At the October 01, 2020 Infrastructure Committee meeting, Joe Wang and Brian Sukkar presented the designs for improvements at the Park Blvd/13th Ave/E 38th St and Park Blvd/Excelsior intersections.

• Project cost estimate: $2.8M
• Focuses on the Park/13th Ave/E 38th and Park/Excelsior intersections, safe routes to schools in the vicinity

Discussion

•  What type of bike detection is being used?
  • Includes both video and loop signal detection.
  • Video is generally better but has been determined to be less reliable at bike-only signal locations like this.
• How is this project funded?
  • State ATP award from 2017.
• Expected construction?
  • Hopefully starting early 2021, design is at 100%.
• Can the city measure before/after impact on bike riders waiting for green lights with installation of the signal detection confirmation lights?
  • Good idea, will look into it.
• Any funding or plans for taking care of the landscaping at Park/13th Ave/E 38th? Opportunity for adopt-a-park by community groups?
  • Project won’t implement significant landscaping as part of this project.
  • Will communicate with neighborhood groups on the opportunity.
• Were roundabouts considered, given that these are 5- or 6-legged intersections?
  • Roundabouts were considered, but the grade at Park/Excelsior is not ideal for sightlines at roundabouts. Pedestrian crossings would also be challenging.

Park Blvd/13th Ave/E 38th St

Download the below presentation [PDF].

• Several uncontrolled intersections
• Many redundant cross street legs and “pork chop” islands
• Pedestrian path is circuitous to continue along Park
• The project would:
  • square off intersection(s),
  • add signal at Park Blvd Way/Park Blvd/13th Ave with protected left turns,
  • create a more continuous pedestrian path, and
  • add a new crosswalk.

Park Blvd/Excelsior

Download the below presentation [PDF].

• Excelsior is currently one-way, forcing bike riders to make a difficult left turn across Park at an uncontrolled intersection.
• The sidewalk on Park at Excelsior isn’t continuous.
• Pedestrian crossing of Park Blvd is 2-stage, requiring a wait in the middle of the street.
• The project will:
  • close Excelsior at Park to cars and turn it into a 2-way bikes-only cut-through,
  • change pedestrian crossing of Park to a single phase,
  • add a crosswalk, and
  • add a buffered (partially protected) bike lane uphill from the freeway to Excelsior, with a dedicated bike signal phase for bike traffic leaving the Excelsior cut-through onto Park, including bike detection confirmation lights (first use in Oakland).