Planning commission finds Lafayette capital improvement program in conformance with general plan

Mike Moran, the city of Lafayette's director of planning and engineering, presented the city's proposed Capital Improvement Program and told the Planning Commission the program is consistent with the city's General Plan. Moran said the city completed major paving on Pleasant Hill Road, Ocalanes Road and parts of Mount Diablo Boulevard last year and improved the overall pavement condition index from 73 to 76.

The capital program shifts more funding toward repaving instead of surface sealing, Moran said, and increases the five-year pavement maintenance plan after the passage of Measure H. "Because of that, our pavement condition index, which I reported last year was a 73, is now back up to a 76," Moran said. He told commissioners the city expects roughly $1 million per year in today's dollars for pavement maintenance from the measure for about seven years and has reworked the five-year program to take advantage of the new funding.

The proposal on the table includes continued work on the School Street / Topper Lane / St. Mary's project, a West Reach creeks maintenance design for a portion of Lafayette Creek the city owns, bridge maintenance design and a pedestrian-bike station and plaza project near the BART station that contains an art feature. Moran cautioned the BART project's current budget estimate is about $3 million and that bids could come in higher after years of design work.

Commissioners asked about the cost projections and how staff accounts for inflation. Moran said project costs are shown in today's dollars but the pavement management program includes an inflator; if construction inflation outpaces revenue increases, the city could lose purchasing power. Commissioners also asked about coordination with utilities and East Bay Municipal Utility District (East Bay MUD) after utility trenches interrupted recently resurfaced sections of Pleasant Hill Road; Moran said the city shares project lists with East Bay MUD, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District and PG&E and is joining a mapping service to improve coordination.

A member of the public, James Terrell, asked about signalizing particular intersections; Moran said there were no plans to install signals at those locations and said new signals cost over $1 million each and must be justified. Commissioners praised recent paving and asked staff to publicize pedestrian safety features such as roundabout guidance and bicycle considerations.

After the presentation and public comment, a commissioner moved that the Planning Commission find the Capital Improvement Program in conformance with Lafayette's General Plan. The commission voted "aye," and the motion carried.

The program as presented foresees more repaving and heavier investment on arterials in coming years; specific construction schedules and project bids will determine final scopes and budgets.