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Albany council approves $8 million plan to rehabilitate Marin Avenue, upgrade curb ramps and signals
Summary
The Albany City Council approved a pavement rehabilitation project for Marin Avenue that includes ADA curb ramp upgrades, storm drain work, signal reliability improvements and an option to add intersection lighting as a bid alternate. Staff estimated about $8 million in project costs and a roughly one-year construction period.
The Albany City Council on April 7 approved a plan to rehabilitate Marin Avenue, authorize design-based construction bidding and pursue related accessibility and signal upgrades.
City engineers told the council the project covers the remainder of Marin Avenue from Cornell Avenue to Tulare Street and includes resurfacing, storm-drain repairs and accessibility upgrades. "This project consists of 2.8 lane miles of paving, 35 catch basins, and 46 curb ramps," said Lisonbee Carrillo, the city’s capital improvements program manager.
Carrillo said the work responds to the 2019 pavement management plan and aims to preserve pavement while bringing curb ramps into compliance with federal Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. She described technical constraints under parts of the corridor — thin aggregate base, shallow bedrock in areas and aging, shallow storm-drain pipes — and the design decision to raise certain flow lines rather than lower intersections to reduce the risk of exposing weak clay subgrade.
The plan includes upgrades to signal equipment at key intersections, changes to curb radii to shorten pedestrian crossings, expanded marked crossings and a buffered bikeway with a 4-foot bike travel lane plus 2-foot buffers, and audible pedestrian push buttons. The staff report noted a proposed battery backup for signals, camera vehicle detection and pedestrian signal visibility improvements.
Carrillo said the work is intended to reduce long-term maintenance and construction risks: "This approach is expected to reduce our risks of unforeseen obstructions as we're no longer going down, we're going up." Staff estimated roughly a one-year construction duration and an estimated project cost of $8,000,000, including about $1,000,000 for intersection lighting currently listed as a bid alternate.
Council members asked about drainage and signal phasing. Councilmember Lehi Preston asked whether the existing 1930s reinforced-concrete storm drain main had been video-inspected; staff replied there were no system-wide failures and that localized repairs could be addressed with trenchless rehabilitation if needed. Council members also discussed pedestrian and bicycle detours during construction and the potential to add conduit for lighting later if immediate funding is not available.
The council adopted Resolution 2025-21 approving the project plan set and direction to proceed to bid. The City Clerk recorded a unanimous vote: Councilmember Mickey — yes; Vice Mayor McQuay — yes; Mayor Robin Lopez — yes; Councilmember Hansa Romero — yes; Councilmember Jordan — yes. Staff said they would return to the council with a contract award recommendation after bids are received.
Council and staff noted the project will be phased to limit disruption at Marin Elementary and to maintain pedestrian access during non-working hours. Construction staging is expected to cause localized impacts of roughly two weeks to a month at each corner as crews progress along the corridor.
