Albany staff outline multiyear capital-improvement plan, flag ADA curb-ramp deadline

City of Albany staff presented a draft update to the city’s Capital Improvement Plan on April 24, outlining a multi-year program for pavement, sidewalks, bridges and streetlighting and seeking the Transportation Commission’s priorities for scheduling and grant-seeking.

The presentation identified several near-term projects: patch paving on Buchanan Avenue (expected to begin construction this summer), the Cleveland Avenue bikeway and associated paving, the next pavement-management survey (to start fall 2025), and a proposed program to renew shared-use path pavement including the Ohlone Greenway. Allison Carrillo, the city’s CIP program manager, said staff plans to start pavement-condition work this fall and return to the commission in spring 2026 with pavement-priority recommendations.

The presentation also described program-level projects the city is considering over the next five years. Staff singled out a required Upper Solano Avenue curb‑ramp program that is tied to an existing city ADA settlement and has a construction deadline in December 2029; staff said design work should begin soon (a $200,000 planning/design placeholder appears in the draft CIP) so construction can start in fiscal 2028 to meet the settlement deadline. Allison Carrillo said the draft years shown in the memo are fiscal years and that construction would ideally start before the 2029 deadline.

Other projects discussed included: - Buchanan Bridge resurfacing and barrier hardening: described as a patch-paving/resurfacing package with work expected this summer and night work likely. - Shared-use path pavement renewal: a multi‑phase effort proposing to refresh decomposed‑granite (DG) surfacing, slurry‑seal paved sections and add limited root barriers on Ohlone Greenway; staff said the current draft does not include a widening of the DG pedestrian paths, only replacement and limited repairs. - Keynes–Adams bicycle boulevard: grant-supported project likely to require permanent elements rather than temporary “quick‑build” materials; staff estimated planning/design at roughly $1.23 million in the draft and noted some costs will vary depending on whether elements are rubber-mounted or built in concrete. - Santa Fe traffic calming: proposed as a mix of quick‑build and permanent measures including several speed humps in asphalt at identified locations. - San Pablo Avenue cycle track gap closure and critical intersection lighting upgrades: staff reported new Caltrans guidance may allow a feasible Village Creek crossing; six of seven high‑priority intersections remain for lighting upgrades. - Citywide streetlight renewal: staff noted many LED fixtures are nearing end of their 7–10 year life and proposed a multi‑year renewal strategy to spread replacement and reduce a future wave of simultaneous failures. - Large streetscape concepts (Buchanan and Solano avenues): staff estimated Marin/Buchanan‑area streetscape/rehab construction costs at roughly $10 million and a full Solano rebuild in the range of $30–50 million if fully rebuilt from Masonic to the city line.

Carrillo said staff will balance grant opportunities, staff capacity and consultant support when sequencing projects. She noted the city’s CIP team is small — roughly six staff covering streets, sewers, storm drains, parks and facilities — and that adding consultant support can increase delivery speed but also increases project costs.

Commissioners pressed staff on scheduling and legal exposure for the Upper Solano curb ramps. Commissioner Kerr and others urged prioritizing the ADA‑related work because of the settlement timeline; staff reiterated the plan to fund early design work so construction can meet the December 2029 deadline.

Staff said they will bring the draft CIP and transportation priorities to a city council study session after incorporating commission feedback, and will return with updated project sheets and a funding strategy. The commission indicated interest in accelerating some smaller items (for example speed‑hump candidates and targeted intersection improvements) where utility or paving work will allow earlier delivery.

Ending: Staff closed the presentation asking commissioners for prioritization guidance and public comment on the projects and costs. The city will return to commission with updated pavement survey results and draft schedules in 2026 and staff emphasized the CIP will remain a living document as grants, emergencies and utility work reshape timing.