The Palo Alto City Council unanimously approved a construction contract with O’Grady Paving Inc. to resurface University Avenue on Monday evening.
The operation, known as the University Avenue Resurfacing Project, is the last phase of the Upgrade Downtown infrastructure and street improvement project. The Council announced on April 6 that construction in the downtown area, approved on Jan. 22, 2018, was completed successfully by Ranger Pipelines. The construction included gas main and water main replacements, street maintenance, downtown mobility and safety improvements and sidewalk repairs.
The street resurfacing contract with O’Grady Paving Inc. authorizes the paving and milling of University Avenue from Webster to High Street. The project is expected to last 30 days.
Given the disruption and financial losses Upgrade Downtown has caused to local businesses, the City is encouraging residents to continue patronage to downtown restaurants and shops. In a City Council Staff report, public officials also announced that they will “conduct extensive public outreach before and during the construction phase to keep the community informed during the process.” Outreach initiatives will include posting notices on Nextdoor and the city’s website as well as sending flyers to adjacent residences and businesses.
According to the City Council, Palo Alto’s pavement condition index (PCI), which measures the condition of street surfaces, has improved steadily since 2009, partly due to the increased annual funding for city streets implemented in 2011. The University Avenue Resurfacing Project will contribute to the City’s street maintenance goal to reach a citywide average PCI score of 85 out of 100 by 2019. The City’s current PCI score is 84.
The Council also hosted a joint study session with the Palo Alto Youth Council to discuss their initiatives, concerns and future involvement with the City. Among topics discussed was a survey conducted by the Youth Council about student vaping trends.
Contact Caroline Ghisolfi at ceg1998 ‘at’ stanford.edu.