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Council approves design contract after public questions about $5.7M Crosstown Corridor estimate
Summary
Council and staff said prior grants and local funds support design work for the Crosstown Corridor; staff said the $5,756,180 contract covers project management, utility coordination, and full bid package preparation, and council approved the consent calendar including the design contract.
Public commenters questioned whether spending roughly $5.7 million on design for the Crosstown Corridor was the best near-term use of funds given other deteriorating streets. Jeff Cropp and others said bike-lane planning should not take priority over urgent pavement repairs.
Public Works Director Sheila Marquesas (staff) said the project has been studied since 2020 and that a combination of federal and Alameda CTC grants (roughly $4 million) plus local funds would support the design. City Engineer Jason Emeim explained the contract numbers: “The $5,756,180 is the contract amount for the design of the project. The 500 plus thousand is actual contingency,” allowing limited scope growth without returning to council.
Staff said the $5.7 million covers project management, stakeholder and utility coordination (including Union Pacific coordination), and preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates to a bid-ready package. Council members sought scale clarification (roughly three miles of corridor), relocation of utilities, and how the design position the city to seek construction funding.
Council approved the consent calendar with items 5e and 5g removed for separate discussion and—after staff Q&A—voted to carry the calendar; the Crosstown Corridor design funding issue proceeds as part of the authorized design work and grant strategy.
