Three City of Sacramento Public Works projects have earned 2026 Project of the Year awards from the Sacramento Chapter of the American Public Works Association.
The Sacramento EV Blueprint vehicle-charging project and Martin Luther King Jr. Library renovation received awards in the structures category. The Franklin Boulevard Complete Street project was recognized in the transportation category.
The awards recognize excellence in project management, design, sustainability, construction and community relations, as well as collaboration among public agencies, designers, contractors and construction management teams.
“These awards reflect the expertise, creativity and commitment our Public Works employees bring to projects across Sacramento,” said Public Works Director Matt Eierman. “Whether they are modernizing a neighborhood library, creating safer streets or expanding access to clean transportation, our teams work closely with the community and our partners to deliver lasting improvements for residents.”
Sacramento EV Blueprint vehicle chargers
Public Works staff installed 67 Level 2 electric vehicle chargers at 13 libraries, community centers and parks across Sacramento, expanding access to charging for residents who may not have convenient options at home or work.
Staff selected the locations to close gaps in the city’s charging network, with an emphasis on historically underserved communities where barriers to electric vehicle adoption remain.
The work was part of the broader EV Blueprint Implementation project, which also expanded an affordable electric car-share program to five locations and supported an electric bicycle lending pilot with the Sacramento Public Library.
Public Works staff coordinated the planning, site selection, design and installation of the chargers with support from the California Energy Commission, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Sacramento Public Library.
Franklin Boulevard Complete Street
After several years of planning, community engagement and design, Public Works staff completed the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street project in July.
The project transformed Franklin Boulevard between Sutterville Road and 38th Avenue to create a safer and more accessible corridor for people walking, biking, driving and using transit.
Improvements include wider and reconstructed sidewalks, new curb ramps, protected bicycle facilities, pedestrian lighting, medians and marked crossings. Staff also added landscaping and trees to expand shade along the corridor and resurfaced and restriped the roadway.
The community-driven project grew from requests by residents and businesses for traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements. Public Works staff worked with community members, organizations and agency partners throughout planning and design.
Staff also secured construction funding from three competitive sources: the California Transportation Commission’s Active Transportation Program, federal grants administered through the Sacramento Area Council of Governments and Measure A funding administered by the Sacramento Transportation Authority.
Martin Luther King Jr. Library renovation
Public Works staff led an 18-month renovation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, completing the first comprehensive update to the 15,078-square-foot branch since it opened in 1970.
The project preserved the building’s distinctive brick walls and soaring ceilings while addressing a backlog of maintenance needs and significant wear.
Improvements include an expanded community room, three study rooms, a dedicated makerspace and enhanced children’s and teen areas. Staff also oversaw seismic upgrades, installation of a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system and construction of an accessible, all-gender family restroom.
Exterior work included drought-tolerant landscaping, new paint and signage and a resurfaced parking lot. The renovated library reopened Aug. 4.