATE 10/29/24: Pipeline construction is completed and pavement restoration is to follow.

For more information, visit EBMUD's project page:

San Pablo Ave Pipeline Replacement :: East Bay Municipal Utility District (ebmud.com)

UPDATE 5/20/24: The 2023 Pavement Maintenance and Repair Project is substantially complete.  This project included the application of a thin slurry overlay, restoration of traffic striping and markings, and the implementation of red curb paint consistent with new state legislation (Assembly Bill No. 413) and the City's intersection Red Curb Policy within project limits. 

UPDATE 4/16/24: Slurry seal construction began on Wednesday, 4/10/2024.  However, initial equipment failures and unusually cold weather delayed the first three days of the slurry schedule. Slurry seal resumed on Monday, 4/15/2024.  Streets that were scheduled for Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 that were delayed will be revisited toward the end of the schedule.  Please open the link below to see the revised slurry seal schedule.

REVISED Slurry Seal Schedule 4-16-2024

Slurry seal treatment applied to Key Route Boulevard

UPDATE 4/5/24: The construction contractor has removed traffic striping and painted temporary striping ahead of the anticipated slurry seal.  Additional preparatory crack sealing is scheduled to begin MONDAY 4/8/2024 and slurry seal is scheduled to begin WEDNESDAY 4/10/2024 following the street sequence shown on the Slurry Seal Sequence Map below, weather permitting.

Please follow the instructions provided by the contractor’s notification flyers.  If special accommodations are needed, please contact the Construction Manager or City Project Manager (information below the Slurry Seal Sequence Map).

UPDATE 3/14/24: The 2023 Pavement Maintenance and Repair Project is scheduled to end its winter weather hold and resume construction in April 2024.  The paving contractor, Dryco Construction, will distribute construction notice flyers with further details and in the coming weeks.  No changes to the original street sequence are anticipated.  See street sequencing map below.

In the coming weeks, Dryco and their subcontractors will perform the following:

• Temporarily remove traffic striping on project streets;
• Set out “No Parking” signs 72-hours ahead of scheduled streets;
• Apply a thin slurry seal overlay; and
• Restore traffic striping and implement intersection red curb paint consistent with new state legislation (Assembly Bill No. 413) and the City's intersection red curb policy within project limits.

City Red Curb Procedures

Impacts to the streets and sidewalks:

• Pedestrian access at crossings will be restricted during construction.
• Parking and through-traffic may be restricted on days of work.  Crews will set up temporary ‘No Parking’ signs 72 hours ahead of work at each location.  Roads will be fully closed during the slurry application and will be reopened at the end of the workday after the slurry has dried.

Click on the image above to open a larger PDF map. 

Note: During work at 535, 545, and 555 Pierce Street, at least one driveway will remain open so residents can get in and out. To lessen traffic impacts, trips in/out of the area during the day of construction should be limited, if possible. Please follow instructions from the construction crews as traffic conditions may change during the day.

Pierce Street Closure Sequencing

 Thank you for your patience during street maintenance.

For construction and project questions and if special accommodations need to be made, please reach out to the project contacts:

Construction Manager
Brian MacRae
(510) 813-0039
bmacrae@zoon-eng.com 

Project Manager
David Lam
(510) 559-4270
dlam@albanyca.org

UPDATE 11/2/2023: Slurry sealing is postponed due to inclement weather until Spring 2024. Weather is a critical aspect of quality control for slurry applications and unfortunately recent weather conditions, including cooler temperatures, are not conducive for placement of the pavement maintenance treatment. Work will resume in Spring 2024 and advance notices will be provided a minimum of two weeks in advance of work, including updates on schedule of streets and lane closures. Thank you for your patience. 

 UPDATE 10/16/2023:  Slurry sealing is currently scheduled for the week of 10/23/2023. The slurry seal will be applied according to the schedule shown in the slurry street sequencing map below, as weather allows. The work limits are approximate.

 UPDATE 09/25/23: Dryco Constuction will be finishing up digout paving around the city at project locations. Coming up, contractors will come through to remove existing traffic striping ahead of applying the slurry seal on project streets.  Slurry seal is currently planned to begin on the week of October 16th. Dryco will post 'No Parking' signs on the streets at least 72 hours ahead of the working day.  Please make arrangements to avoid traveling on the construction day, if possible.  Please contact the Construction Manager or City Project Manager listed below if special accommodations are needed. 

The City’s Pavement Management Program currently alternates full rehabilitation of aging pavement in poor condition with maintenance of City pavement in fair to good condition. The 2023 Pavement Maintenance and Repair Project is a pavement preservation treatment project covering approximately 7 linear miles, or 125,000 square yards. 

PROJECT MAP

Project elements include:

• Preparatory crack sealing;
• Pavement digouts to repair isolated pavement failures;
• Grinding existing striping prior to slurry application;
• Thin slurry overlay;
• Re-striping with the existing striping configuration after slurry application, except that crosswalks at streets within the Pedestrian Priority Network in the Active Transportation Plan will be updated to “triple four’ type crosswalks; and
• Implementation of red curb paint per Council’s Guidelines for Restricting Street Parking Near Intersections (Resolution No. 2023-43).

This project is budgeted under the City's Annual Street Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 21000) and is expected to begin construction in Fall 2023. 

Council Action:

• Authorized Call for Bids - Contract C23-30 (May 15, 2023)
• Awarded Construction Contracts (July 17, 2023)

UPDATE 10/29/24: The project is substantially complete.

UPDATE 2/20/24:  The storm drain connection improvements at Neilson Street and Terrace Street, including a new manhole connection into the Neilson Street storm drain, curb ramp, and Type A storm drain inlet, was completed in December 2023.  New high strength cross drain tread plates are being fabricated and their installation along with other inlet improvements are anticipated in late March/April.

The City owns and maintains approximately 12 miles of storm drain pipelines and culverts. Refresh and rehabilitation of these City facilities is funded annually through the City's Annual Storm Drain Rehabilitation Program under the Capital Improvement Program (CIP No. 35000). The City's Maintenance Staff is responsible for day-to-day management of the storm drain system. 

The 2023 Storm Drain Repair Project scope consists of local storm drain repairs and replacements around the city requiring resources beyond maintenance, including:

• Cross drain trench plate replacement
• Drain inlet and junction box replacement
• Drain inlet concrete repairs
• Drain grate replacement
• Storm drain pipe and manhole installation

The Project is anticipated to begin construction in October 2023. See Project Map for specific locations.

For questions, please contact the City's Project Manager, David Lam, at dlam@albanyca.org, or (510) 559-4270.

City Council History: 

• Authorization to Bid - June 20, 2023 (Reso. No. 2023-45)
• Award of Construction Contract - September 18, 2023 (Reso. No. 2023-66)

The City owns and maintains approximately 34 miles of sewer main and 14 miles of lower laterals. In 2014, the City of Albany, along with seven other East Bay cities and agencies, entered into a Consent Decree agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency, et. al, which requires rehabilitation of at least 5,706 linear feet of sewer main per year. 

This project is part of the City’s Annual Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 32000), which formalizes the Albany's annual investment into the City's sanitary sewer system and plans for projected needs on a five-year time horizon. 

The current project consists of rehabilitation of 5,161 feet of 8-inch sewer mains by pipe-bursting and open cut excavation, and rehabilitation of 1,892 feet of 21-inch cured-in-place pipe lining, including the replacement of 13 sanitary manholes, rehabilitation of 15 sanitary manholes with mortar base coat and corrosion barrier coating system, and rehabilitation of approximately 4000 feet of 4-inch and 6-inch lower laterals.  

On June 20th, 2023, the City Council authorized the City Manager to approve advertisement of the project. 

• Staff Report & Materials
• Project Location Map

On October 2nd, 2023, the City Council authorized the City Manager to award Contract C23-17 to Bay Pacific Pipelines for construction of the project. 

• Staff Report & Materials

The project is currently under construction as of February 2024.

UPDATE 10/29/24: The project has encountered delays due to unforeseen site conditions; project work is approaching substantial completion.

The City of Albany’s Annual Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 22000) was established after the passage of Measure P1 in 2016. Project scopes are determined according to prioritization criteria reviewed by the Transportation Commission, which was updated in April 2024 and includes special access needs, unsafe sidewalks, and sidewalks posing accessibility concerns that were identified during a comprehensive, Citywide survey in 2021. This prioritization utilizes the 2021 survey for a data-driven approach so that repair locations may provide the most benefit to the community at large.

The project is currently in planning with construction expected in late Summer 2025.

The City owns and maintains approximately 34 miles of sewer main and 14 miles of lower laterals. In 2014, the City of Albany, along with seven other East Bay cities and agencies, entered into a Consent Decree agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency, et. al, which requires rehabilitation of at least 5,706 linear feet of sewer main per year.

The Brighton Avenue Sewer Rehabilitation Project consists of removing existing 6” and 8” sewer mains and replacing with 12” sewer mains along Brighton Avenue and connecting streets north of Brighton Avenue (Kains, Stannage, Cornell, Talbot, & Evelyn), rehabilitation of respective lower laterals, replacement and rehabilitation of sanitary manholes, and installation of sanitary clean outs. This project is part of the City’s Annual Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 32000), which formalizes the Albany's annual investment into the City's sanitary sewer system and plans for projected needs on a five-year time horizon.

The project is currently in design with construction expected in 2025. However, construction schedules are subject to change.

The Marin Avenue Rehabilitation Project - Phase 2 consists of pavement rehabilitation on Marin Avenue from Key Route Boulevard to the City of Albany east limit (near Tulare Avenue). The project also includes rehabilitation and upgrades to associated curb ramps, traffic striping, and signage, improved pedestrian crossings, and intersection streetlighting improvements.

The project is currently in design with construction expected in 2025 and extend through 2026. Construction schedules are subject to change - please continue to visit this page for updates. 

The Cleveland Avenue Rehabilitation Project consists of pavement rehabilitation on Cleveland Avenue from underneath Interstate 80 to the “spur” at Buchanan Street. The project also includes rehabilitation and upgrades to associated curb ramps, storm drain facilities, traffic striping, and signage, as well as installation of a Class IV bikeway (CIP No. 25019).

The project is currently in design with construction expected in 2026. However, construction schedules are subject to change.

This project is part of the Annual Street Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 21000).

The City applied for a grant application in October 2024 for support of the Class IV bikeway project element and associated needs (Resolution No. 2024-74).

The Jackson Street Bike Gap Closure Project consists of connecting the Buchanan Bikeway to the new University Village shared-use path. The UC Village path, running parallel to Jackson Street, was recently constructed as part of UC Berkeley's xučyun ruwway Apartments project. The Jackson Street Bike Gap Closure Project will close the gap near Ocean View Elementary School, connecting the Buchanan Bikeway to UC Berkeley’s xučyun ruwway Apartments.

The project is currently in design with construction expected in 2025 or 2026. However, construction schedules are subject to change.

The City of Albany’s Annual Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 22000) was established after the passage of Measure P1 in 2016. Project scopes are determined according to prioritization criteria reviewed by the Transportation Commission, which was updated in April 2024 and includes special access needs, unsafe sidewalks, and sidewalks posing accessibility concerns that were identified during a comprehensive, Citywide survey in 2021. This prioritization utilizes the 2021 survey for a data-driven approach so that repair locations may provide the most benefit to the community at large.

Construction for the Phase 9 Project began on August 15, 2024 and is considered to be substantially complete as of September 30, 2024.

Sidewalk repair construction consisted of concrete removal, concrete repair, and as-needed tree work, such as root pruning. The Phase 9 project consisted of 40 locations for a total of approximately 5,500 square feet of sidewalk repair and replacement. 

Map | Property List | Photos

Background: 

• City Council -July 1, 2024
• Transportation Commission - April 2024

Sidewalk Program Website

Repair Map to Date

The pickleball court conversion project began on Monday, May 6, 2024, at Ocean View Park.  Construction was completed in approximately 30 days and the courts were reopened on June 3, 2024.

These new pickleball courts include new nets, posts, windscreens, LED light fixtures and additional seating among other amenities. This Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan project is made possible through the Proposition 68 Per Capita Grant Program and Measure M – Parks & Open Space Parcel Tax.

Project History:

On June 5, 2018, California voters approved Proposition 68, the “Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018” (Senate Bill 5).  Proposition 68 supports several grant programs for drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access.  

The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-115 authorizing the submission of applications with California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) on November 15, 2021, and appropriating funds from Measure M - Parks & Open Space Parcel Tax (2018) in the amount of $37,961 to be used to cover the required match for projects sited at Ocean View and Pierce Street parks.  The State allocated funds to the City of Albany and disbursed funding after the grant applications were processed by OGALS in December 2021.  The City received $189,805 from the Per Capita Grant Program and $250,000 from the Recreational Infrastructure Revenue Enhancement (RIRE) Grant program for local park rehabilitation, creation and improvements.  The City Council adopted the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan on January 18, 2022. The Parks, Recreation & Open Space Commission reviewed the conceptual plan and project scope on September 14, 2023.  PROS Commission approved the scope of work on December 14, 2023.  

Check out a video of the project concept here and some completion photos below! 

     Ocean View Park Pickleball Courts

     Ocean View Park Tennis Court

     Ocean View Park Courts (Aerial View)

The construction is substantially complete as of March 22, 2024 and the trail is open for users. Temporary fencing for protecting new plantings during establishment has also been taken down. 

Project photos (March 2024)

Project History: 

The planning and implementation of the restoration of Codornices Creek between Kains Avenue to Interstate 80 has been ongoing since the late 1990s and involves the City of Albany, the City of Berkeley, and the University of California. Lower Codornices Creek forms the boundary between the cities of Berkeley and Albany and the primary owner within the Albany is the University of California (UC Village). The original master plan was prepared in 2001 and the City Council approved a Mitigated Negative Declaration in 2004, pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. In addition, in 2004, the City entered into a three-way Memorandum of Understanding with the University of California and the City of Berkeley in 2004 to allow the tree agencies to work collaboratively on project to restore and maintain segments of the creek that runs from the railroad tracks on the west to San Pablo Avenue on the east.

The Lower Codornices Creek Restoration Project is an ongoing project to restore Codornices Creek from San Pablo Avenue to the western edge of UC Village. Three phases of the restoration project, from 8^th Street to the railroad tracks (the western edge of UC Village), have been completed to date. As a result of earlier creek projects, native riparian habitats have been created, restoring habitat to native Steelhead Trout and improving community resilience by reducing exposure to flooding at UC Village student housing. In addition, a bicycle-pedestrian shared use trail has been constructed that connects to local and regional bicycle trail networks, and provides recreational, educational, and stewardship opportunities. In 2010, the first phases of restoration of Codornices Creek won the Association of Bay Area Governments’ Growing Smarter Together Award in the category of “Protecting and Preserving the Environment” for advancing smart or “focused” growth in the Bay Area.

The Phase IV Project (CIP No. 43001) includes construction of a multi-use path from 8^th Street to 10^th Street to fill a gap in the multi-use path paralleling the creek. The City engaged Restoration Design Group (RDG) to design Phase IV, which was completed in 2019 and included stakeholder meetings with entities active in the project area (i.e. adjacent property owners, Ecocity Builders, Friends of Five Creeks, Albany Little League, and UC Village). Key environmental, transportation, and public works staff at the MOU Agencies provided comments and recommendations during this effort.

• Design Services Contract Award - April 2018

In June 2019, the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission and the Transportation Commission recommended approval of the Project. In October 2019, the City Council accepted the Project design and authorized staff to identify funding for construction (Resolution 2019-86).

In November 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-108 authorizing the adoption of Albany’s updated FY2019/20-2023/24 Capital Improvement Plan, and appropriated budget for the first three fiscal years. This included $620,000 in funds from remaining Measure R LLAD 1996-1 fund balances for the Lower Codornices Creek Restoration Project – Phase IV (CIP No. 43001).

In December 2020, the Council authorized submission of the Phase IV Project for consideration for funding as part of the Alameda County Transportation Commission’s 2022 Comprehensive Investment Plan (Resolution 2020-123). The application for construction funding was made more competitive by the commitment of local funds. After submitting the City’s project application in February 2021, staff received notification in Summer 2021 that funding had been awarded to the Project in the sum of $826,000 in combined regional Measure B and state TFCA transportation dollars. The City Council accepted this award and authorized Staff to administer the grant, bringing the total project budget up to $1,446,000 (Resolution 2021-97). The grant period began in July 2022.

With construction funding secured for the Phase IV Project, staff reviewed the project site in August 2022 to review potential changes as the current design was completed in October 2019. Staff observed repaving projects by UC Berkeley, habitat restoration, and tree and fence changes within the Project site since the 2019 design. Staff concluded that existing conditions had changed significantly enough to warrant an updated survey and revised plan set to reflect current conditions.

In early 2023, staff began working with original design group RDG to provide an updated plan set to reflect changes in project specifications, materials, and best practices. In addition, due to the environmental complexity with construction adjacent to a forested creek and the involvement of multiple, actively engaged stakeholders, staff worked with Zoon Engineering to provide a pre-construction review, evaluating the biddability and constructability of the Phase IV Project plan set and specifications. This pre-construction review was important for streamlining construction and providing staff more resources to manage coordination on the stakeholders’ needs and requests during development of the revised plan set.

The City Council authorized a call for bids for construction of the project at the April 17, 2023 meeting (Resolution 2023-19). 

• Staff Report
• Bid Plan Set April 2023

The City Council awarded construction contracts for the project at the July 17, 2023 meeting.

• Staff Report & Materials

The City's Annual Sidewalk Shaving Project was completed in April 2024 within the Zone 4 of the City. A total of 2,333 sidewalk hazards were addressed during this maintenance cycle. Sidewalk shaving involves “shaving down” vertical offsets up to two inches in order to eliminate tripping hazards. This method of sidewalk improvement is an effective way to make sidewalks more accessible to all with minimal interruption to public access.

As of 2020, the City's sidewalks are divided into five Zones of similar size. The City conducts sidewalk shaving annually on one zone per year. Zone 1 was completed in 2021, Zone 2 in 2022, and Zone 3 in 2023.

Sidewalk Shaving Zone Map

Annual Sidewalk Shaving is funded as part of the City's Public Right-of-Way Maintenance Program under the Public Works Operating Budget. This program is supported by state Highway Users Tax Account (HUTA) gas tax revenue. 

Public Works partnered with a contractor to perform minor roadway striping maintenance in April/May 2024. The work consisted of routine refresh of curb paint, traffic striping, and traffic markings, such as crosswalks and centerlines, primarily within Zone 4 and Zone 5 of the City.

As part of this work, the City also installed new red curb that restricted parking at intersections along Dartmouth Street consistent with recent state legislation (Assembly Bill 413) and City policy. For more information, check out the City's Intersection Red Curb Policy.

As of 2023, the City’s roads are divided into six zones to best manage “refreshing” in a cyclical approach. Public Works plans to conduct refreshing annually on primarily two zones per year. Zone 2 and Zone 3 were refreshed in 2023.

Striping Refresh Zone Map

The Masonic Intersections/Ohlone Trail Safety Improvements Project (CIP No. 25007) has been completed as of February 2024. 

The Ohlone Greenway trail and Masonic Avenue roadway overlap at signalized intersections with two major arterials: Solano Avenue (a commercial corridor, truck route, and bus corridor) and Marin Avenue (a cross-town corridor and Class II bicycle route). These complex intersections increase the risks of conflicts between pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic. The project was intended to increase pedestrian safety by adjusting conditions at the intersection, including traffic signal upgrades, updated signal phasing, and a variety of soft and hard treatments in both key intersections. More details on improvements, as well as key milestones and other project information, are available in the Council materials linked below.

The project overlapped with the Marin Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation Project and was completed in tandem successfully. 

Project History: 

• Contract No. C21-65 Closeout, Final Contract Change Order, and
  Filing of Notice of Completion - February 2024
• Construction Contract Award - March 2022
• Authorization to Bid - November 2021
• TDA Article 3 Funding Allocation - April 2021
• Transportation Commission 95% Plans Review & Recommendation - February 2021
• Environmental Support Services Contract Award - February 2021 (Resolution No. 2021-15)

In February 2024, Albany completed a Citywide Streetlighting Evaluation to better understand and plan for upgrades to the City's lighting infrastructure, which includes approximately 900 streetlights. Capital Improvement (CIP) Project No. 25008 was established to invest funds into analyzing existing lighting distribution, developing target guidelines for City streetlighting goals and objectives based on industry standards, identifying potential projects, and proposing cost scenarios for both capital improvements and programmatic maintenance requirements. 

The Transportation Commission was the primary advisory body and served as a venue for public input of the draft evaluation. In addition, a website was created to gather public input and a public workshop was hosted in September 2023. The draft evaluation was presented to the City Council in February 2024, where Council accepted the streetlighting guidelines and near-term recommendations.

For more information, check out the Citywide Streetlighting Evaluation webpage to access a recording of the public workshop, Transportation Commission or City Council presentations, and the reports prepared under this project.

The City of Albany’s Annual Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 22000) was established after the passage of Measure P1 in 2016. Project scopes are determined according to prioritization criteria approved by the Transportation Criteria, updated in January 2022 to include special access needs, critical repairs identified from a comprehensive survey in 2021, and safety issues identified in the course of normal activities. This prioritization is based on locations which provide the most benefit to the community at large by improving key parts of the City’s pedestrian infrastructure.

This program, also known as the Sidewalk Repair Program, is funded by Albany's Measure P1 Parcel Tax.

Construction for the Phase 8 Project began on November 13, 2023 and is considered to be substantially complete as of December 8, 2023.

Sidewalk repair construction consisted of concrete removal, concrete repair, and as-needed tree work, such as root pruning. The Phase 8 project consisted of 44 locations for a total of approximately 6,800 square feet of sidewalk repair and replacement. 

Map | Property List | Photos

Background: 

• City Council - November 6, 2023 
• Transportation Commission - September 2023

Sidewalk Program Website

Repair Map to Date

The City was able to successfully complete paving operations during the weekend roadway closure on Marin Avenue from Saturday, May 20th, 2023 to Sunday, May 21st, 2023. The closure occurred in order to perform a safe and expedited roadway reconstruction and paving. This portion of the project required 2,800 tons of material to be removed, 2,800 tons of asphalt placed, over 22,000 square feet of roadway graded, and 9,500 linear feet of lane length paved.

The Marin Pavement Rehabilitation Project is a part of the City’s Annual Street Rehabilitation Program, which is funded by local Street & Storm Drain Parcel Tax revenue, Alameda County Transportation Commission Measure B/BB/VRF pass-through distributions, and State Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account funds.

CLICK FOR PROJECT PHOTOS & TIMELINE

UPDATE 5/1/2023: Work is progressing on Marin Avenue and the project is preparing for paving operations. To minimize duration of disruptions to Marin Avenue during roadway paving, the contractor for the Marin Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation Project (Phase 1), McGuire and Hester, is scheduled to conduct weekend roadway reconstruction during a weekend roadway closure from Saturday, May 20th, 2023 to Sunday, May 21st, 2023.

ROADWAY CLOSURE NOTICE (5/20-5/21)

For public safety and to expedite roadway construction Marin Avenue, intersections along Marin Avenue from Cornell Avenue to Key Route Boulevard will be closed to through traffic. Certain intersections will need to remain closed overnight for areas with deeper rehabilitation requirements. Intersections will be re-opened as construction sequencing allows.

Expect heavy traffic and watch for pedestrians and cyclists. Please slow down when approaching the project area and follow construction crew directions. Detours will be in effect and residents are advised to use parallel routes for through access. Please respect any pedestrian redirection and detour sign and avoid entering the area, if possible.

Additional information regarding this closure will be shared over the coming weeks through this website, E-News, and in postings around town. Please sign-up for e-News to receive the most updated information. Updates will also be published here on Construction Alerts and on postings and message boards around town.

Thank you for your patience as we refresh this key part of our City's thoroughfare!

UPDATE 3/6/2023: Installation of storm drains for the Marin Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation Project - Phase 1 are complete. Curb ramp construction continues at Masonic Avenue and Key Route Blvd and will be following by paving operations anticipated for April/May 2023 (weather dependent). Work is being performed in conjunction with ongoing coordination efforts with the Masonic Intersections/Ohlone Greenway Trail Safety Improvements Project. Thank you to the community for your support and patience during construction efforts.

UPDATE 2/7/2023: Project construction is progressing well, despite winter storms. Storm drain rehabilitation has been completed at Talbot Ave & Evelyn Ave. Curb ramps have been completed at Talbot Ave & at the Library. Flashing beacons relocation & push buttons have been completed at Talbot Ave. Upcoming work includes storm drain rehab at Masonic Ave and curb ramp rehab/upgrades at Evelyn Ave. 

UPDATE 11/28/22:  PROJECT LOCATION & ALTERNATE ROUTES MAP

As noted previously, Marin Avenue will remain open to through traffic through the temporary removal of parking lanes, and crews may be employed to direct vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the construction areas. For safety, roadway users are advised to obey traffic rules and regulations and follow directions from construction crews when navigating around construction zones. Please anticipate delays, and do follow posted construction traffic signage or take alternative roads to avoid congestion. Bicycle traffic is advised to take parallel routes on Dartmouth Avenue or Washington Avenue, if possible.

Local access to driveways, parking lots, and other facilities will be maintained but please allow extra travel time into and out of the area. Notices regarding street closures and parking restrictions will be posted on barricade signs 72 hours in advance of work.

Update 11/07/22: Work on the Phase 1 portion of the Marin Pavement Rehabilitation Project began today. The project includes paving, storm drain, and curb ramp improvements on Marin Avenue from Cornell Avenue to Key Route Boulevard. Weather permitting, the project is anticipated to be completed by Spring 2023. During work, Marin Avenue will remain open to through traffic but there may be occasions when the contractor must use flaggers to facilitate traffic flow and ensure the safety of workers and the public.

Project Information: 

The Marin Avenue Pavement and Curb Ramp Rehabilitation Project – Phase 1 consists of 56,000 square feet of pavement rehabilitation on Marin Avenue from Cornell Avenue to Key Route Boulevard. The project also includes rehabilitation and upgrades to associated curb ramps, storm drain facilities, and striping and signage. 

The limits of work on the Marin Avenue – Phase 1 Project overlap substantially with the project limits under the Masonic Intersections (Ohlone Trail Safety Improvements) Project (CIP No. 25007). Construction schedules for both projects are being coordinated during Fall & Winter 2022. 

This project is made possible by pass-through funds from State SB1/Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account allocations, regional revenues apportioned by the County from Measure B and BB tax revenue, and local Measure F Street & Storm Drain Parcel Tax funds.

Resources:

• Project Phasing Location Map
• Inter-Project Coordination Diagram
• Phase 1 Project Location & Alternate Routes Map

Project History: 

• Award of Construction Management Contract (Resolution No. 2022-85) - July 2022
• Award of Construction Contract - June 2022
• Transportation Commission Presentation - Phase 1 100% Design- February 2022
  • Draft 100% Design Plan Set
• Transportation Commission Presentation - Full Project Design Review - May 2021
• Transportation Commission Presentation - Full Project Design Review - April 2021
• Award of Engineering Design Services Contract - November 2020

The City of Albany’s Annual Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 22000) was established after the passage of Measure P1 in 2016. Project scopes are determined according to prioritization criteria approved by the Transportation Criteria, updated in January 2022 to include special access needs, critical repairs identified from a comprehensive survey in 2021, and safety issues identified in the course of normal activities. This prioritization is based on locations which provide the most benefit to the community at large by improving key parts of the City’s pedestrian infrastructure.

This program, also known as the Sidewalk Repair Program, is funded by Albany's Measure P1 Parcel Tax.

Construction for the Phase 7 Project began on September 18, 2023 and is considered to be substantially complete as of October 25, 2023.

Sidewalk repair construction consisted of concrete removal, concrete repair, and as-needed tree work, such as root pruning. The Phase 7 project consisted of 50 locations for a total of approximately 7,400 square feet of sidewalk repair and replacement. 

Map | Property List | Photos

Background: 

• Council Award of Construction Contract - April 2023
• Council Authorization to Bid - February 2023
• Transportation Commission - January 2023

Sidewalk Program Website

Repair Map to Date

The 2022 Annual Pavement Rehabilitation Project paved and rehabilitated facilities on many Albany streets as shown in the Project Location Map and the Patch Paving Locations Map.

Construction began in November 2022 and was substantially completed in May 2023. In total, the project removed and replaced between 2 to 4 inches of asphalt over approximately 30,000 square yards, covering 2 linear miles of roadway in Albany, along with ADA-compliant curb ramp updates, intersection grading, curb and gutter repairs, and storm drain installation. 

Additionally, the project included asphalt patches around the city, including Cleveland Avenue and the Buchanan Avenue ramp approaching the intersection of Pierce Street and Buchanan Street.  The project also installed 2 rainbow crosswalks on Solano Avenue at the intersections with Cornell Avenue and Talbot Avenue.

The City coordinated extensively with AUSD to coordinate school traffic flows. The project was affected by an unusually heavy rainy season in early 2023, which temporarily delayed mobilization of construction crews.

This project is part of the City's Annual Street Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 21000), and is funded through Measure F Street & Storm Drain Tax revenues. The project was brought to the City Council for closeout in September 2023. 

Project History:

• Authorization to Bid (Resolution No. 2022-84) - July 2022
• Award of Construction Contract (Resolution No. 2022-105) - Oct 2022
• Contract Change Order #1 (Resolution No. 2022-128) - Dec 2022
• Contract Change Order #2 and Project Closeout (Resolution No 2023-62) - Sep 2023

Public Works maintenance staff have been hard at work these summer days performing refresh tasks around Albany.

Playgrounds

City staff are continuing to monitor and regularly survey playground equipment for quality and safety. Staff recently replaced the chain climber at Memorial Park.

Big Belly Waste Receptacles

The City practices waste diversion and pest mitigation using Big Belly trash, recycling, and compost receptacles. These units are placed around town in the public right-of-way and in City parks & open spaces, and are monitored using Big Belly's CLEAN tool for maintenance and repair. The City contracts with Canology for quarterly cleaning of these bins, pictured above.

Roadway Maintenance

Maintenance staff recently performed maintenance the scuffed and worn guardrail on Hillside, see before and after below.

The Public Works Parks & Public Right-of-Way maintenance programs are funded as part of the City’s Biennial Operating Budget. The Parks Program is supported by Albany’s Measure M Parks & Open Space tax revenues as well as local assessment district fees, while the Public Right-of-Way Program is supported by State Gas Taxes.

Albany's Annual Tree Planting Project has been completed! A total of 84 new trees were planted and 15 new tree basins were cleared by the City to make room for new trees. In an effort to build forest-wide resilience and increase biodiversity, the City planted trees from 22 different species.

Tree planting in Albany in performed annually during the late winter and early spring, to give new young trees time to benefit from winter rains and mild spring weather. 

Street tree planting is free for residents. Please visit our webpage to learn more.

Urban Forestry Program

New! Albany Street Tree Viewer

The Traffic Calming Citywide Project (CIP No. 25001) was established as part of the FY18/19-FY21/22 CIP in order to implement traffic calming measures throughout the City. 

Traffic calming measures generally encompass both physical alterations to the roadway (i.e. speed humps) as well as "soft treatments," such as striping or bollards.

Installation was completed in June-July 2023 on three blocks of traffic calming speed bumps under the Traffic Calming Citywide Project, located on the 500 and 1000 blocks of Masonic and the 1000 block of Key Route.

Current planning methods now incorporate traffic calming measures into larger and more holistic transportation safety projects, such as the San Pablo Pedestrian Improvements Project (CIP No. 24010) and the Masonic Intersections/Ohlone Trail Safety Improvements Project (CIP No. 25007). Please visit the link below for more information on traffic calming planning and implementation.

City of Albany Traffic Calming Policy

The Public Works crew has been hard at work performing maintenance on the City's parks this spring, after an historic winter rainy season. 

Staff has been working hard to refresh landscaping and spruce up public park areas after an epic rainy season. Crew members installed SB1383-compliant mulch on the Ohlone Greenway, pictured left. 

Crews also installed a brand-new slide at Jewel's Terrace Park, replacing a damaged one and ensuring folks can enjoy the park safely. 

This work is performed as part of the City's Parks Maintenance Program, which is funded in part by local Measure M.

The City's Annual Sidewalk Shaving Project was completed in March/April 2023 within the Zone 3 area (MAP) of the City. A total of 1,255 sidewalk hazards were addressed during this maintenance cycle. 

Sidewalk shaving involves “shaving down” vertical offsets up to two inches in order to eliminate tripping hazards. This method of sidewalk improvement is an effective way to make sidewalks more accessible to all with minimal interruption to public access.

As of 2020, the City's sidewalks are divided into five Zones of similar size. The City conducts sidewalk shaving annually on one Zone per year. Zone 1 was completed in 2021, with Zone 2 completed in 2022.

Annual Sidewalk Shaving is funded as part of the City's Public Right-of-Way Maintenance Program under the Public Works Operating Budget. This program is supported by state Highway Users Tax Account (HUTA) gas tax revenue. 

Public Works - Sidewalks

Public Works partnered with a contractor to perform minor roadway maintenance in Winter/Spring 2022-23. Construction was delayed due to winter storms, and mainly took place in April 2023. The work primarily consisted of routine refresh of traffic striping and markings. 

Several intersections around Memorial Park were especially addressed to increase daylighting (What is daylighting?) of pedestrians and improve safety for crossings. This includes adjustment of an accessible parking space at the intersection of Ramona and Portland Ave to improve crosswalk visibility and overall safety, and replacement of the faded centerline on Santa Fe Ave from the Kensington border to Washington Ave. 

The striping refresh largely targeted areas within Zone 2 and Zone 3 of the City for this cycle (Zone Map). This type of work is expected to recur throughout the zones over a multi-year cycle.

UPDATE 4/10/2023: Light poles were installed on 4/4/23. Finishing touches are being applied by the contractor.

UPDATE 3/6/2023: Light poles have been delivered, and installation is contingent on completion of the construction taking place at the Marin/Masonic intersection.

UPDATE 11/14/2022: Material shortages continue to impact availability of light poles. Delivery is now estimated in January 2023.

UPDATE 8/23/2022: Light installation is pending backordered poles and is estimated to be scheduled in Fall 2022 pending materials. 

UPDATE 4/26/2022: AT&T has completed concrete restoration, with final asphalt restoration still pending. Staff is awaiting schedule for light installation and will update when available. 

UPDATE 4/18/2022: AT&T has completed removal of the overhead line and poles along Marin. Their Contractor will be completing final surface restoration work this week and next. Additionally, the City has completed tree planting along Marin. The final remaining element of the project is placement of three street lights that conflicted with former poles. Staff is in the process of scheduling this work with the City's electrical contractor and will update Council once a start date has been confirmed.

Previous Project Information & Timeline: A contractor working for AT&T has begun removing remaining overhead telecommunication wires and poles along Marin between San Pablo and Masonic. The project duration is estimated to last 5-6 weeks including wire removal (1-2 weeks) followed by pole removal (2 weeks) followed by site restoration (2 weeks).
 
Next steps: Separate from AT&T’s work, the City is engaging a contractor to install the remaining light poles.  The schedule for this work is still pending.

City staff are very excited to finally move forward with AT&T on this element of the project, and hopes to see minimal impact during this time. Please be aware of any posted parking restrictions and traffic control at the project site, and if any issues arise please call Public Works.

Project History

In 2010, the City Council created the Marin Utility Undergrounding District that comprises the properties along the north side of Buchanan Street from Pierce Street to San Pablo Avenue and properties along both sides of Marin Avenue from San Pablo Avenue to Masonic Avenue. The creation of this District allowed the City to use the credits accrued under PG&E’s Rule 20A for the undergrounding of utilities on a segment of the District.

Rule 20A is an electric tariff filed with the California Public Utilities Commission. The projects performed under Rule 20A are nominated by a city or a county after consultation with utility companies. Usually, projects eligible for Rule 20A program are located in public areas and must conform to established criteria. The costs of Rule 20A undergrounding projects are recovered through future electric rates paid for by customers. 

The Utility Undergrounding project was predominantly implemented with the Buchanan Marin Bikeway Phase III project.

Utility Undergrounding Map

January 22, 2019 - Project Closeout (Resolution No. 2019-10)
July 18, 2016 - Project Revision (Resolution No. 2016-64)
March 21, 2016 - Plans Approval & Authorization to Bid (Resolution No. 2016-14)
October 4, 2010 - Design Contract Award
June 21, 2010 - City Council Creation of Utility Undergrounding District & Public Hearing (Resolution No. 2010-32)
March 25, 2010 - Traffic & Safety Commission Public Hearing
January 4, 2010 - Proposed Utility Undergrounding Project along Buchanan Street/Marin Avenue (Item 10-3)

Update 2/7/23: Construction of the project is substantially complete. 

Transportation Project Information

Update 1/19/23: Construction has begun on striping work the week of 1/17/2023. Weather permitting, final signage installation and remaining project elements are expected to be completed the week of 1/23/2023. Parking impacts are expected to be minimal, if any, but as usual, please be mindful of site conditions and follow directions on posted signage. 

Update 1/10/23: Construction is scheduled for 1/17/2023, weather permitting. 

 Construction is estimated for January 2023, due to delays in lead time on delivery of project materials. 

Project milestones: 

• Council Award of Contract - June 2022 (Resolution No. 2022-56)
• Council Authorization to Bid - April 2022 (Resolution No. 2022-27)
• CIP Adoption - November 2020 (Resolution No. 2020-108)
• ATP Amendment & Project Adoption - September 2019 (Resolution No. 2019-77)
• Transportation Commission Recommendation - December 2018
• Design Contract Award - May 2018 (Resolution No. 2018-54)
• Bikeway Study - December 2017

Transportation Planning: Kains & Adams Bikeway Feasibility Study