Connecting Lafayette: Downtown Pathways and Schools Safety Project
Project Information
The City of Lafayette has secured two federal grants to fund a project that will expand the City’s ‘low-stress’ network for walking and biking, fill a gap in the pedestrian and bicycle network between the Lafayette-Moraga Trail and the First Street pathway, and address congestion related to school pick-up and drop-off adjacent to Stanley Middle School and Lafayette Elementary School by providing an alternate location for school drop-off and pick-up.
The following documents include basic project information, and includes a Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions.
Project Detail
The Connecting Lafayette Project will include the following components:- School Street, Topper Lane, St. Mary’s Road (Topper Lane to Birdhaven Court)
Design and construct a multi-use pathway along School Street (Moraga Road to Topper Lane), a pathway along Topper Lane (School Street to St. Mary’s Road) and a sidewalk on the north side of St. Mary’s Road (Topper Lane to Birdhaven Court)
- St. Mary’s Road (Acampo Drive to Topper Lane)
Design improvements to the drop-off/pick-up zone along St. Mary’s Road behind Stanley Middle School, and design an extension of the sidewalk along the north side of St. Mary’s Road from Acampo Drive to Topper Lane.
These improvements will not only provide a safe, direct and protected walking/biking connection between Downtown Lafayette and the numerous neighborhoods to the south of the project site but will also result in safer routes for students, parents and caregivers to and from Stanley Middle School and Lafayette Elementary School.
At the present time, construction funding is available only for the pathways on School Street and Topper Lane, and for the sidewalk on St. Mary’s Road between Topper Lane and Birdhaven Court.
How was the Project Initiated?
The multi-use pathway portion of the project was identified in a Rapid Implementation School Safety Plan for Stanley Middle School and Lafayette Elementary School, completed in 2022, a Complete Street Safety Assessment for the City of Lafayette (2020), and a Safe Routes to School Summary Report initiated for Lafayette Elementary School and Springhill Elementary (2013). In addition, the multi-use pathways and formal drop-off zone behind Stanley Middle School were recommended as part of the Downtown Congestion Reduction Plan (2018).
What’s a Multi-Use Pathway?
A multi-use pathway is a path that is designed for the exclusive use of pedestrians and cyclists with physical separation from and minimal cross-flow by vehicles. A multi-use pathway can be one-way or two-way, can be raised at the same height as a sidewalk, or constructed as a trail. Both the Lafayette-Moraga Trail and the First Street Pathway are considered multi-use pathways.
Schedule
The following high-level schedule is provided below, and is subject to change:
- Public Engagement: Fall 2023 – Winter 2024/25
- Initial Conceptual Design: Fall 2023 – Winter 2024
- Refined Conceptual Design: Winter - Summer 2024
- Environmental Review: Fall 2025
- Detailed Design: Summer 2025 – Winter 2026
- Construction: Summer 2026
For more information about the project, contact Patrick Golier, Transportation & Circulation Program Manager at PGolier@ci.lafayette.ca.us.
Open a larger version of this Project Map.
Project Online Survey
In May 2024 the City of Lafayette conducted an online survey to provide the project team with input on certain specifics of the Connecting Lafayette project as we move towards finalization of our conceptual designs before initiating detailed design plans.
The survey closed on May 24th 2024 and was completed by 315 respondents. Results of the survey can be viewed from the link below.
Materials from the May 1st public Open House for the project can be downloaded from the links below.
Connecting Lafayette Project Survey Summary
Past Meetings:
Transportation & Circulation Commission Meeting - June 17, 2024
On June 17 the Connecting Lafayette project was discussed at Lafayette's Transportation & Circulation Commission. At that meeting the Commission adopted the following motion in a 5-1 vote:
The Transportation & Circulation Commission adopts the staff recommendations to forward the conceptual designs to City Council for pathways and sidewalks on School Street, Topper Lane and St. Mary’s Road (Topper Lane to Birdhaven Court, and Acampo Drive to Topper Lane) with the
understanding that staff continues to work with the community on minor alignment adjustments for Topper Lane and strives to include the largest size trees feasible in the landscaping plan.
The staff presentation from that meeting can be downloaded from the following link:
Project Open House #2 (May 1, 2024)
On May 1, 2024 the City of Lafayette held the 2nd Open House and workshop for our Connecting Lafayette project. At the meeting the project team reviewed the next iteration of conceptual designs for the proposed pathways along School Street, Topper Lane and St. Mary’s Road that will improve safety and comfort for all, including students walking or biking to Stanley Middle School and Lafayette Elementary School. In addition, the project is considering improvements to the pick-up/drop-off area behind Stanley Middle School on St. Mary’s Road.
This work is based on the public engagement that we have had over the past several months
Materials from the May 1, 2024 Project Open House can be downloaded from the links below:
Open House Presentation Boards
School Street Photo Simulation
St. Mary's Road Concept Design
Project Open House #1 (Dec 7, 2023)
On Thursday, December 7th City Staff held a public Open House at Lafayette Elementary School for the Connecting Lafayette: Downtown Pathways and Schools Safety Project. The intent of the meeting was to introduce the project to the public, provide details of the project’s scope and expected timeline, discuss the preliminary concept designs for all project elements, and receive input and questions.
Meeting materials and feedback provided at the meeting can be downloaded here, including:
- Workshop Summary Memorandum
- Presentation Slides
- Question and Comment Forms (Blank)
- Project Fact Sheet
- Project Overview Station Boards
- School Street Concept Design Station Boards
- Topper Lane Concept Design Station Boards
- St. Mary's Drop-Off Concept Design Station Boards
- Comments Received at Each Station
- Completed Question and Comment Forms
Topper Lane Design Alternatives
On October 26, 2023, City staff held a preliminary project meeting for residents of Topper Lane and Birdhaven Court in advance of the kick-off to the Connecting Lafayette project. At the meeting the project team discussed three preliminary design options for the multi-use pathway that is planned for Topper Lane as part of the project. The preliminary design options represent ‘proof-of-concept’ designs that illustrate three potential alignments with associated impacts.
The following material was disseminated at the meeting: