El Camino Real Downtown Infrastructure Enhancement Plan

 

Location

El Camino Real from Highway 41 to Rosario Avenue

City or County Responsible for Project

City of Atascadero

Category

Roads: Efficient and Sustainable Road Maintenance, Construction and Reconstruction Projects.

Description

The City of Atascadero’s El Camino Real Downtown Infrastructure Enhancement Plan was an efficient and sustainable reconstruction of a nearly 100-year-old historic highway through the downtown. Constructed in the 1930’s as part of the original Highway 101 corridor, El Camino Real still had remnants of its highway origins with a car centric character including two lanes in each direction and a center lane. This City project originated as a traffic calming study and evolved into a “road diet” through downtown that reduced the number of vehicle lanes, added parking and a more inviting flexible space for events in the street center, provided enhanced bicycle facilities on the road, and promoted safer pedestrian crossings.
Throughout planning, design, and construction, sustainability and cost effectiveness were a focus. Starting with the pavement: cores of the existing pavement found a section consisting of up to 24″ of asphalt over 5″ of concrete. To preserve the robust foundation, the project was thoughtfully designed to re-use most of the existing pavement section. Design details included minimal sawcutting for planters, doweled curbs, using bituminous sand bedding on the existing asphalt for the decorative pavers, and a grind and overlay treatment for the remaining roadway width. Sidewalk, driveway, and curb ramp reconstructions were limited to addressing ADA compliance concerns, and most of the flatwork was protected in place. Overall, the project reduced impervious area, so drainage design was limited to minor improvements and stormwater retention planters and avoided the need to install a costly mainline or to relocate major underground utilities. The City prudently upheld the existing historic downtown design scheme which allowed the preservation and re-use of existing streetlights, benches, and planters that the City had on-hand. The project replaced existing bulbs with LED equivalents, and new lighting was LED to reduce energy usage and cost. Landscaping materials tied in with the City’s preferred plant list and focused on low water and low maintenance plants.
Even with these cost-effective design measures, the City was creative with funding and implementing the vision. City drew monies from 11 different sources, including four grants. Additional streetscaping features, signal replacements, and a fiber optic conduit system were broken out as bid additive alternatives which gave the City flexibility to prioritize the main work items.
This project reduced the number of lanes which will allow the City to focus limited roadway repair funds on other streets. Prior to this project, costs to rehabilitate nearly 80’ width of pavement through the corridor absorbed a disproportionate percentage of City funding for road repairs. Thoughtful design and planning and close collaboration between the City, consultants, and community efficiently transformed the historic downtown roadway corridor from a place to drive through into a place to drive to.