The city of Pittsburg recently finished two projects under budget to improve safety near schools and accessibility for pedestrians.
As part of the Safe Routes to School project, the city installed 10 rapid flashing beacons at five unprotected crosswalks near local schools. The schools were Pittsburg High School; Heights Elementary School, which received beacon installations at Seeno Avenue and Riverview Street; St. Peter Martyr School, a transitional kindergarten through eighth-grade Catholic school; and Highlands Elementary School.
“These locations were selected based on goals set in the 2020 Pittsburg Moves Active Transportation Plan, the Safe Routes to School workshops with parents, and walking audits led by the Contra Costa Health Services,” said John Samuelson, city engineer and public works director, during last week’s City Council meeting.
By improving visibility for drivers, Samuelson said the beacons will improve safety for children crossing the street to and from school.
Jordan Davis, director of community and economic development, reported the total cost of the project to be $147,050 — just under the city’s $155,000 budget — and included expenses for the construction contract awarded to St. Francis Electric for $83,970 along with materials, advertising and staff time.
The city’s budget for the Safe Routes to School project was made up with $105,000 from a Transit Development Act grant, which was fully expended, and $55,000 from local Measure J, of which only $47,050 was used to complete construction by March 7.
“I just want to thank staff and the team for prioritizing all these locations, prioritizing these safety features,” said Mayor Juan Antonio Banales. “This is a big improvement to a number of locations around the city.”
The other recently completed city project updated 17 curb ramps, bringing them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“I just want to thank staff and the team for prioritizing all these locations, prioritizing these safety features. This is a big improvement to a number of locations around the city.” Mayor Juan Antonio Banales
“This project really focused on installing curb ramps at locations that either didn’t have an existing curb or the existing curb didn’t meet current ADA regulations,” Samuelson said, noting that there was a particular focus on improving West 17th Street to ensure an accessible route to and from Parkside Elementary School.
The project completed by Arias Concrete Contractor Inc. was solely funded by a $220,000 federal Community Development Block Grant, which supports activities to build stronger and more resilient communities. As the curb installation project only cost the city $165,000, the City Council agreed to allocate the remaining funds toward a trail crossing project that will also improve accessibility.