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Council hears Measure FF pavement plan; residents press ADA, materials and community engagement
Summary
City staff briefed council on pavement management linked to Measure FF revenue, community notification plans and staffing; public commenters urged stronger ADA prioritization, alternatives to asphalt and clearer engagement and grantwriting capacity.
Berkeley — City transportation staff presented the city’s pavement management and infrastructure planning approach tied to Measure FF revenues at the council’s March 25 special meeting, and dozens of public commenters urged the council to center accessibility, environmental impacts of materials and stronger community outreach.
Staff said Measure FF revenues are structured with a front‑loaded first year and that the department will use the funds to staff up, leverage grants and update project cost and revenue projections annually. "The folks you see at the table, many of them are doing plan updates right now," a transportation presenter told council; staff said vacancy rates in transportation had improved and called out plans for a community engagement position to maintain a post‑project community connection.
Public commenters recommended specific changes. Margo Schuler, a former public works commissioner, said the "street saver" concept is designed for asphalt streets and urged caution before comparing innovative paving materials to asphalt; she also highlighted heat impacts and the need for parks department coordination on street tree programs. "It's hard to compare Austin Way to the rest of the streets," Schuler said. Accessibility advocates pressed the council to fund and prioritize an ADA transition plan and to ensure Measure FF advances bicycle and pedestrian access for seniors and people with disabilities.
Other callers asked the council to explore impact fees tied to electric vehicles and development, and business representatives urged engagement of local merchants in planning. Staff acknowledged the feedback and said they will return with more precise revenue projections and with proposed community‑engagement staffing that would include a designated liaison for project follow‑up.
Next steps: staff will refine Measure FF revenue projections, report back on prioritized implementation lines and provide more information on community outreach and ADA funding assumptions.
