Carson Street Master Plan

Location

I-405 Exit on Carson Street to I-110 on Carson Street

City or County Responsible for Project

City of Carson

Category

Complete Streets Projects

Author

Garrett Roberts

Organization

City of Carson, Public Works Department

Address

701 E. Carson Street, Carson, California 90745

Phone

(310) 952-1700 Ext. 1125

Project Description

The Carson Street Master Plan was envisioned in 2001 to encourage economic development within a diverse but disadvantaged community. It was implemented with a public investment along a 1.75-mile mixed-use corridor positioned between the I 405 and I 110 freeways. The City of Carson’s motto is “Future Unlimited”, and this project emphasizes a positive shift for the community. This project transforms a formerly incongruous area into a vibrant and cohesive pedestrian-friendly environment, and revitalizes Carson’s “downtown” commercial district and Civic Center. Included among the improvements were expanded sidewalks, enhanced bike lanes, decorative crosswalks, modern bus shelters, pedestrian lighting, drought-tolerant landscaping, and wayfinding signage. The project integrated art into the streetscape. Decorative crosswalks are bounded by sidewalks that were widened to provide enhanced access opportunities. Gateway monuments stand at the entrances to the corridor and metallic structures of children playing have been placed along the sidewalk to serve as both bike racks and public art. The project also incorporated dual litter/recycling receptacles and LED lighting into the streetscape design to emphasize the City’s focus on sustainability. Through years of dedicated work, the City has transformed a 1.75-mile corridor from a blighted area with limited public amenities, marked with deteriorated buildings and vacant lots, into a revitalized neighborhood brimming with new developments. The plan has stimulated private investments that produce more than 1,100 new residential units, including 340 affordable housing units, and 100,000 square feet of new commercial space with ground-level store fronts, restaurants, and public plaza. Sustainable improvement measures such as drought tolerant landscaping and reclaimed water lines were incorporated to conserve water usage and improve air quality. The overall physical environment has been enhanced by walkable streets, shared bike lanes, accessible shopping districts, and nearby residential uses that encourage walking and enjoying all that the City has to offer. As a result, the City of Carson now enjoys a downtown area where locals and visitors can walk and ride their bicycles along Carson Street. Motorists can now share the road with cyclist and those needing greater access to sidewalks enjoy a wider and greener streetscape. The streets are both vibrant with art during the day and vibrant with LED lighting during the night. It is our hope that you consider the City of Carson, Carson Street Master Plan project for the Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project award.