2022 Resealing and Complete Streets Project

The City of San Luis Obispo is pleased to nominate the 2022 Resealing and Complete Streets Project, with particular emphasis on complete streets elements within the City’s downtown core, for a Save California Streets Award, Complete Streets Projects category. Completion of this project has improved City of San Luis Obispo’s streets and sidewalks, making them safer, more accessible and more sustainable for future use by enhancing safety, accessibility and neighborhood livability for all roadway users.

This high-priority transportation project included repairing and extending the life of pavement within the City’s downtown core and local residential streets within the several neighborhoods. The project implemented several complete street modifications in the downtown core to improve downtown safety and mobility for all road users. These strategies include elements that improve pedestrian crossing safety, increase separation between bicyclists and motor vehicle traffic, and calm traffic and reduce speeds through the downtown.

Overall project summary:
• Resealed 4.8 million square feet of paved roads in San Luis Obispo
• Placed high-visibility crosswalks at 35 intersections
• Built 40 new accessible curb ramps for our sidewalks
• Installed more than 16,000 feet of new or improved bike lanes and bike paths, including buffered bike lanes and separated bike lanes
• Implemented a permanent “road diet” on two one-way streets that travel through the heart of downtown
• Accessible on-street parking stalls installed throughout the downtown core
• Poured more than 100,000 linear feet of paint to mark street and bike lanes
• Painted nearly 3,500 linear feet of curbs
• Added 33 speed humps, 4 large speed tables, 3 traffic circles, and more than 100 new traffic signs to improve safety and reduce vehicle speed

Construction for the project began July 2022 and completed early 2023. Final construction costs were approximately $5.6M. The project was funded by State SB1 funding and local general funds including the City’s local revenue measure (sales tax).

The project location being the City’s downtown core made it highly visible and impactful to the typical day-to-day of the downtown’s customers, workforce, and residents. It was a priority during construction to reduce impacts to the public as possible. This included restricting working hours and traffic control requirements to accommodate vehicle and bicycle traffic as well as provide accessible pedestrian routes through construction zones.

Communication during construction was critical to the success of this project. The communications team developed and launched the “SLO in Motion” platformed to provide a cohesive message for public works projects within the City. Communications about the project’s construction were sent out via press releases, media interviews, social media, door hangers, business cards, mailers, and email notifications.