The Central Albany Revitalization Area (CARA) Advisory Board approved funding for a downtown streetscape project that will beautify the downtown core with such improvements as new street lighting, sidewalks, and street trees.
The project was split into two phases to accommodate the opening of the new Albany Carousel Museum and help reduce the disruption to the downtown during construction.
The Public Works Department realizes construction will be very disruptive to the downtown during both phases of this project. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding during construction and will do everything possible to reduce construction impacts.
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This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Call: 541-917-7676, Public Works Engineering
For questions or concerns regarding this project, contact:
Lindsey Austin, Engineering Technician IV
City of Albany Public Works
541-917-7651
Project Description
Phase 2
Phase 2 Construction Activity Map
Phase 2 includes these improvements:
Second and Third Avenues
- New street lighting
- New street trees
- New street furniture
- New sidewalks
- New asphalt pavement
- Water line replacement
Broadalbin Street
between Second and Third Avenues
This will look like the block of Broadalbin between First and Second Avenues.
- New street lighting
- New street trees
- New street furniture
- New stormwater quality planters
- New sidewalks
- New asphalt pavement
Lyon and Ellsworth Streets
from First to Third Avenues
- New street lighting
- New street trees
- New sidewalks
from Third to Eight Avenues
- New street lighting
- New street trees
Street Trees
The street trees were removed during the first two months of 2017 in accordance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. It was necessary for the street trees to be removed for one or more of these reasons:
- They were nearing or had reached the end of their life span.
- They were an unsuitable variety for an urban environment.
- They conflicted with the new improvements.
The downtown will look somewhat bare but once Phase 2 is complete, about 12 new trees that are appropriate for urban environments will be planted in each block.
Phase 1
Completed May 2017
Phase 1 of the CARA Downtown Streetscape Project includes installing new sidewalk, asphalt pavement, and street trees around three frontages of the Albany Post Office. The Public Works Department is also replacing undersized water lines in the project area. The work will begin in early January 2017 and be completed by the end of March to coincide with the opening of the Carousel.
Phase 1 will also introduce back-in angled parking to the downtown with a total of 47 parking spaces.
Back-In Angled Parking Layout
The idea of back-in-angled parking may be new and different to some. However, it has been proven to be significantly safer in pedestrian- and bicycle-heavy areas and most successful along one-way streets. The area surrounding the Albany Post Office and Carousel is the perfect location for this type of parking because of heavy pedestrian traffic and one-way streets.
Back-in angled parking creates significantly better visibility when pulling out of the space as the driver is looking forward into the lane and can see oncoming vehicles and bicycles without obstruction. Additional safety benefits come when car doors open; occupants of the vehicle can exit to the back of the vehicle toward the sidewalk and are shielded by the car doors instead of having to maneuver around them. This feature is especially beneficial for families with small children. Loading and unloading from the rear of a vehicle is also much easier with back-in parking as the trunk of the vehicle is facing the sidewalk.
Back-in angled parking may take some getting used to for some but will create a safer and more efficient environment overall.
