Project one of the largest undertaken by city employees
After more than 40 years of use, the aging alleyways of Santa Monica aren’t just getting a facelift, but a complete overhaul that is expected to cost close to $3 million.
The alleys will still run parallel to the streets they share their names with, but now they will be designed to better handle water. And at a higher cost, the alleys will be able to control polluted runoff created by heavy rains.
City engineers have designed the new alleys in a v-shape to channel water to a central gutter that will carry the water directly into the sewer system. The new alleys are made of porous concrete which allows puddles to seep through the surface, letting the rain return to the soil unpolluted. With the old alleys, water collects on the surface which can be polluted with oil, fertilizers and waste that may be carried to the ocean.
Officials say using the new concrete is about 20 percent more expensive than regular cement, but the process eliminates polluted water that enters the rivers and oceans. Also, officials say it will provide less ground water that the city’s sewer plants treat before releasing into the ocean.
“It costs more but it’s not a whole lot more,” said Craig Perkins, the city’s director of environmental and public works management. “It prevents polluted runoff from leaving the site and because that ends up in the rivers and oceans, and in our treatment plant; so there’s really a two-prong benefit.”
So far the city has used the new concrete in some “minor projects” around town, but now officials say they feel comfortable enough using it on all the alleys.
“We’ve been experimenting with it on a pilot basis for the past few years,” said Perkins. “Permeable concrete has only been available for the past few years commercially, and that’s about as long as we have been using it.”
Replacing all 656 alleys in the city — which range from 137 to 1,100 feet long — will take almost five years, costing $528,000 each year, totaling $2.65 million.
To complete the project, the city also has purchased about $300,000 in new paving equipment and hired a new part-time crew of seven.
However, officials say cuts are looming for next year’s municipal budget stemming from a loss of sales tax revenue which could threaten the alleyways project.
“Everybody is taking budget cuts right now,” said Robin Jarit, street superintendent for the city. “So who knows, maybe this might get put on hold for a while.”
City workers have replaced the alleyways in the Pico neighborhood. But now they replace alleys across town from each other to make sure construction is not centered in one place.
“Now people are catching on and I get calls all day long from people who want their alleys fixed too,” said Jarit. “But we’re trying to do projects evenly spread out around the city in different neighborhoods so that we don’t favor one area.”
“Now people are catching on and I get calls all day long from people who want their alleys fixed too. But we’re trying to do projects evenly spread out around the city in different neighborhoods so that we don’t favor one area.” — — ROBIN JARIT City street superintendent
Residents say they are more than happy to put up with the hassles of construction if their alleys are being redone.
“It was horrible before they came through here,” said Bruce Barclay, a resident who lives on 11th Street between Wilshire Boulevard and California Avenue. The alley behind his apartment was replaced in November. “It is much better than it was.” However, it doesn’t deter people from speeding through the narrow strip or deter traffic from the El Cholo restaurant, he added.
“It was horrible before they came through here. It is much better than it was.” — — BRUCE BARCLAY Santa Monica resident
After each alleyway is completed, the city mails a survey to all residents and businesses on its borders asking if the job was satisfactory.
“It’s a personal touch with the city crews doing the work,” said Jarit. “With contractors, residents get frustrated but with the city crews there is more of a sense of pride.”
For the public works department, the alleyway project has been a source of self-respect. It is one of the largest construction projects of its kind undertaken by city employees. Most projects are done by outside contractors.
“This is going to another level and the department is really stepping up to the plate,” said Jarit. “It’s something we should all be proud of.”
Public works employees say they have been amazed that the alleys lasted as long as they did.
“Most of these were first done in the ’60s,” said Jarit. “Basically, they were one inch of asphalt over dirt. We’re really putting some alleys in that will last, hopefully way past my time.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 8, 2002. Read the original PDF.