Elmwood Elementary School Access Improvements

Location

Ardelle Avenue from West End to Bird Avenue; Bird Avenue from Ardelle Avenue to Garden Acres Community Center

City or County Responsible for Project

San Joaquin County

Category

Complete Streets Projects

Author

Kris Balaji

Organization

San Joaquin County Department of Public Works

Address

1810 E. Hazelton Avenue

Phone

(209) 468-3000

Project Description

For decades, pedestrians, including many school children, within the disadvantaged Garden Acres community were forced to share Ardelle Avenue with vehicular traffic due to a lack of sidewalks. However, that all changed when San Joaquin County’s diligence in pursuing grant opportunities paid off. Public Works was first successful to receive a Community Development Block Grant for the Elmwood Elementary School Access Improvements (Project) design and environmental efforts. Subsequently, the Project was awarded a second grant from the Alternative Transportation Program for the project construction. Together, these grant funds made the Elmwood Elementary School Access Improvements project possible. In order to provide new sidewalks where none existed previously, reconstruction of Ardelle Avenue was required, including a new pavement section, drainage improvements, and new sidewalks. Ardelle Avenue is a residential roadway located in east Stockton. This corridor connects two county parks, a community center, and is a major route for school children to the Elmwood Elementary School on Cardinal Avenue. Approximately 590 out of 842 students (70%) walk or bike to the school. Thanks to this project, these students and other pedestrians have a safe place to walk for school and access to the parks, community center, and beyond. Through two effective public outreach efforts, San Joaquin County Public Works worked with individual fronting property owners to minimize construction impacts, and scheduled the construction when school was out of session. The Project improved Ardelle Avenue from its east end at the Eastside Community Park to the Garden Acres Community Center/Park on Bird Avenue. It included the construction of more than 5,400 feet of curb, gutter and sidewalk, 0.5 mile of new pavement section, six ADA access ramps, and new retro-reflective signs. The new sidewalk connects to existing sidewalk on Cardinal Avenue, and thereby extends connectivity to the greater community. Challenges encountered included conflicting utilities; drainage due to lower lying fronting properties; and frontage impacts. Public Works partnered with its contractor, Knife River Construction, and various utility agencies to resolve all challenges in a timely manner. Construction for the Elmwood School Improvements started on August 13, 2018, and opened to the public on November 9, 2018. All work was completed on time and under budget. The new sidewalks serve more than just a connection to nearby public facilities, they connect lives and bring people together.