Questions from El Cerrito/Richmond Annex Walk & Roll

Question 1: Access to BART stations

Plans are underway to repurpose parking lots at El Cerrito Plaza BART to provide housing, retail, and possibly a new library. How would you support affordable, low-carbon access to BART thus reducing parking needs on BART property?

An important part of the funding for the work at the El Cerrito Plaza BART TOD is new infrastructure for bicycle and pedestrian access to the station. So better bicycle parking, and a safer walking path along the Greenway and realignment of the Greenway adjacent to the station to eliminate conflict with cars is already in the plan and partially funded. I have met with last mile providers like electric scooter concessions and they are not as successful so far in El Cerrito. Given the terrain in El Cerrito, I think the hardest people to serve with alternatives to driving are the residents in the hills. I will continue to work to find better solutions, but I think that better bus service may be the most helpful.  With the changes from development at the North Berkeley and Ashby stations in addition to El Cerrito Plaza, I hope that there will be a larger group of people to advocate for better transit.  

Question 2: Travel on San Pablo Avenue

Despite being one of the commercially richest corridors in West Contra Costa County, San Pablo Avenue does not feel safe to travel on except by car. It is also challenging to safely cross by bicycling and walking and it is where the majority of roadway crashes in our area occur. What kinds of changes would you support for San Pablo Avenue so that it is safer to bicycle and walk on, both along and across?

We are continuing to work with CalTrans on improvements to San Pablo Avenue. I know that additional flashing safety crossings across San Pablo Avenue are planned. I also hope that we can apply for and receive more grant funding so that we can extend our beautiful but terribly short protected bike lane. I hope that we can work with Albany and Richmond to improve access from El Cerrito to the Bay Trail and perhaps jointly apply for funding.

Question 3: Financial sustainability

Communities rely on various taxing, bond measures, and grants to support infrastructure. At the same time, there is ample evidence that creating walkable (and bike-able) urbanism with destinations easily accessible without a car generates significant wealth that can be taxed. What will you do to move El Cerrito toward a financially sustainable urban form that reaps the benefits of walkability?

The most impactful part of the work, the planning and zoning for San Pablo Avenue in the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan, is completed and updated.  What we really need is for the entitled developments to be built to fill in the gaps and build up the underutilized sections of the Avenue.  With more development, and more residents, we will attract more businesses to serve them and get both a more dynamic pedestrian environment and sales and property taxes. Right now, many developments are stalled due to the interest rates being higher, but we are ready to go when things improve.  The less glamorous part of what I can do is to make sure that we are maintaining our community services and our financial strength to be an attractive city to build, work, and live in.  We have greatly improved our City finances, and we have been able to improve our infrastructure through major capital projects like Del Norte Complete Streets and the upcoming Richmond Street repaving. I also strongly support a new library which will also bring more activity and business to the El Cerrito Plaza area.  

Questionnaire from Transbay Coalition

Candidate did not respond to questionnaire.

To learn more about Lisa Motoyama:

lisaforelcerrito.com