At the October 01, 2020 Infrastructure Committee meeting, Beaver Boonsook, Transportation Engineer in the OakDOT Great Streets Division, will provide an update on the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 9 Foothill & MacArthur project.

The plans propose installing high-visibility crosswalks, pedestrian refuge islands, advance yield markings, and rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) at multiple intersections on Foothill Blvd and on MacArthur Blvd.

Notes from the presentation

• $1.1M federal highway safety grant for Foothill Blvd (Harrington to Cole, 7 locations) and MacArthur Blvd (69th Ave to 96th Ave, 13 locations)
• Bulb-outs, median islands, high-visibility crosswalks, pedestrian flashing lights or beacons, storm drain upgrades, pavement markings and signage. These are recommendations from Oakland’s Pedestrian Plan.
• This project has some overlap with the paving plan — Foothill and MacArthur Blvds from 73rd to 82nd Ave are slated to be repaved in 2021.
• 84th to 88th Aves — speed cushion installations are being looked into outside of this grant funded project. Other cities have tested speed cushions on high volume corridors in coordination with transit agencies and emergency responders.
• Timeline: 100% design slated for August 2021, bid/award by end of 2021, construction in 2022.

Discussion

• The use of high-visibility crosswalks on the cross streets, and advance stop/yield lines in schematics is inconsistent. Was this intentional?
  • The plans were put together by a consultant, and OakDOT staff will review and make them consistent with City standards.
• Good job to staff on identifying solutions for problematic intersections, especially on MacArthur Blvd.
• MacArthur/96th — consider making the lane merge before the crosswalk—not after, in order to eliminate the “multiple threat situation” and make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street.
  • Staff will look into it.
• Are speed cushions being considered anywhere else?
  • OakDOT is starting with this location and will evaluate other locations if successful.

View the preliminary conceptual plans below or download the plans here [PDF].