The ECR Project Earns Multiple Statewide and Regional Awards and Recognition
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The City of Atascadero is proud to announce that the El Camino Real Downtown Parking and Safety Enhancements Project (The ECR Project) has earned multiple prestigious statewide and regional awards, recognizing the City’s strong commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community-centered design. Recent honors were presented by the League of California Cities, American Public Works Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Planning Association, which reinforces the project’s growing reputation as a regional model for excellence.
League of California Cities - Public Works Officers Institute
- 2026 Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project Award: Efficient and Sustainable Road Maintenance, Construction, and Reconstruction
Statewide recognition for the efficient and sustainable reconstruction of a historic, nearly 100-year-old roadway in the Downtown corridor.
American Public Works Association - Central Coast Chapter
- First Place, 2025 Projects of the Year, Transportation $5-25 Million
Awarded for exemplary construction management, safety performance, community relations, environmental stewardship, adaptability to project challenges, sustainability, and innovative project delivery.
- Overall Winner, 2025 Projects of the Year
A top distinction and “best of show” for all regional projects constructed in 2025 from Ventura to Monterey.
American Society of Civil Engineers - San Luis Obispo Branch
- 2026 Outstanding Roadway and Highway Project
Recognizes projects whose primary focus is on roadway/highway design/construction for vehicular transportation or multi-modal transportation, and which showcases advances and/or innovation in design.
- 2026 Outstanding Community Improvement Project
Recognizes civil engineering projects with the primary goal of improving the community.
- 2026 Outstanding Sustainable Project
Recognizes projects whose primary focus is to promote broad understanding of economic, environmental, political, social, and technical issues and processes as related to sustainable development.
- 2026 Outstanding Construction Project
Recognizes projects which utilize exceptional or innovative construction methods and/or outstanding project management, design, and construction methods to overcome challenges and successfully complete a construction project.
American Planning Association - Central Coast Section
- Award of Excellence in Urban Design
Highlighting projects distinguished by innovation, design quality, community impact, and public engagement.
These accolades now advance to compete at the state and national levels, further elevating Atascadero’s presence among leading public works and planning agencies.
The ECR Project transformed a 0.6‑mile stretch of El Camino Real in the heart of Downtown Atascadero, delivering impactful safety upgrades, expanded parking, and streetscape enhancements designed to strengthen economic vitality and reinforce an “authentic Atascadero” identity. Improvements include upgraded crosswalks, a new signalized crossing at East Mall, approximately 130 new free parking spaces, including ADA‑accessible spaces, ADA upgrades, new sidewalks and driveways, enhanced street and decorative pendant lighting, landscaping, over 25 newly planted street trees, and replacement of a 100-year-old sewer main.
Initiated in 2017, this project reflects years of collaboration with residents, local businesses, and community stakeholders. Design was performed by Wallace Group/KTUA and construction completed by Souza Construction. Funding support was provided in part by the offices of Senator Laird, Congressman Panetta, and the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments. The $12+ million project was completed on time and within budget, which is a powerful testament to effective stewardship and community partnership.
To learn more about the project’s improvements and positive impacts, visit The ECR Project page.