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Civil Engineering

Street Improvements

Public right-of-way improvement plans for curb, gutter, sidewalk, ADA ramps, driveways, and street reconstruction — required as conditions of development permits throughout Southern California.

What Are Street Improvement Plans?

Street improvement plans detail the construction of public right-of-way improvements that are required as conditions of your building or subdivision permit. Common improvements include new or reconstructed curb and gutter, sidewalk, ADA-compliant curb ramps, driveway approaches, street pavement restoration, and street lighting. These improvements bring the public frontage up to current city or county standards.

Moment Engineering designs street improvement plans that comply with the City of San Diego Street Design Manual, Caltrans standards (including the latest ADA requirements), County of San Diego Public Road Standards, and equivalent standards in Orange County and LA County jurisdictions. Plans are coordinated with the grading plan and utility plans to ensure all on-site and off-site civil work is consistent.

ADA 2010

Current ADA Standards for Accessible Design applied to all curb ramps

R-Value

Pavement structural sections designed using R-Value from the soils report

ROW

Right-of-way improvements coordinated with the city or county public works

Need Street Improvement Plans? Get a fixed-fee proposal — typically within 24 hours.

Request a Proposal ✆ (619) 374-8677

Typical Investment

$5,000 – $15,000

Depends on frontage length, scope of improvements, and agency requirements.

Fees vary by site conditions, scope, and jurisdiction. Request a proposal for a fixed-fee quote tailored to your project.

Scope of Work

What's Included

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Curb, Gutter & Sidewalk

Design and detailing of new or reconstructed curb, gutter, and sidewalk along the project frontage per the jurisdiction's standard drawings and street design manual.

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ADA Curb Ramps

Curb ramp design compliant with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and Caltrans Standard Plans, including detectable warning surfaces, running slopes, and cross slopes.

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Driveway Approaches

Residential and commercial driveway approach design per jurisdiction standards, including width, wing dimensions, thickness, and sight distance requirements.

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Pavement Design

Structural pavement sections for street reconstruction or new pavement, designed using the R-Value from the soils report and traffic index per Caltrans Highway Design Manual methods.

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Street Profiles & Sections

Longitudinal profiles showing existing and proposed street grades, and cross-sections showing pavement width, crown, curb face, sidewalk, and parkway dimensions.

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Traffic Control Plans

Temporary traffic control plans showing lane closures, signage, and detour routes per the MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) for construction in the public right-of-way.

When You Need Street Improvement Plans

Street improvements are typically required as conditions of approval for development permits. The scope depends on the jurisdiction and the project's impact on the public right-of-way.

New Construction

Most new residential and commercial buildings trigger a condition to construct missing frontage improvements (curb, gutter, sidewalk) along the project's street frontage.

Subdivision Maps

Tentative and final maps require full public street improvements including pavement, curb, gutter, sidewalk, and ADA ramps for all new and existing streets within and fronting the subdivision.

Driveway Modifications

Widening a driveway, adding a new curb cut, or changing driveway location requires an engineered plan and encroachment permit.

ADA Compliance

Any project that alters the public right-of-way must bring adjacent curb ramps into compliance with current ADA standards — even if the ramps are not directly part of the project.

Utility Trenching

Cutting into the public street for utility connections requires a pavement restoration plan per the jurisdiction's trench repair standards.

Condition Compliance

Development permit conditions often specifically list required street improvements. These must be designed, permitted, and constructed before building permit final inspection.

Our Process

From Frontage Survey to Public Works Approval

Conditions Review

We review your permit conditions, required improvements list, and the jurisdiction's street standards to define the scope. We coordinate with the city or county public works department early to confirm requirements.

Survey & Design

Using the topographic survey and right-of-way data, we design the improvements to meet current standards for geometry, ADA compliance, drainage, and structural pavement section.

Plan Preparation

We prepare a PE-stamped plan set with plan view, profiles, cross-sections, details, and traffic control. Plans are formatted per the jurisdiction's encroachment permit or public improvement plan requirements.

Permit & Construction Support

We submit for plan check, respond to corrections, and support the permit process through approval. During construction, we're available to clarify design intent and address field conditions.

Want to learn more about what a street improvements involves?

Read: What Is a Street Improvements? →

Related Services

Often Paired With Street Improvements

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Grading Plans

Street improvements are coordinated with the on-site grading plan to ensure grades, drainage, and elevations match at the property line.

Learn More →

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Utility Plans

Utility connections in the public right-of-way are shown on the utility plan and coordinated with the street improvement plan to avoid conflicts.

Learn More →

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Soils Reports

Pavement structural sections on the street improvement plan are based on R-Value testing from the soils report.

Learn More →

Common Questions

Street Improvements FAQs

For a single-family home in San Diego, the most common requirements are: new or reconstructed curb, gutter, and sidewalk along the property frontage; an ADA-compliant curb ramp at the nearest corner; and a new driveway approach. The exact scope is listed in the permit conditions of approval.

Usually yes. Street improvements in the public right-of-way require an encroachment permit or public improvement permit issued by the city or county public works department, separate from the building or grading permit. The street improvement plans are reviewed and approved as part of that permit process.

The property owner / developer pays for the design and construction of required street improvements as a condition of the development permit. The improvements become public infrastructure maintained by the city or county after construction is accepted.

Curb ramps must comply with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and Caltrans Standard Plans. Key requirements include a maximum 8.33% running slope, maximum 2% cross slope, a 4-foot minimum landing, and detectable warning (truncated dome) surfaces. All curb ramps within the project's scope of work must be brought up to current standards.

Street improvement plan check timelines vary by jurisdiction. City of San Diego typically takes 4–6 weeks per review cycle. We submit thorough plan sets to minimize corrections and actively track the review to keep the process moving.

Need Street Improvement Plans?

Coordinating with the agency? Tell us your project address and we'll scope the frontage improvement plan and send a fixed-fee proposal — typically within one business day.

Request a Proposal ✆ (619) 374-8677