At the October 20, 2022 BPAC meeting, OakDOT Senior Transportation Planner, Audrey Harris, provided an overview of the TOWN projects, a suite of infrastructure improvements that will provide safer, more sustainable and more equitable access between Downtown, Chinatown, and West Oakland and the waterfront while protecting and enhancing goods movement in and out of the nearby Port of Oakland. The TOWN projects have also been designed to facilitate access to and from the proposed Waterfront Ballpark District at Howard Terminal which if approved, would deliver an urban infill project that proposes to build a new ballpark, up to 3,000 new housing units, 1.7 million square feet of commercial space, a 400-room hotel, a 3,500-seat performance venue, and 18 acres of open space, including an extension to the Bay Trail.

An excerpt is below, followed by the full presentation.

TOWN – Transforming Oakland’s Waterfront Neighborhoods

Active Transportation & Transit

1.4 miles of new transit-only lanes and 10 miles of new sidewalks, bike lanes and trails connecting the greater downtown, Chinatown and West Oakland to the waterfront to encourage walking, biking, and transit.

Rail Safety & Goods Movement

Rail corridor and roadway improvements to help efficiently move trucks and cargo in and out of the Port of Oakland, reduce traffic congestion and truck idling, and improve traffic safety for all.

Parking & Traffic Management

Comprehensive suite of parking system upgrades and intersection improvements to manage on- and off-street parking and traffic.

These projects implement longstanding transportation plans, policies and priorities for the City of Oakland, and are estimated to cost approximately $500 million. Over half of those funds have already been secured from State, regional and Federal sources, and fundraising efforts are ongoing to secure external grants to provide the last dollars needed to implement these transformative projects.

These improvements will create a more connected Oakland. Stronger, safer, and more pedestrian-, cyclist- and transit-friendly connections are needed to remove the barriers that have historically separated Oaklanders from their waterfront.

Presentation