Each year, the American Public Works Association of Southern California presents the Public Works Project of the Year awards to promote excellence in the management and administration of public works projects, recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the contractor, the consultant, the community, and their cooperative achievements. On December 6, 2022, the City of Santa Ana Public Works Agency received two 2022 Project of the Year Awards. The projects awarded are:
• Civic Center Bike Boulevards & Safe Routes to School Enhancements for Sepulveda Elementary School received the Traffic, Mobility & Beautification Award for a City with a population over 200,000.
• Lincoln Pedestrian Pathway received the Recreation and Athletic Fields Award for a City with a population over 200,000.
The Civic Bike Boulevard between Broadway and Santiago Street Project reestablished the ability for motorists and pedestrians to travel and cross the heavily traveled intersections on this segment. This project involved the construction of new traffic circles, bulb-outs, traffic calming signage, updated signage, striping, markings in the corridor, and an added protected left-turn arrow signal modification at the intersection of Main Street and Civic Center Drive.
The improvements allowed safety and aesthetics features to include 10 new curb bulb-out extensions, 64 new curb ramps, 30 shortened crosswalks, and a new crossing at French Street. In addition, the project provided updated signs, and markings in the corridor, and added protected left-turn arrow signal modifications at the intersection of Main Street and Civic Center Drive. This $4.2 million project is the result of a collaborative community effort in the development of the Complete Streets Plan for Downtown Santa Ana.
The Lincoln Pedestrian Pathway project is a follow-up phase to Orange County Transportation Authority’s At-Grade Railroad Enhancement Project, which included, among other improvements, the permanent closure of Fairhaven Railroad Crossing at Lincoln Avenue. The closure of this intersection in 2012 resulted in about one additional mile of travel distance for pedestrians, bicyclists, and residents from the west side of the Park Santiago Neighborhood Community accessing Grand Avenue thru Fairhaven Avenue. Due to community concerns regarding easier accessibility/mobility in the area, Orange County Transportation Authority and the City of Santa Ana joined efforts to reestablish pedestrians and bicyclists access with the construction of the Lincoln Pedestrian Pathway project which runs along the west side of the tracks from Park Lane to Santiago Creek in the City of Santa Ana.
Prior to the project’s design phase completion, Public Works staff sought community input. Based on several community meetings, additional improvements were identified and incorporated in the design to address the community’s security concerns. The improvements provide a 12-foot wide pedestrian pathway, landscaping, irrigation, lighting, fencing and wall barriers between the railroad and pathway separation. The pathway connects pedestrians and bicyclists to the Santiago Creek trials, improves accessibility, and reduces travel distance. Furthermore, it promotes walking and exercising to support a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. This $1.2 million project helps facilitate mobility, decreases pedestrian travel distances in general, and provides safer and shorter routes to school for children.
Congratulations to the Public Works team in receiving these well-deserved awards!