At the May 25, 2023 BPAC meeting, Laura Cohen, Western Region Director for the Rails to Trails Conservancy, presented results of recent work related to the East Bay Greenway: a Multi-jurisdictional Maintenance Strategy Report and a Low-Stress Connectivity Analysis.

An excerpt of the presentation is below, followed by the full presentation.

East Bay Greenway — 2 Phases

Phase I: Regional bikeway with pedestrian, transit, and placemaking improvements along city streets parallel to the BART alignment and connecting the BART stations between Lake Merritt and South Hayward.
Phase II: Longer-term vision is an off-street trail facility along the BART corridor with linear park enhancements; requires significant funding and right-of-way acquisition from
Union Pacific Railroad.

Multi-jurisdictional Maintenance Strategies Report

Objective: Research and produce report on low-cost maintenance strategies for multi-jurisdictional corridors
Problem addressed: Provides relevant jurisdictions with best practices and cost-effective solutions to address concerns about trail maintenance responsibilities and costs

Bikeable Analysis

Objective: Conduct trail mapping and analysis to illustrate improved connectivity and quantify the number of residents impacted
Problem addressed: Provides objective data and analysis to enhance public knowledge of trail’s transportation, recreation, and public health benefits

Analysis Results

Defining connectivity as reaching 60% of destinations ! 10% increase in connectivity with a fully built out East Bay Greenway
Equity Priority Communities (EPCs) around the greenway see a significantly larger increase in connectivity
- 12% increase in connectivity for EPCs
- 14% increase in “highest” EPCs
- 7% increase for non-EPCs