The Piedmont City Council on Aug. 18 authorized the city administrator to execute a grant agreement with the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) for $748,000 to fund pedestrian safety work along Moraga Avenue. The council said the award will support improvements at four intersections: Ramona, Highland, Mesa and Red Rock.

The measure matters because the work addresses long-standing sight-distance and crossing-safety problems on a busy arterial used by motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, including commuters passing through Piedmont from Oakland. The council voted unanimously among members present; Council Member Long was absent.

City Engineer John Wenger told the council the project was identified in Piedmont’s 2014 Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan and subsequent safer-streets planning and that the city applied last fall after a funding notice from Alameda County. "We filed an application for a total project of $998,000 for those 4 intersections," Wenger said, and the grant requires a 25% local match. He said about $250,000 of the match will come from a combination of Measure BB, gas tax and SB 1 funding.

Staff gave a block-by-block description of proposed fixes: at Ramona and Moraga, pedestrian bulb-outs and a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB) plus an advanced warning beacon coordinated with the city of Oakland because motorists approach into a curve; at Highland, signal upgrades including pedestrian countdown signals, flashing bike signs and a proposed no-right-turn-on-red restriction from Moraga to Highland in the uphill direction; at Mesa, crosswalk relocation and bulb-outs to address sight-distance issues and RRFBs; and at Red Rock, reconfiguring a sweeping curve to a more orthogonal intersection and replacing a curb ramp.

Wenger said design work will occur in the current fiscal year with construction expected the following spring, and that the grant requires construction be completed by September (year specified in the staff report). He cautioned some minor parking impacts are possible—typically one or two spaces at Mesa or Ramona—and staff plan neighbor outreach during design. "We will be working with the residents and doing public outreach for both of those," he said.

Council members praised staff for securing funding and for the pace from the October application to award. Vice Mayor Murphy moved the resolution authorizing execution of the agreement; Council Member Ramsey seconded. The motion passed by roll call; the council recorded a unanimous vote among members present and noted Council Member Long was absent.

The project includes coordination with the city of Oakland on the advance warning beacon at Ramona. Wenger said replacing antiquated traffic-signal controllers will allow future timing and safety features such as pedestrian countdown intervals. City staff said they will notify commuters and the cycling community and require contractor traffic-control signage during construction to reduce disruption.

Council directions on the record included: proceed with design this fiscal year; conduct resident outreach on potential parking impacts; coordinate with the Moraga Canyon specific plan to ensure compatibility; and notify neighboring jurisdictions and user groups about construction timing.

The council’s action authorizes the city administrator to execute the ACTC comprehensive investment plan grant agreement for $748,000 and to proceed with design and outreach; staff will return with finalized designs and construction schedules.