The City of Emeryville's Public Works Department is responsible for designing, inspecting, managing, and maintaining all city-owned facilities in the public right-of-way, including pavement, sidewalks, streetlights, traffic signals, sewers, and storm drains.
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March 2026 Project Update - 40th Street Multimodal Project
The 40th Street Multimodal Project has reached a major milestone. On March 17, 2026, the Emeryville City Council took action to advance the project into its final pre-construction phase. The Council adopted the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and authorized the project to move forward toward construction bidding. Link to Council Agenda (Item 11.1): https://emeryvilleca.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=1948
In addition, the project has received federal environmental clearance under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which was required due to the federal funding supporting the project. With both state and federal environmental approvals now complete, the project is positioned to proceed toward implementation.
As part of the CEQA process, the City has filed a Notice of Determination (NOD). The NOD is a standard public notice that confirms the City’s approval of the environmental document and formally concludes the CEQA review process.
Notice of Determination (PDF)(PDF, 7MB)
The project includes dedicated transit-only lanes, a protected two-way bikeway, pedestrian safety improvements, and intersection modifications designed to reduce conflicts and improve safety and operations for all roadway users. The corridor serves as a key regional connection linking MacArthur BART, the Bay Trail, employment centers, and shopping district along 40th and Shellmound Streets.
The project is supported by approximately $34.1 million in total funding, including approximately $31.9 million in state, regional, and federal grants. These funds were awarded through competitive programs focused on improving safety, transit access, and regional connectivity.
The City will complete remaining Caltrans coordination and project approval processes associated with state and federal funding requirements. Following completion of these steps, the project will proceed to advertising the project for bids. Once bids are received, the City Council will consider approval of a construction contract.
Construction is currently anticipated to begin in late 2026, with completion expected in late 2028.
The City will continue to provide updates as the project advances and will coordinate closely with the community and local businesses throughout the construction process.
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Check for latest news Public Works Projects and Other Important Information on the City's News Flash. Additionally, Public Works manages the Transportation and Sustainability Committee (2nd Tuesday of each month at 4:00PM) and the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (1st Monday of each month at 5:30PM).
What We Do
Engineering Services: Our Engineering division is at the forefront of building a better Emeryville. We establish and maintain the city's design and construction standards, ensuring that all new development is safe, durable, and meets the needs of our community. We oversee the city's Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which is a multi-year plan for upgrading and modernizing our public infrastructure. From concept to completion, we manage the design, bidding, and construction of a wide range of projects.
Maintenance & Operations: The Maintenance & Operations division is the backbone of the Public Works Department, working every day to keep Emeryville safe, clean, and beautiful. Our crews are responsible for the ongoing maintenance and repair of our city's physical assets which include public facilities, parks, and other infrastructure.
Essential Infrastructure: Managing what’s unseen is critical to the daily function and environmental health of Emeryville. Our team is responsible for the complex network of underground pipes that make up our sanitary sewer and storm drain systems.
Environmental Services: Our Environmental Services team is dedicated to protecting and enhancing Emeryville's natural resources. We lead the city's sustainability initiatives, including climate action planning and sea level rise adaptation. We also manage a variety of programs aimed at reducing waste, conserving water, and improving the health of our local ecosystem.
Traffic & Transportation: Public Works is focused on ensuring the safe and efficient movement of people and goods throughout the city. We manage the city's 35 traffic signals, over 1,900 streetlights, and regional transportation planning efforts, with a focus on creating a multimodal transportation network that is accessible to all.