With voter-approved bond funds, the Berkeley public works department has made substantial repairs to the cement steps on Visalia Walk, Tunbridge Lane, and Florida Walk in northeast Berkeley.

“The path network provides critical evacuation routes in the case of emergency,” says Alina Constantinescu, former BPWA president. “We’re grateful to our partners in the city for making these paths easier and safer for walkers to traverse.”

Tunbridge Lane, after repairs (during BPWA’s recent Pooches on Paths walk)

Most of the funding for these repairs was provided by Berkeley's T1 bond measure. Voters passed the $100 million measure in 2016 by an 86.5% margin, with the funds allocated to repair, renovate, replace, or reconstruct the city’s aging infrastructure and facilities. Phase 2 of the bond spending allocated about $200,000 for path upgrades and repairs.

Structural repairs to cement steps have been completed on:

Florida Walk, between Florida and Michigan avenues
Tunbridge Lane, between Arlington and Southampton avenues
Visalia Walk, between Vincente Avenue and Menlo Place (shown above)

The city consulted with BPWA to choose which paths to prioritize for repairs. These three steep paths were listed as high-priority on our paths condition report. In the coming months, other paths will receive attention from the the public works department too. The upcoming projects will include replacing missing path signs and installation or repair of handrails.

City of Berkeley civil engineer Terrence Salonga is grateful for the funding and for the city’s partnership with BPWA. “We’re pleased to have the opportunity to use T1 funds to make much-needed repairs on our Berkeley paths,” he says. “To be able to work with the Path Wanderers to focus our efforts on improving paths that not only serve the community from a recreational standpoint, but from a safety and emergency standpoint, is very much a rewarding endeavor.”

Charlie Bowen, BPWA’s path-building lead, shares how the Path Wanderers return the sentiment and are grateful for the city’s ear. “One of the many pleasures of our path-building work has been our excellent relationship with the public works engineering department.”