Public Works
Our department's mission is to provide quality services to the Berkeley community with pride, courtesy, and excellence.
Public Works provides integral services to our community every day. Developing and offering efficient, cost-effective services in partnership with our citizens will help us achieve our vision to make Berkeley a leading city in the country by being an outstanding provider of Public Works Services.
Our 325+ staff are responsible for the City’s extensive network of public infrastructure, including 214 miles of streets, 400 miles of sanitary sewers and 78 miles of storm water piping, 30 green infrastructure installations, 8,000+ streetlights, 3,750 parking meters, 54 public buildings, and waste, recycling, and composting for all of Berkeley’s residents and businesses.
Read Public Works’ FY 2024 Top Goals and Projects and FY 2023 Top Goals and Projects.
We strive to respond to requests for services within expected response times. Learn how we’re doing by reading our annual performance and work measures report.
Our work is guided by the City’s adopted plans, including the Climate Action Plan, Pedestrian Plan, and Vision Zero, among many others. We are also guided by City policies, such as the street maintenance policy. Our work is funded through the capital improvement program budget.
Divisions
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Transportation Division
The Transportation Division provides traffic engineering, transportation planning, bicycle and pedestrian planning, project development, and parking management services that support safe and effective movement of people and goods in and through Berkeley. The division also provides transportation review of private development projects and interagency coordination on regional transportation projects. Key division and department values include safety, equitable mobility, and environmental and financial sustainability.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address: 1947 Center Street, 4th Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: (510) 981-7010 TDD: (510) 981-6903 FAX: (510) 981-7060
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm (Last appointment sign-in at 4:00 pm)
Email: transportation@berkeleyca.gov -
Zero Waste Division
The Zero Waste Division (ZWD) is an enterprise funded operation within the Department of Public Works with an operations staff of more than 100, 50+ fleet of vehicles and funds another 27.74 FTEs throughout other City departments. The ZWD provides the weekly curbside collection service of refuse and compost for over 23,000 single family and multi-family (up to five units) residential customers and up to seven-day per week curbside collection service of refuse, dual-stream recyclables (fiber and containers collected separately) and compost for over 5,000 multi-family (more than six units) and commercial customers.
ZWD also manages third party vendor provided contracts for: 1) landfill disposal services; food/green material offsite hauling and composting; and offsite hauling and recycling of construction and demolition, metal, tires, cylinders and appliances; and 2) third-party non-profit organizations for: the collection of residential dual-stream recyclables (8,400 tons per year); 3) operates Berkeley Recycling for the sorting, processing and marketing of residential, multi-family and commercial recyclables (16,000 tons per year and a Recycling Buyback and Drop Off program; and salvaging of reusable materials dropped off at the Transfer Station (1,000 tons annually).
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address: 1947 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: (510) 981-7270
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm
Email: PWRecycle@berkeleyca.gov -
Office of the Director
The Director’s Office provides department-wide leadership, management oversight, and policy direction to Public Works divisions for overall operations and implementation; information technology projects; audits and accreditation management; and employee labor relations, training and development. Public Works has two Deputy Director’s to assist the Director in these efforts. Duties and areas of responsibility are divided into two separate areas, Deputy Director of Operations and Deputy Director of Engineering & Transportation.
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Administrative & Fiscal Services Division
The Administrative & Fiscal Services Division is responsible for the Department’s budget and fiscal oversight, regulatory compliance and reporting, and analytical support for routine and special projects in all Public Works operating divisions. Division functions include: budget development; implementation and oversight for the annual operating and capital budgets; fund management; fiscal and administrative policy development and process improvements; contract administration and grants compliance; and purchasing, payroll & accounting services for approximately 328 full time staff.
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Engineering Division
The Engineering Division is comprised of the following programs and responsibilities: Street Pavement Infrastructure Management; Sanitary Sewer Capital and Regulatory Compliance Programs; Storm Water Capital and Regulatory Compliance Programs; Creeks/Watershed Management; Sidewalk Capital Program; Buildings/Facilities Capital Program; Disability Compliance and Program Coordination; Construction Management and Inspection; Land Development and Plan Review; Land Surveying; and Drafting/ GIS services. Engineering is also responsible for coordination of utility service markings, issuance of permits, and coordination and inspection for outside utility agency projects.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address: 1947 Center Street, 4th Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: (510) 981-6400 TDD: (510) 981-6903 FAX: (510) 981-6390
Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:30 am–12:00 pm, 1:00 pm–4:30 pm
Email: pwengineering@berkeleyca.gov -
Facilities Management Division
The Facilities Management Division includes electrical maintenance and the Radio Shop; building maintenance and janitorial services; and property management support. This Division maintains 900,000 square feet of public service facilities; installs and maintains traffic signals and pedestrian control devices at approximately 140 intersections; maintains approximately 8,000 LED streetlights; and installs and maintains Police and Fire Department vehicle radios, sirens, lighting, and radio system infrastructure, including interface with the regional public safety radio system. The Division also maintains sound systems for the Council meetings and special events and radio alarms at sewage lift stations.
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Streets & Utilities Division
The Streets and Utilities Division maintains and repairs the City’s curbs, sidewalks and pathways, 214 miles of streets, 400 miles of sanitary sewers, and 78 miles of storm water piping, including approximately 5,800 storm structures 30 green infrastructure installations. In partnership with business improvement districts, the division manages the Clean City Program by providing street and sidewalk sweeping and cleaning services, including unattended property removal/storage and illegal dumping removal. The Streets and Utilities Division also coordinates with Transportation, Engineering and Parking Services staff to maintain traffic signs, pavement markings, and the City’s 3,750 metered spaces.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address: 1326 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone: (510) 981-6620 TTY: (510) 981-6903 FAX: (510) 981-6480
Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:30 am–12:00 pm, 1:00 pm–4:30 pm
Email: pwworks@berkeleyca.gov -
Equipment Maintenance Division
The Equipment Maintenance Division operates facilities at both the Corporation Yard and Transfer Station. Staff in this division manage the maintenance as well as purchase and replacement of the City’s 730 fleet vehicles, heavy duty trucks and large equipment, including public safety, fire, and alternative fuel vehicles and equipment.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address: 1326 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone: (510) 981-6620 TTY: (510) 981-6903 FAX: (510) 981-6480
Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:30 am–12:00 pm, 1:00 pm–4:30 pm
Email: pwfleet@berkeleyca.gov
Contact
Liam Garland
Public Works Director
