The South Street Road Diet project in San Luis Obispo, Calif. was recently received the California State Department of Transportation award recognizing excellence in transportation design, construction, traffic operations, maintenance, planning and improvements throughout the state of California.

The local road project was selected to receive this award for context sensitive solutions.

“This was a collaborative design project involving residents along South Street, city staff, and CalTrans staff," said Jake Hudson, the city's Traffic Operations Manager. "CalTrans then provided the engineering and construction prior to relinquishment to the city."

The project was the result of a coordinated public outreach effort, which ultimately led to the reduction of South Street from a four-lane facility to a two-lane facility, with medians providing for improved vehicle and pedestrian access and safety.

The project was identified as an innovative and conclusive approach that integrated and balanced community, aesthetic and environmental values with transportation safety.

Also identified in the award was the project application of design flexibility, responsiveness to community or resource issues, public involvement process and inter- agency cooperation.