The City of El Cerrito selected CME to manage design and construction of pedestrian improvements and increase pedestrian safety. The project was scheduled for compliance with the deadlines and requirements of the various federal funding sources that were employed. To avoid losing funds, CME and the City accelerated the design schedule and submitted requests for funding early in the fiscal year. The program was accomplished in multiple phases:

Phase 1 – Wayfinding Signage

CME provided construction management and inspection services for the installation of information signs located throughout the City. Signs were designed to guide pedestrians to transit locations including BART, AC Transit stops, and City offices and services.

Phase 2 – San Pablo Avenue Medians

CME served as project manager for the design phase and as construction manager for the construction phase. The project involved replacing turf the length of San Pablo Avenue (State Route 123) with drought-friendly trees, plants, and shrubs. In addition, CME led the effort to select the appropriate central control irrigation system.

Phase 3 – San Pablo Avenue Streetscape

CME served as the project manager for the design phase, which used federal funds on a Caltrans State Highway. Substantial coordination was required with Caltrans Project Development to obtain an encroachment permit through the PEER process. The project was designed to increase pedestrian access throughout the Avenue, encourage use of mass transit, and increase commerce through access improvements and beautification. CME coordinated with Bay Area Air Quality Management District for funding the construction costs of pedestrian improvements.

Phase 3a – San Pablo Avenue Rain Gardens

After the construction contract was awarded for the San Pablo Avenue Streetscape project, ARRA funds become available for the Rain Gardens element of the project from EPA through the San Francisco Estuary Partnership. The Rain Gardens were designed to treat stormwater runoff and prevent contaminants from entering the Bay. CME provided project management services to rebid the project and secure a share of ARRA funds earmarked to protect San Francisco Bay. CME provided construction management and inspection services for the Rain Gardens.

Phase 4 – San Pablo Streetlight Project

CME provided project management services to investigate and pursue energy, cost, and aesthetically effective alternatives to standard cobra head streetlights. The project involved extensive testing of all applicable alternatives as defined by a lighting study prepared by the City’s consultants. Ultimately the City selected two different LED fixtures.

Construction cost was $3.8 million.