Title
PLN26-0008 - Certificate of Approval - Lincoln Avenue/Marshall Way/Pacific Avenue Corridor Improvement Project - Applicant: City of Alameda. Public hearing to consider a Certificate of Approval to allow the relocation / replacement of historic streetlights as part of the Lincoln Avenue/Marshall Way/Pacific Avenue Corridor Improvement Project. This project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301(c) Existing Facilities (Minor alterations to existing facilities including bicycle facilities) and Section 15304(h) Minor Alterations to Land and the creation of bicycle lanes on existing public rights-of-way. None of the exceptions to the categorical exemptions apply. This CEQA determination confirms and accords with the environmental findings in City Council actions taken on the Project on April 18, 2023, September 17, 2024, February 4, 2025 and September 16, 2025.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Historical Advisory Board
From: Steven Buckley, Historical Advisory Board Secretary
Gail Payne, Project Manager
BACKGROUND
The City of Alameda (City) has identified the Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific Corridor Improvement Project between Alameda Point at Main Street/Central Avenue/Pacific Avenue and Broadway in the east end of town as a high priority for safety and mobility improvements. The Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific corridor is over three miles long, serves multiple destinations including schools, bus stops, commercial districts and parks, and is a Tier 1 high-injury corridor in some street sections. The Project goals include improving safety, mobility and pavement while reducing flooding and polluting emissions.
The Project is the result of a multi-year collaborative effort directed by City Council as shown on the webpage (www.alamedaca.gov/LincolnMarshallPacific <http://www.alamedaca.gov/LincolnMarshallPacific>) and with the following key actions:
• April 2023: City Council endorsed the design concept (Exhibit 1).
• June 2023: City staff submitted a Safe Routes for All (SS4A) federal grant application to the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) for $20,000,000 including local match, which was unsuccessful.
• May 2024: City staff re-submitted the same SS4A application.
• September 2024: USDOT selected the Project for SS4A funding totaling $16,000,000 with a 20 percent local match, which equals $4,000,000 and is expected to come from Measure BB’s Named Bus Transit Funds.
• February 2025: City Council authorized using the SS4A federal grant funding. City staff are working on an agreement with USDOT for the SS4A funding and are working to secure Measure BB monies from the Alameda County Transportation Commission. Federal funding may be in jeopardy due to the new administration.
• June 2025: The Parametrix consultant team has partially completed design at the 65 percent design level.
• 2026: City staff plan to secure funding, complete environmental documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and finalize the design and the construction bid package.
• 2027: Begin construction (pending grant funding).
• 2028: Complete construction (pending grant funding).
The purpose of this HAB agenda item is to hold a public hearing regarding a Certificate of Approval to allow for the relocation of four historic streetlights to nearby locations along the Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific corridor. The proposal also includes the need to raise three historic streetlights to the new sidewalk grade, which is discussed for informational purposes.
DISCUSSION
On November 18, 1987, the City Council approved the designation of 1,297 historic streetlights located throughout the city as Historic Monuments. These streetlights range from 60 to 100 years of age. The designation represents a historical era in which Alameda was known as one the best illuminated cities on the west coast, with its own power company and infrastructure. Removal or replacement is subject to review by the Historical Advisory Board (HAB) per Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) 13-21.5 - Procedure for Preservation of Historical and Cultural Monuments.
Exhibit 2 shows that the historic streetlights along the Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific corridor are included in the City Historic Monuments designation, and are listed by type, location and year as follows:
16-Fluted Pendant (Citywide: 675 total)
• Lincoln (Fifth to Webster) - 1948 - 15 total
• Lincoln (Webster to Eighth) - 1949 - 12 total
• Marshall Way - 1949 - 7 total (including 2 double pendants)
• Pacific (Central to Fourth) - 1948 - 16 total
Smooth-Pole Pendants (Citywide Total: 205)
• Pacific (Fourth to Webster) - 1956 - 21 total
The Public Works Department manages the maintenance and replacement of the City’s streets, parking lot and park pathway lights. HAB previously approved replica designs for the City’s approximately 700 16-fluted streetlights in 2012 (HAB Resolution No. 12-18) and for its approximately 236 octo-fluted pendant streetlights in 2021 (Resolution No. 21-03) for when in-kind replacement is necessary due to deterioration or other circumstances.
Exhibit 3 shows the HAB-approved poles and fixture assemblies that provide a consistent and uniformed historic look to the corridor and match the historic streetlights. Several other streetlight pole and fixture assembly designs that are not included in this project have not been approved for wholesale replacement and remain subject to individual HAB review. Similarly, the HAB only has approved replacement, not relocation, of existing poles and fixture assemblies, so this application is focused on the four streetlights that are proposed to be relocated in the Project area.
Exhibit 4 explains the historic streetlight relocation proposal for the Project and Exhibit 5 illustrates the existing and proposed locations of the poles, as follows.
• Location 1: 16-fluted pendant light on the southwest corner of Pacific Avenue and Fourth Street
• Location 2: 16-fluted pendant light at the Academy of Alameda
• Location 3: Octofluted pendant light at the Academy of Alameda
• Location 4: Octofluted pendant light at 425 Pacific Avenue
• Location 5: 16-fluted double pendant light at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Marshall Way
• Location 6: 16-fluted pendant light location at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Linden
• Location 7: Octofluted pendant light located at the northwest corner of Lincoln Avenue and Broadway
According to the Historical Preservation ordinance, Alameda Municipal Code section 13-21, “removal” of a designated historical monument is defined as “the relocation of any structure or building from one location to another.” “The Historical Advisory Board shall determine whether to issue a certificate of approval for the removal, with or without conditions of approval, based on whether it finds that the site to which the Historical Monument will be moved contains the appropriate architectural or cultural context.”
Consistent with the previous HAB approvals for historic streetlights, the goal for this Project’s historic streetlight relocation / replacement is to preserve the historic character of the streetlights and corridor. The Project’s proposal seeks to salvage as much of the original material as feasible except for when the poles or fixture assemblies are significantly rusted or structurally compromised, which would require replacement with HAB-approved poles or fixture assemblies. The new locations maintain the visual and spatial relationship to surrounding historic elements by minimizing the spatial shift within the same streetscape.
In summary, the Project respects the historic status of the streetlights to be relocated, complies with preservation standards for replica poles and fixture assemblies and maintains the streetlights’ historic context, alignment, spacing and visual relationship to surrounding features.
Staff recommends approval of the proposal. A draft resolution for approval is provided in Exhibit 6.
PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENTS
Property owners and residents within 300 feet of the project’s boundaries were notified of the public hearing and given the opportunity to review and comment on the proposal.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This project is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301(c) Existing Facilities (Minor alterations to existing facilities including bicycle facilities) and Section 15304(h) Minor Alterations to Land and the creation of bicycle lanes on existing public rights-of-way. None of the exceptions to the categorical exemptions apply. This CEQA determination confirms and accords with the environmental findings in City Council actions taken on the Project on April 18, 2023, September 17, 2024, February 4, 2025 and September 16, 2025.
CLIMATE IMPACT
Since vehicle miles traveled in Alameda is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Alameda, City staff are expecting that the Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific Corridor Improvement Project would have a positive climate impact. The concept was developed to make it safer and more convenient to bicycle, walk and ride the bus and to reduce congestion and idling motor vehicles.
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct a public hearing and approve the Certificate of Approval, Application #PLN26-0008, to allow the relocation of historic streetlights as part of the Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific Corridor Improvement Project.
Respectfully Submitted,
Steven Buckley, Secretary to the Historical Advisory Board
By,
Gail Payne, Project Manager
Exhibits:
1. Lincoln-Marshall-Pacific Project Map
2. Historic Streetlights Monument Report
3. Replacement Standard for Poles and Fixture Assemblies
4. Lincoln-Marshall-Pacific Project Memo
5. Lincoln-Marshall-Pacific Project Plans
6. Draft Resolution