Discounts Become an AS&R member and get discounts at local bike shops and businesses!
Blue Heron Bikes: 10% off parts and accessories.
Bikes on Solano: 10% off labor, parts and accessories.
Offers are valid to members of Albany Strollers & Rollers and their households. Tell your friends!
Contact us with questions.
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AS&R and our partner organization Bike East Bay have endorsed Albany’s Measure C to continue raising money for sidewalk repairs.
In 2010-11 a group of AS&R volunteers measured the worst section of sidewalk on each block in the City, resulting in a condition census. The conditions indicated the City’s approach of legally requiring the owner of the adjacent property to maintain the sidewalk did not work. As a result, AS&R began advocating for the Council to place a property tax on the ballot to fund the City repairing the sidewalks.
In 2016, after five years, AS&R succeeded when the Council placed Measure P1 on the ballot, which passed with almost four fifths of voters in support. So far the City has repaired approximately 500 locations. For context, there are about 300 blocks of sidewalk in Albany. And because of the City contracts for tens of repairs at a time, the cost per repair has been about half that individual adjacent property owners spend for a single repair at a time.
Measure P1 instituted a ten-year tax. Measure C is on the ballot now in order to preclude the uncertainty regarding future funding that would occur if reauthorization was on the ballot in 2026. Uncertainty that would require City staff to wind down the program and then wind it up again if reauthorization passed.
Measure P1 was the most equitable tax Albany had put on the ballot. It taxed different properties by size bracket different amounts. Measure C replaces this tax with one per square foot of property, which is more equitable.
Measure C proposes to increase revenue by about four fifths relative to Measure P1, however the tax rate per median size parcel increases by only about a third. This is because the tax under P1 topped out at about $100 for commercial parcels no matter how large. For instance, Target is paying only about twice the amount as the owner of a large single residence property and about the same as the owner of a five residence building.
The proposed revenue increase will fund a number of sidewalk maintenance activities the City has been paying for out of its General Fund. Grinding down of lesser damage sector by sector in the City annually, which costs about $50,000 per year. Comprehensive surveying of sidewalk conditions every five years, which costs about $100,000. Part of a Public Works engineer’s time to design the sidewalk repair projects and run the program, which costs around $100,000 a year.
No other infrastructure system in the City relies on general fund revenue. In this way, Measure C continues the quest to put maintenance of sidewalks on an equal footing to maintenance of roads, storm drains, and sewers by fully funding the sidewalk maintenance program.
In addition, Measure C funds maintenance of Class I paths, including their walking and running shoulders, like those in the Ohlone Greenway and along Buchanan. Its revenue can also be spent upgrading sidewalks to standard width where they are otherwise too narrow.
And with that, you have reached the end. Congratulations – you are a policy wonk.
Our Anniversary Celebration on Sept. 29 was a great success! 90+ guests enjoyed music, food and activities at Ocean View Park. We celebrated folks and organizations, highlighting their contributions to our achievements. In honor of the group’s two decades of service and advocacy, the City of Albany proclaimed Sunday, September 29, Albany Strollers & Rollers Day in Albany. We also celebrated our recent Best of Albany “Albany Community Service Award” from the Albany Chamber of Commerce. Our event was sponsored in part by California Clean Air Day. You still have time to take the Clean Air Pledge.
 Activities got off to an early start with a ride to the event led by Co-Founder Preston Jordan from Terrace Park. The route highlighted decades of work that have culminated in two active transportation corridors from the hills to the Bay: Francis St./ Dartmouth/Codornices Creek/ 4th St./Gilman and Buchanan St./Marin Ave. Riders then proceeded on the first pathway to the Bay Trail and looped back to Ocean View Park on the second.  Commemorative Bike Bells At Ocean View Park, guests enjoyed bike-blended smoothies, free bike tune-ups from the BikeMobile, installing a bike bell on their bike, and a helmet decorating arts and crafts table. There was food from Kim’s Café & Sandwiches, pickleball lessons, a Timeline Wall, and good company.
 We enjoyed the American roots-based, strings and percussion sounds of Crow For Day drifting through the trees. Our recognition program started during a break in music and pickleball. Vice Mayor Robin López shared a few words about his appreciation for AS&R and our members who supported him at a critical time. Ken McCroskey then spoke for the Core Group:
 Click here to see the detailed achievement panes from our AS&R Timeline. In twenty years, AS&R has
- Grown from two founders, Nick and Preston, to over 800 member households
- Formed a strong Core Group, which
- Has members on several city commissions and committees, plus
- Core Group members have been on City Council for ten years
- AS&R has a strong history of service in the community
- Many of the projects we have advocated for are accomplished or in process
- AS&R changed the way Albany functions with active transportation facilities, plus
- Changed the way Albany looks and how folks park their bikes in Albany
AS&R didn’t get here alone. We want to recognize everyone who’s helped us along the way.
We have had many partner community organizations who have worked with us, including:
- Our fiscal sponsor Bike East Bay,
- Rich City Rides,
- El Cerrito/Richmond Annex Walk & Roll,
- Waterside Workshops,
- Friends of 5 Creeks,
- Albany Triathlon,
- Solano Avenue Association,
- Albany Chamber of Commerce,
- Safe Routes to Schools Alameda County,
- and BikeMobile, who did tune-ups at this event!
 At the Celebration, a family works on their bike with a bike mechanic from the BikeMobile. Collaboration with current and Former City Staff has been crucial. Among those folks are:
- Ann Chaney, former Director of Development who had the foresight to hire
- Aleida Andrino-Chavez, longtime Transportation Planner with the city. We are fortunate to still be working with Aleida, now in her similar role with the Alameda County Transportation Commission! She has a special place in our hearts.
- Mark Matherly of Public Works, who personally installed the majority of Bike Bike Racks and Public Pumps with great detail and care,
- Several Directors of Public Works, most recently Mark Hurley and his staff who manage construction of projects around town,
- Jeff Bond, current Director of Development, who personally contributes to projects like the Jackson Street, off-street pathway from Berkeley to Buchanan. One segment is built and more to come!
- Justin Fried and Ben Matlaw make up our current Transportation planning team. We’re looking forward to working with them on the update to the Active Transportation Plan kicking off in October!
- Let’s not forget the partnership with the City of Albany on our Celebration! Many thanks to Vice Mayor López, Nicole Almaguer our City Manager, Public Works, and to Sid Schoenfeld and his team at the Recreation Department for taking such good care of us!
- We acknowledged past and present City Council members and Transportation Commissioners over the years who were present.
 Our food offerings, from Kim’s Café, included mini-sandwiches, spring rolls, and mango tea. It’s hard to do anything without money, and we’ve been lucky to receive donations from some of you individuals over the years. Thank you! We’ve received funds for Bike Valet Parking from events like the Stroll and the Solano Avenue Association but much of our funding has come from two sources:
We surely wouldn’t have been able to get our efforts off the ground in the early years without the large, consistent donations from Grizzly Peak Cyclists. They helped us buy our fleet of portable bike parking racks and contributed to all of our early programs! Thanks, so much, for your years of support!
In the last five years, we’ve enjoyed a stream of donations through Climate Ride, led by Ian MacLeod. Additional infrastructure we enjoy was made possible through Climate Ride. Thank you for your efforts! You, too, can join a fun Climate Ride and designate AS&R as your beneficiary.
It also takes volunteers to get things done, and we’ve had a lot of support from folks over the years!
- We have some great volunteers who have helped us consistently with activities like Bike Valet Parking, often for many years! There are too many other activities and volunteers to name, but we tried to thank everyone who was at the event, and more.
- Many thanks to our Celebration volunteers, including Dan Lieberman, Elle Linterna, Kana T, Carrie Hobbs-Schulman, Francesco Papalia, Justin Fried, Tony Caine, Ruth Konoff, Bill Powning, Darlene Vendegna, Sylvia Paull, Gjergji & Sarah Zyba, and Lucinda Young. Thank you!
- Thanks to our Celebration Committee, Estrella Sainburg, Ken McCroskey, Nick Pilch, Bryan Marten, Harry Chomsky, and Amy Smolens. They worked behind the scenes to organize the event and volunteered at the event, too!
 Bike-blended smoothies were popular to make and consume! Our Core Group is the nexus of AS&R activity and includes our most active volunteers.
- Over the years we’ve had some hard workers who have contributed to many of our efforts for a time as part of our Core Group, then moved on. We fondly remember and appreciate folks like
- Some of our less-active Core Group members still keep a hand in, and helped out at the event, like
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- We have an honorary Core Group member, Carrie Hobbs-Schulman, who is active with AS&R while at the same time a Core Group member of EC/Richmond Annex Walk & Roll.
- There was a special presentation for Amy Smolens. Amy volunteers across all of AS&R’s work, but one of her most visible, ongoing projects is bike parking facilities. A recent example are the BikeLink Lockers at the waterfront. We all know the bike-shaped bike racks that can be seen on Solano and all over town! Amy was presented with a miniature, trophy-sized bike-shaped bike rack.
Thanks for all your efforts on bike parking around Albany, Amy!
- Our active Core Group members include two who were not able to attend the Celebration:
- Ian MacLeod, our Climate Ride Leader
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- Sherie Reineman, Newsletter Editor and Membership List Admin
We called present, active Core Group members to the front:
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- Harry Chomsky, Treasurer and more
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- Estrella Sainburg, our newest Core Group member, who produced this event
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- Bryan Marten, more than just your Pickleball host
And our founders
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- Former Mayor, Nick Pilch, &
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- Council Member and former Mayor, Preston Jordan
The group accepted a big round of applause.
 Active Core Group Members from left to right: Ken McCroskey, Bryan Marten, Harry Chomsky, Preston Jordan & Nick Pilch (Co-Founders), Amy Smolens, and Estrella Sainburg. (Absent are Ian MacLeod and Sherie Reineman) All of this help has empowered our successes. Now let’s look to the future. This is what we are going to ask for help with next:
- AS&R has endorsed Measure C, the sidewalk tax renewal measure, to continue sidewalk repair in Albany. Measure C refines the tax structure and adds maintenance of off-street cycling pathways like the Greenway, including the jogging/walking paths! Vote Yes on Measure C in November.
- The Active Transportation Plan Update Kickoff is at the end of October (4th Thursday night). AS&R will meet to formulate our advocacy goals with your input on Tuesday, October 8. The City will hold an open house kickoff event on October 24th at the Community Center.
- Today you can look at some of our successes on the timeline, including our most recent, the 20-year recognition by City Council. Then you can grab a post-it and contribute your thoughts about what works and what we need. We want all your ideas!
With that we let the band start up again and everyone partied on!
 Volunteers like Jean-Marie & Estrella engaged and chatted with passers-by all day! photos courtesy Amy Smolens Albany Strollers & Rollers’ presence at the 48th (almost) Annual Solano Stroll on September 8th, 2024 was a great success!
We engaged with a variety of people of all ages from Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito and Kensington, had productive conversations, distributed Check for Bikes clings and reflective bands, invited folks to our Anniversary Celebration and signed up 24 new AS&Rs! Our fiscal sponsor Bike East Bay shared our space and talked to people about regional issues, so our discussions ran the gamut of bike and ped topics. Volunteers enjoyed delicious lunches courtesy of locally owned small business Kim’s Café & Sandwiches (thanks, Cathy!)
 The AHS Mountain Bike Team parked more than 250 bikes of all types, using AS&R’s valet racks! Meanwhile, the Albany High School Mountain Bike Team athletes, coaches and parents parked about 250 bikes on AS&R’s valet racks, helping the Stroll reduce its carbon footprint! We at AS&R love collaborating with the next generation of cyclists, which these student-athletes represent.
We couldn’t have done it without all or our Volunteers: Tish Berlin, Jean-Marie Enjuto, Ian MacLeod, Ken McCroskey, Sylvia Paull, Estrella Sainburg, Amy Smolens and Eileen Walsh. AHS MTB coach and AS&R member Heike Abeck coordinated the stellar Bike Valet Parking effort in her usual well-organized fashion. Robert Prinz staffed the table for Bike East Bay. Whether you are a rookie or a veteran, every one of the volunteers contributed to another outstanding Solano Stroll. We are grateful to all the volunteers, community partners & sponsors who worked together to make AS&R’s participation in the Solano Stroll a success!
 Finn & the AHS MTB Team are our future, the next generation of cyclists!  AS&R is proud to be an in-kind sponsor of the team Thanks again to everyone who participated, stopped by, or signed up – hope to see you helping out at the 2025 Solano Stroll!
 It’s a pleasure being associated with a popular event like the Solano Avenue Stroll
 Come volunteer a few hours at AS&R’s information table before enjoying the Solano Stroll! This year, Albany Strollers & Rollers is again on hand with our information table at the annual Solano Avenue Stroll, so we need some volunteers to staff the table. We will provide flyers, info sheets and knowledgeable AS&R members, so no experience necessary, but a willing smile and ability to share what you know about AS&R’s role in human-powered transit, bicycle and pedestrian advocacy in our community!
 This is the biggest event of the year so come be a part of the fun and lend a hand! Some assistance with table set up in the morning before the Stroll starts (9:30 am), and/or breakdown afterward (until 5:30) will be welcomed.
**VOLUNTEERS (the first 12 to commit) WHO WORK AT LEAST A 4-HR SHIFT WILL GET FREE LUNCH PROVIDED BY LOCAL FAVORITE KIM’S CAFÉ & SANDWICHES!!
**COMMIT TO VOLUNTEER EARLY FOR AN INVITATION TO NEXT THURSDAY’S (8/8) STROLL KICKOFF PARTY!!
The AHS MTB team may also need additional volunteers, so whether you’d like to help park bikes (we have parked 300 bikes in the past!!) or volunteer at AS&R’s info table, please contact Amy Smolens .Parking bikes is a great gig for kids, too, as long as they are strong enough to roll a bike. If students need volunteer-hours, this is perfect!
Please contact Amy Smolens at amy@albanystrollroll.org if you can volunteer in any capaciity!
 The AHS Mountain Biking Team is leading the Bicycle Valet Parking at the Solano Stroll – will you lend a hand?  Bikes, Bikes, Bikes!! 300 + of them coming to the Solano Stroll! Please help the AHS MTB Team park them all!
At the Council’s May 20th meeting, staff recommended planning to convert Adams and Kains back to one-way for motorists in the prior direction but with the addition of contraflow cycling lanes the other direction so these streets continue to be cycling routes along the San Pablo Avenue corridor. In addition staff recommended planning improvements at intersections along each street to increase at these for sidewalk users and people biking and features to reduce motorist traffic on the 800 block of Kains and 900 block of Adams. This planning and subsequent implementation of the design to be funded by a grant application whose preparation and submittal staff asked Council to authorize. The Council approved of each of these recommendations.
In response to a question, the City Manager stated the current pilot configuration will remain until the new configuration is implemented. If the grant is received, this would likely not occur for more than a year at the minimum. If the grant is not received, many years.
Meanwhile, counts of people cycling on the streets show the pilot reconfiguration to allow people to bike both directions is working. At least with regard to Kains. The number of trips along the street by bike increased from before the reconfiguration to the first count during the pilot and then again to the second count. For an increase of 60%, which may have continued to rise.
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City Staff has made two recommendations in its report and Council passed the changes unanimously. In response to a question by a commenter raised with the City Manager during deliberation she stated the both streets would remain in their current configuration until installation of the contraflow lanes if the grant is awarded. The following graph shows the current configuration is working to increase the number of people biking on Kains. To our knowledge data has not been collected to indicate whether this means more people are biking because of the facility or people that were already biking have switched to Kains. Either indicates the installation of the facility has improved cycling conditions. In the event of the second because it means people that were already biking have switched their routing habits to Kains. Perhaps because it is lower stress than other routes they were riding. Perhaps because it is the shorter route for their trips now.
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City staff has reported that renewed discussion regarding the Kains/Adams improvements is anticipated to go to the Transportation Commission in April, and ideally to the Council in May.
At its October 26, 2023 meeting, the Albany Transportation Commission considered the ongoing Kains and Adams Pilot Project. After considering alternatives, Commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of recommending to the City Council that the Pilot be continued through May of next year and that the commission consider changes with staff to evaluate and modify the program. There was a consensus among six of the 7 commissioners for keeping the routes on Kains and Adams Streets with additional signage, additional pavement markings, and the possibility of full two-way traffic with diverters, to be determined. The matter has now passed to the City Council.
 Albany Strollers & Rollers members met online via Zoom on Tuesday, February 6th to discuss the options and formulate a strategy in preparation for a future City of Albany meeting on the subject. This AS&R meeting explored and discussed changes to the Kains and Adams Pilot Bikeways.
A fruitful discussion emerged resulting in the following strategy going forward:
- Lobby Council Members to direct Police to de-prioritize enforcement of contra-flow parking on Kains/Adams
- If APD indicates it will commence enforcing State law against motorists parking on the left side of a two-way street, intervene to have the City return the streets to one way for motorists with a contraflow lane for people cycling. This configuration was designed and approved by the transportation engineering firm in its study of how to make Kains and Adams cycling routes. The contraflow cycling lane width approved by the firm was quick-marked with chalk, as shown in the photo, and found to be comfortable.
- Pursue median barriers in the cross streets other than Marin and Solano in the future to limit the number of motorists driving along these bike routes.
- Pursue stops on the cross streets other than Marin and Solano in the future to provide safer crossing of them by people biking.
Note that Alameda CTC will be installing a HAWK signal on Marin at Kains and a rectangular rapid flashing beacon on Solano at Kains in ~2025 to improve those crossings for active transportation
 In March of last year, the City kicked off its first systematic street lighting evaluation. Thank you to all everyone that participated in a survey or the workshop that were part of the process. It was a rapid and effective process resulting in a number of reports. The Council considered the last of these, which regards lighting recommendations and specifications, at its last meeting. The Council adopted this report. It recommends the following actions, somewhat in order by benefit for cost:
- Replace failing LED and remaining high-pressure sodium lights;
- Improve lighting at intersections currently with low lighting and dusk/nighttime collision history;
- Add lighting near schools;
- Add lighting along cycling routes and priority sidewalk network;
- Add shields to eliminate streetlight shining on adjacent buildings; and
- Comprehensively improve lighting along Solano and Marin
It provides specifications, such as color temperature, intensity, and shielding to eliminate light spill.
With the specifications now available, the City has been able to commence replacing failed LEDs, part of the first action. The map below, completed a year ago by volunteers, has resulted in the City starting with western Albany where the failure rate is the highest. Note the map only regards lights on wooden poles.
 The AHS Mountain Biking Team is leading the Bicycle Valet Parking at the Solano Stroll – will you lend a hand? Free Bicycle Valet Parking will again be featured at the Solano Stroll, but with a new twist: the Albany High School Mountain Biking Team will be taking the lead for this important service, using Albany Strollers & Rollers’ specialized racks! The new location will be on Key Route Blvd just north of Solano Avenue – it’s near the Greenway so we’re expecting lots of drop-ins so it’s sure to be busy!!
As usual, AS&R will also have an information table near the lot where we (YOU!) will talk about and answer
Come visit AS&R at our information table then enjoy a great stroll up Solano!
Or better yet, volunteer a few hours with your neighbors before strolling! questions about active transportation stuff!
WE NEED YOU TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS!
The AHS MTB team could use additional volunteers, so if you’d like to help park bikes (we have parked 300 bikes in the past!!) or volunteer at AS&R’s info table, please contact Amy Smolens .
This is a great gig for kids, too, as long as they are strong enough to roll a bike. If students need volunteer-hours, this is perfect!
VOLUNTEERS (the first 12 to commit) WHO WORK AT LEAST A 4-HR SHIFT AT EITHER LOCATION WILL GET FREE LUNCH PROVIDED BY A SUPPORTING SOLANO AVENUE RESTAURANT !!
 Bikes, Bikes, Bikes!! 300 + of them coming the Solano Stroll! Please help the AHS MTB Team park them all!
Photo courtesy Nick Pilch Some sponsoring businesses may also provide gifts or coupons for our volunteers, too – stay tuned!
Volunteer hours run from 9am-5:30pm so it’s easy to pick a
 AS&R Super-Volunteer Lynn Eve Komaromi takes a well-earned lunch break – thanks, Bua Luang!
Please join Lynn Eve and your AS&R neighbors in volunteering! shift that works for you! Please let Amy know if you would prefer to help with the Valet Parking, the Info Table or either one, and if you have time preferences or are flexible.
Since 1974 Solano Avenue and the cities of Albany and Berkeley have hosted the Solano Avenue Stroll, the East Bay’s largest street festival! The Solano Avenue Association , AS&R , AHS MTB and Check for Bikes invite you to see what makes Solano Avenue a wonderful place. The Stroll features over five hundred vendors including 50 entertainers (there’s always great music!,) 50 food booths, 150 government and non-profit agencies, 150 juried hand-crafters, a 75 entry parade, state of the art mechanical rides and much more!
230,000 participants and event guests visit from all over the west coast so that’s where YOU come in – many of them ride their bikes, so we need people to help park them in our lots.
Lots of them want to talk about cycling and walking around the area, and they want to
 See you soon! talk to YOU!
 Bike to Wherever Day was back! Photo courtesy Mike Gill After a Covid-induced break of two years, Bike Month was back for real, with the central event being “Bike to Wherever Day.”
On May 20th, Albany Strollers & Rollers partnered with Xtracycle’s Jamie T and Evan on our BtWD Energizer Station and it was a rousing success. More than 300 cyclists went by while we were at our Albany Energizer Station.
 Margo, Queen of the Musette Bags! Photo courtesy Mike Gill Every one of the 160 Bike East Bay musette bags was picked up and many more folks stopped by to eat, drink, get their bike checked or chat about bike stuff!
 AS&R had a busy info table all morning! Photo courtesy Elaine Mariolle In addition to Jamie & Evan, we’d like to thank Amy S, Ken M, Gjergji Z, Dan L, Ruth K, Raquel & Mireya P, MaryAnn F, Margo W, Chuck T, 2 Nick Ps, Peggy M, Mike G, Michael P, Joanne M, Ian M and Elaine M
 Cyclists of all ages came out! Photo courtesy Elaine (visiting from Tucson) for staffing the station, setting things up, distributing swag & snacks, counting cyclists, talking to commuters, signing up new members, and just keeping things running!
 There was plenty of food and drink to go around!
Photo courtesy Elaine Special thanks goes to volunteer super shopper Mattison Ly, who took our gift cards from Sprouts & Safeway and somehow spent every penny on fantastic refreshments for our volunteers and visitors…and delivered it all on her Xtracycle!
 Coffeetime on the Greenway! Photo courtesy Elaine There was plenty of food and drink for everyone, thanks to the generous donations by local businesses Kim’s Cafe (Cathy,) Trader Joe’s El Cerrito ( Sandra & Michael,) Royal Ground Coffee (Mike), GU Energy (Roshelle,) Sprouts (Crystal, Deanna & Rolando,) Safeway Albany (Alicia). Rob Allen from Blue Heron Bikes was stationed alongside the Ohlone Greenway, checking bicycles for safety and road-worthiness as he has in previous years!
We also want to recognize businesses and owners Tay Tah (Pat), Rendez-Vous (Laurent), Bua Luang (Joe) and Fern’s Garden (Fern, obviously) for donating
 Photo courtesy Mike Gill special gift cards for all of our Bike Month Volunteers as a thank you for your time and service to the community!!!
SUPPORT THOSE BUSINESSES WHO SUPPORT YOU!
 Kim’s Café supports AS&R every year! Photo courtesy Elaine We all truly appreciate those small businesses, as well
 Sandra from Trader Joe’s donated a full basket full of food for our Energizer Station! photo courtesy Amy Smolens as our other supporters (see description of BtWD and list in the right margin of our website) for going the extra mile to give back to AS&R’s volunteers and show that they are really involved with our community!
Without YOU, the volunteers, this absolutely could not happen!
 Excitement was bubbling over for Bike to Wherever Day! Photo courtesy Elaine
Sophie Gabel-Scheinbaum, who is working on the community engagement efforts for future Transit Oriented Development at El Cerrito Plaza BART Station, will speak to us at our January 13 meetingwill speak to us at our January 13 meeting. They’d likely have a brief presentation to give some context on the project concepts and then open it up for questions as well as facilitate discussion.
A Vision for El Cerrito Plaza (elcerritoplazadevelopment.com)
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