City Council Approves $4.8 Million Design Contract for Pasadena Avenue – St. John Avenue Mobility Project

The City Council authorized a contract of up to $4.8 million with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to advance the design of the Pasadena Avenue and St. John Avenue Roadway Network Project, a major transportation initiative funded through Measure R Mobility Improvement Project (MIP) dollars.

Under the recommendation from the Department of Transportation, the Council approved a two-phase professional services agreement that would move the project from conceptual development through preliminary engineering and, if the city exercises the option, into full final design.

The proposed contract includes a $1.44 million Phase 1 design effort, an optional $2.97 million Phase 2 final design package, and a $440,785 contingency, for a total not to exceed $4,848,630.

The roadway network project is one of the largest undertakings funded through Measure R allocations following Pasadena’s 2022 request to reallocate dollars previously tied to the California Boulevard Grade Separation Project.

The city’s Capital Improvement Program includes $75.1 million to plan, design, and construct the improvements.

The project spans approximately 1.8 miles between Walnut Street and Columbia Street and is intended to create a safer and more accessible bicycle and pedestrian network, upgrade narrow sidewalks, improve traffic operations with new signals, and enhance corridor mobility while maintaining existing vehicle travel lanes.

The work is designed to complement long-term planning underway through the 710 Reconnecting Communities Vision Plan.

The city conducted community engagement in 2022 as part of the 710 N. Stub Project Development Technical Memorandum. Under the new contract, those concepts will be refined through a renewed public process that includes public events, stakeholder meetings, and coordinated engagement efforts.

Phase 1 work is expected to begin in January if approved.

The contract will be funded entirely through the existing Pasadena Avenue and St. John Avenue Street Improvements (75127) Capital Improvement Project account, with no impact to the General Fund.

Staff report that the project aligns with multiple Mobility Element policies promoting safety, walkability, bicycle infrastructure, transit access, and reduced-stress mobility networks.

After Phase 1 is completed, the City will decide whether to proceed to Phase 2, which would produce a 100 percent Plans, Specifications, and Estimates package suitable for construction bidding.