The City of Atascadero will be reviewing the concept plan for the future of El Camino Real in the downtown area at the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 11, which begins at 6 p.m. This general hearing will be an opportunity to review the future concept plan for Downtown Atascadero formally. 

ATASCADERO – The “El Camino Real Downtown Infrastructure Enhancement Plan” has been developed and refined since the project was initiated in August of 2017. Over the past three years, multiple options have been considered, with preferred design alternatives refined through a process of public input and technical analysis of traffic and safety considerations. The concept prioritizes pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle safety, while providing economic benefits for the downtown, vehicular traffic needs, emergency response, increased parking, and aesthetic improvements intended to create a cohesive downtown center. 

The primary goal is public safety for all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. A second goal is to enhance economic development in the downtown by creating a zone that slows traffic speeds, enhances appearance and safety, and increases parking. The plan involves changing the vehicle driving lanes on El Camino Real just north of the intersection of Highway 41 northbound to the intersection of Rosario Avenue, by dropping a vehicular lane in both the northbound and southbound directions, adding parking and landscaping in the center of the roadway and enhancing the safety of pedestrian crosswalks. 

Given the ongoing development and redevelopment within the downtown area, most notably the La Plaza Project currently being constructed, this project is a timely opportunity to assess how the El Camino Real corridor can best serve the needs of residents, businesses, and the multiple transportation needs. 

For more information on the upcoming City Council meeting, go to atascadero.org. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact Community Development at (805) 461-5035.