Bicycle lanes, ADA curb cuts for pedestrians, water line replacement, and repaving will occur on various segments of Yosemite Avenue between Walnut Street and Main Street.

Road work ahead logo XX YOSEMITE

MAKING YOSEMITE AVE. SAFER

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Major project includes bike lanes, new ADA curb cuts

By DENNIS WYATT

The Bulletin

A $3 million project is bringing everything for safer movements for bicyclists and pedestrians to smoother pavement and more reliable water lines to West Yosemite Avenue between Walnut Avenue and Main Street.

The endeavor is before the City Council when they meet tonight at 6 p.m. to award various components of the project.

It started with the city more than three years ago receiving a $681,390 federal Highway Safety Improvement Program grant to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety along the corridor.

That portion of the project will actually cost $820,000.

It will include:

*high-profile bicycle lanes.

*update American with Disabilities curb ramps to current standards.

*new signage and stripping.

*new rectangular rapid flashing beacon system at various crosswalks.

The flashing beacon a pedestrian-activated traffic control device featuring two rectangular, yellow LED lights that flash at a high frequency to boost driver awareness of pedestrians at uncontrolled crossings.

Federal Highway Administration research indicates they significantly increase driver yielding rates up to 98%. 

Before that work starts, $735,000 will be spent replacing the aging Yosemite Avenue water line.

Some segments are in excess of 100 years in age and are undersized for development that has occurred over the years.

The next project will be a 3-inch grind and pavement overlay.

The city waited to do the safety work so all the needed improvements could be done without having to tear up the pavement repeatedly.

Monthly water charges are paying for the water line replacement work that was factored into the recent user rate increases.

The road work is being partially covered by various street funds.

The shortfall — including the additional $140,000 needed to match the federal safety grant — is coming from Measure Q receipts. Overall, the three-quarter cent sales tax is contributing $600,000 to the endeavor.

When the work is completed, Yosemite Avenue between Walnut Avenue and Spreckels Avenue will have been improved in the last five years.

The city has identified addressing pavement issues on Yosemite between Airport Way and city limits with Lathrop as an upcoming project.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com