The El Camino Real Downtown Parking and Safety Enhancements Project (The ECR Project) will improve the safety, economic vitality, parking capacity and aesthetics of the El Camino Real downtown corridor between Highway 41 and Rosario Avenue.
Planned since 2017, the ECR Project is a community-driven initiative developed in partnership with residents, businesses and community stakeholders. We thank the Atascadero community for making their voices heard during the planning process, from outreach events in 2019, to workshops in 2020, to a series of nine “open houses” in 2023.
Once constructed, the ECR Project will deliver the following improvements and benefits to this 0.6-mile stretch of El Camino Real:
- Limit vehicular traffic on El Camino Real to one lane in each direction in the project area to increase safety, add free parking spaces and improve the Downtown experience
- Add crosswalks with higher visibility for enhanced pedestrian safety
- Install a full overhead signalized pedestrian crossing at East Mall to improve safety
- Create over 100 new free parking spaces, including ADA-accessible spaces
- Make ADA accessibility improvements, including new driveways and sidewalks
- Plant over 25 new street trees, in-ground planters along a center median, potted planters along the sidewalk and storm runoff planters to create shade, improve aesthetics and capture water
- Install hanging pendant lights and street lights throughout the project area
- Create designated loading zones for deliveries, drop-offs and pickups
Throughout its development, the ECR Project has been guided by the following key priorities:
- Community Input: The project is a community-driven initiative shaped by extensive planning and public engagement efforts over seven years to develop a holistic corridor plan that addresses the needs and goals of all multimodal users.
- Public Safety: Research-backed enhancements will calm traffic, increase visibility for roadway users, bolster walkability and accommodate multi-modal transportation, creating a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike.
- Economic Revitalization: Over the past five-plus years, Atascadero has experienced significant development downtown, and construction of this project is anticipated to accelerate the growth of the downtown economic district. The project’s improvements will enhance aesthetics and create a safer, easier-to-access area that can help increase foot traffic and business growth.
- Free Parking Solutions: The project addresses concerns about parking availability by adding 118 new free parking spaces for cars, along with provisions for bicycle and motorcycle parking. This new parking will make it easier for residents and visitors to access downtown amenities, supporting local businesses and enhancing the overall downtown experience.
- Enhanced Aesthetics: The project will enhance the aesthetics of the downtown area with features like center medians with trees and landscaping, matching gateway arches, and hanging pendant lights. These aesthetic improvements will contribute to creating a more welcoming and attractive downtown environment for residents and visitors.
Construction on the ECR Project started with utility improvements on June 10, 2024, and will be followed by streetscape construction. Work is expected to continue through Summer 2025.
Throughout construction, the City will use both in-person and virtual channels to proactively communicate about potential traffic impacts to residents, businesses and schools within the downtown core. Additionally, a construction manager will be onsite at all times to answer questions from the community. Community members can sign up to receive construction news and alerts by visiting Atascadero.org/News-List.
Project Timeline
Design Development:
- December 2017 – November 2021
Engineering Design:
- January 2022 – April 2024
Construction (anticipated):
- Utility Improvement Phase: June 2024 - Late July 2024
- Streetscape Improvements Phase: July 2024 - Summer 2025
- Monument Phase: Summer/Fall 2025 - Spring 2026
Project Cost and Funding Sources:
- Budget $11,945,000
- Funded by:
- General Fund ($4,695,000)
- State Legislative Grant: FY 23-25 Budget (Sen. Laird) ($3,000,000)
- RSHA: Betterment Grants (SLOCOG) ($2,550,000)
- Wastewater Fund: FY 23-25 Budget and Reserve ($1,120,000)
- 2010 Bond Master Agreement ($255,000)
- Local Transportation Fund ($140,000)
- USHA Funds: FY 23-25 Budget ($100,000)
- Circulation System Fund ($85,000)
History & Background
Planned since 2017, The ECR Project was envisioned by the community to enhance safety and economic development in the downtown by creating a zone that slows traffic speeds, enhances appearance and safety and best utilizes the existing roadway space.
El Camino Real in the downtown still maintains its roughly 80-foot width (curb-to-curb) and design features that reflect its past use as a highway. By dropping a vehicular lane in both the northbound and southbound directions, the City will gain space to add enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities, additional public spaces, and parking.
Three main factors drove the creation of the ECR Project:
- Atascadero is experiencing an economic upswing due to City investments and strong interest from private developers and business owners, creating more foot, vehicle, cyclist and multi-modal traffic in the Downtown area.
- Atascadero High School, Atascadero Fine Arts Academy, and Atascadero Middle School are located within ¼ mile of the El Camino Real Downtown Corridor, creating significant traffic during peak drop-off and pick-up times. Residents and business owners have expressed concerns regarding the safety and function of El Camino Real, and The ECR Project is designed to address these community concerns.
- Merchants, residents, developers, and City leaders have expressed the need for more parking and pedestrian access within the downtown district, due to increased economic activity and special events.
Atascadero has tapped several experts to assist with the ECR Project. KTUA of San Diego was hired in November 2017 and has assisted the City in El Camino Real analysis and development of a corridor plan. CCTC of Morro Bay is working as a sub-consultant to KTUA to provide traffic engineering and operations analysis.
The City hosted multiple outreach events in 2019, receiving a lot of feedback from the community. KTUA incorporated feedback from the public and the Atascadero City Council and returned a revised plan that was once again presented at multiple public workshops in 2020. After incorporating this second round of feedback, a concept plan was approved by City Council on August 11, 2020.
After the concept plan was approved, the engineering design process ramped up with additional public engagement opportunities through 2023. Contracts have been approved with Souza Construction and Filippin Engineering, Inc., and the ECR Project is now in its construction phase.
