Month: August 2021

I-980 Redevelopment Project

.Reading time 2 minutes.

At the August 19, 2021 BPAC meeting, Warren Logan, Policy Director of Mobility and Interagency Relations, gave a presentation on the potential redevelopment project to remove/cap Interstate-980. The Mayor’s Office has completed a partnership study with the Urban Leaders Fellowship program to develop an equitable engagement strategy. The Mayor’s Office and the Oakland DOT plan to meet with Caltrans District 4 project managers to identify ways to align with the State DOT’s ‘Vision 980’ project which will develop right of way concepts and alternatives for Interstate-980. Lastly, Warren shared details about the Mayor’s Office’s State and Federal advocacy for programming grant funds for the I-980 redevelopment and affordable housing.

Project background

Related: “A freeway separates West Oakland from downtown. Biden’s infrastructure bill could help get rid of it.” Mercury News, 11 May 2021. Lead photo by Jane Tyska.

The presentation is below.

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Biannual Update on Paving Plan

.Reading time 3 minutes.

At the August 19, 2021 BPAC meeting, Sarah Fine, OakDOT Paving Program Manager, provided the biannual update on the 2019 3-Year Paving Plan. An excerpt is below, followed by the full presentation.

3-Year Paving Plan — Remaining
40+ Miles Local Streets

Fall 2021 Major Projects (6+ Miles)

  • W Grand Ave (Mandela to Market)
  • West St (W Grand to MLK)
  • E 15th St & Foothill (1st Ave to 14th Ave)
  • Telegraph (29th to MacArthur)

Spring 2022 Major Projects (2+ Miles)

  • Broadway (6th to 11th, 20th to Grand Ave)
  • High St (Foothill to Tompkins)

3-Year Paving Plan — Not Deliverable by June 2022

Major Projects (7+ Miles)

  • 14th St (Brush to Oak) (ATP Grant Coordination)
  • 52nd St (MLK to Shattuck) ([Lack of] Staff resources)
  • 7th St (Mandela to Market) (ATP Grant Coordination)
  • Broadway (Embarcadero to 6th) (Pending Oakland A’s)
  • Franklin (6th to Broadway) (Staff resources)
  • Grand Ave (Broadway to MacArthur) (Staff resources)
  • Lakeside Dr (Jackson to E 12th St) (Staff resources)
  • MLK (47th to City Limit) (Staff resources)

Draft 2022 5-Year Paving Plan

  • Develop 5-year street list and 10-year capital plan to bring Oakland streets to average PCI 60
  • Deliver $300M+ in paving construction Rehabilitate and maintain local streets to improve neighborhood quality of life
  • Identify staffing and capital facilities needs to sustain long-term in-house program
  • Anticipate a second bond measure and identify consequences of failed measure
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Caltrans Encroachment Permit Process Discussion

.Reading time 8 minutes.

At the August 5, 2021 Infrastructure Committee meeting, Sergio Ruiz, Amjad Naseer, and Ajay Sehgal of Caltrans District 4 were in attendance to answer questions and discuss the Caltrans encroachment permit process with the BPAC Infrastructure Committee and OakDOT staff.

Since it can be a long time (usually decades) between when Oakland streets get attention, the designs are usually very outdated, not in line with Oakland’s traffic safety and climate goals and serving levels of car traffic that no longer exist.
This means that design changes often involve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure upgrades. The higher level of scrutiny for proposed changes compared to the status quo then favors car traffic over bike/walk traffic, and has negative impacts on public safety.

Notes are below.

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August 2021 BPAC Agenda

.Reading time 10 minutes.

Thursday, August 19, 2021; 6:00-8:00 pm, online and by phone.

Agenda topics include:

  • Update on 2019 3-Year Paving Plan
  • Mayor’s Office Presentation on I-980 Redevelopment Project
  • E-Scooter Locking Policy Change Proposal
  • BPAC Strategic Planning Update
  • Committee Report-Back

Announcements:

  • Bicycle Facilities Web Map Update
  • E-Scooter Permits Approved
  • 29th Edition of Bike Oakland Newsletter
  • Telegraph Ave/First Friday Parking Accommodations:
    City Council unanimously approved a contract between OakDOT and Ray’s Electric to build a protected bike lane on Telegraph Avenue from 20th Street to 29th Street. In partnership with KONO, OakDOT will continue to accommodate first Fridays by installing permanent no parking on the first Friday of each month.
  • AB43 Update:
    The Mayor and City Council endorsed Assembly Bill 43 (AB43), a bill that would allow some reductions in speed limits. AB43 is headed to Senate Appropriations on August 16th.

More details below.

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14th Street Safety Project design review

.Reading time 6 minutes.

At the August 5, 2021 Infrastructure Committee meeting, Charlie Ream, OakDOT transportation planner, presented on the latest block-by-blocks for the 14th Street Safety Project. The project area is 14th Street from Brush Street to Lakeside Drive/Oak Street. The previous presentation with more background is here [PDF].

“14th Street is the heart of Downtown Oakland, connecting neighborhoods and civic institutions. How can we use this $14M grant to welcome more people to Downtown, make them feel safe and connect them to the cultural and commercial resources of our Town?”

Download the presentation [PDF]. Notes from the presentation and discussion are below.

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Open Postions on BPAC 01/2022

.Reading time 2 minutes.

The City of Oakland is accepting applications to fill two seats on the Oakland Bicyclist & Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) for three-year terms starting in January 2022.

The purpose of the BPAC is to advise City Council and City of Oakland staff on bicyclist and pedestrian-specific policies, projects, and programs, and to advocate for safe, effective and equitable bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs throughout Oakland. The minimum qualifications for membership are that an individual must live in Oakland and have a demonstrated history of professional and/or community involvement with bicyclist and/or pedestrian issues. In selecting commissioners, the Mayor will strive for equity and geographic representation of Oakland’s neighborhoods.

To apply, please submit an application by 5 pm Thursday, September 9, 2021.

To learn more, come to our BPAC Virtual Open House / Meet and Greet on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 from 6-7pm online: zoom link or by phone at +1(669) 900-6833 Meeting ID: 876 3360 1508 Passcode: 278322

If you have any questions, reach out to Midori Tabata (former BPAC commissioner, on the recruitment committee).

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