| | Published March 27th, 2013
| Orinda CIOC Recaps Road Repairs
| | By Laurie Snyder | | |
"I'm happy to report that we've made significant progress," stated Dennis Fay as he began his March 19 presentation before the Orinda City Council. The chair of the Citizens' Infrastructure Oversight Commission was on hand to update city leaders and residents on the latest efforts to improve Orinda's roads and drains. Since April 2009, the number of arterial and collector streets in very poor or poor condition has been reduced from 43 to 19.
Rehabilitated in 2012 were some of the city's most heavily traveled streets known as collectors - Rheem Boulevard from Hall to Zander Drive, Orinda Way from the library to Irwin Way, Camino Sobrante from Orinda Way to El Ribero, Overhill Road from Tara to Glorietta Boulevard, and Valley View Drive from Crestview to Don Gabriel Way.
"Our projections continue to show that Orinda will be able to complete the repair of the arterials and collectors that currently are in poor or very poor condition ... by 2018 without using the new Measure L funding," reads CIOC's report. A test of new technology, "which recycle[d] existing asphalt pavement rather than replacing it" on Camino Sobrante, Valley View and Overhill, was successful enough that CIOC members hope that it can be used again in the future to save the city money. Staff will conduct ongoing monitoring to ensure the test work "is at least as durable as the traditional technology."
The city also began tackling a drainage failure-induced sink hole on Tarabrook Drive, ponied up $170,000 for drainage improvements to a 24-inch storm drain between Coral Drive and Fiesta Circle and three large El Toyonal culverts, and used $38,355 for urgent road repairs to Camino Pablo south of Orinda Way, El Camino Moraga at Moraga Way, and Spring Road.
But other neighborhood thoroughfares still need work. "As of the current date, the number of residential road segments that are considered very poor (PCIs less than 25) was 130." The estimated price tag is $22.2 million.
The $600,000 from the Measure L sales tax will help somewhat; however, those increased revenues will not be available to the city until September. In the interim, the CIOC asked the city council to "advance monies to the Public Works Department to undertake the needed design and construction documents ... to allow construction to begin as soon as tax dollars are available." Additionally, city leaders were urged "to proceed vigorously with the 10-year plan which ... envisions raising $39.6 million for the roads through bonds issues [sic] in 2016 and 2020." The CIOC also asked the council to consider authorizing a real estate transfer tax, divert some of the increased property tax revenues which will be produced as older homes are sold, and apply part of the $2.3 million in one-time funds generated by the Eden affordable housing program.
CIOC commissioners contributing to the report included Fay, vice chair Darlene Gee, Gordon Bizieff, Jeffrey Smyly, Joan Dahl, and Richard Nelson.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA