Orinda's City Council recently reviewed the capital improvement projects, which include infrastructure projects and community and park improvements, proposed for the next fiscal year. [Orinda's next fiscal year (FY11) runs from July 1st, 2010 through June 30th, 2011.] The Council annually updates the City's five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) based on community priorities and available funding. Not surprisingly, over 70%-almost $3.3 million-of the 2011 CIP budget is dedicated to road paving projects, an increase of $560,000 over last year.
The City has projected a significant bump in funding for infrastructure projects in the next two years due to the anticipated receipt of funding from the federal economic stimulus package and the state's Measure C monies. In addition to roads, infrastructure projects include drainage, bridges, slope stabilization, bikeways, and traffic signal improvements. The status of some the infrastructure projects reported on in the past are outlined in the sidebar.
Moraga Way Pavement Rehabilitation. One of the major road works projects to get underway in Orinda in the next year is the pavement of Moraga Way between Camino Encinas and the Bryant Way on-ramp to Highway 24 along with improved pedestrian facilities at the intersections of Moraga Way and Brookwood and Northwood Roads. Pavement rehabilitation of Camino Pablo, another major road works project planned for the City, is currently on hold awaiting approval of economic stimulus funding by the federal government. The amount allocated to the pavement management program for the repair and maintenance of the City's roads next year is $475,493. Manzanita Bridge. The long awaited replacement of the Manzanita Bridge at the entrance of the Orinda Estates neighborhood will be delayed a bit longer due to additional environmental studies required by Caltrans. The City has already taken steps to mitigate the impact of the new bridge on the habitats of the threatened red-legged frog and Alameda Whip Snake. Now CalTrans has required six additional environmental studies and reports be completed and reviewed before proceeding with construction. The studies will add $54,000 in cost to the $1.8 million project. It is anticipated that the project can go out to bid in the spring of 2011. Miner Road Pedestrian Pathway. Long a dream of walkers, runners, and parents of young children who reside on Miner Road and its narrow, windy feeder streets, the Pedestrian Pathway has been moved to the CIP's future projects list. The Parks and Recreation Commission has recommended to the Council that the City's Measure WW funds, $800,000 in bond monies designated to preserve open space for recreation and wildlife habitat, be allocated for the creation of the Miner Road Pathway. However, there are several issues to be addressed before the pathway can become a reality including the completion of the Bicycle, Trails, and Walkways Master Plan (Master Plan), the undergrounding of overhead utilities, and a feasibility study. Completion and approval of the Master Plan is expected later this summer or fall. Underground work on Miner Road by East Bay Municipal Utility District and the Contra Costa County Sanitation District was completed last summer; however, the funding for the underground conversion of overhead PG&E lines along the road is currently not available.
The complete CIP, a summary matrix, and supporting documentation can be found at the City website at http://orinda.waterware.com/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2687/I-1.pdf
The City has projected a significant bump in funding for infrastructure projects in the next two years due to the anticipated receipt of funding from the federal economic stimulus package and the state's Measure C monies. In addition to roads, infrastructure projects include drainage, bridges, slope stabilization, bikeways, and traffic signal improvements. The status of some the infrastructure projects reported on in the past are outlined in the sidebar. 
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA