At the July 6, 2023 BPAC Infrastructure Committee meeting, Jesse Boudart, OakDOT Transportation Engineer, provided an overview of work done to date on community engagement and design for the East Oakland Neighborhood Bike Routes project covering four East Oakland corridors.

An excerpt of the presentation is below, followed by the full presentation [8.2MB PDF], presentation notes, and discussion notes.

Goals of EONBR Project

• Prioritize walking and bicycling on four corridors in East Oakland
• Fix broken streets and sidewalks
• Create an inviting street for people
  • Planting shade trees
  • Allowing spaces for children to play
  • Where seniors can accompany kids by bicycle to major destinations
• Create walking/cycling streets to major destinations
  • Coliseum BART
  • Schools, libraries, recreation centers
  • Parks
• Increase residential street safety by slowing vehicle speeds and setting street expectations

Presentation

Presentation notes

• OakDOT received grant funding for project, deadline is in 2024 to complete 100% design.
• Currently in outreach phase, this meeting is first stop, more to be scheduled.
• This presentation is focusing on 81st Ave part of project, but four corridors are included in the project overall.
• This can be more than just a bicycling project – Trees & greenery are a important part – This is a local project and East Oaklanders themselves can receive the most benefit.
• This project is dependent on local resident interest and participation.
• Crossings of International Blvd are challenging due to Caltrans coordination, fewer changes are likely at those intersections.
• Slowing cars is part of this project, and all Oakland NBR projects include speed humps. Physical diverters for car traffic are a more challenging aspect.
• Existing drainage issues – Many streets with no catch basins – Correcting these issues is part of these project and costly.
• Both flashing pedestrian beacons and pedestrian hybrid beacons (red lights) are being considered for crossings along these corridors.
• 81st Ave case study, San Leandro St to Bancroft
  • Wide section east of San Leandro St
    •  2-way cycletrack on south side proposed – Few drainage inlets and driveways making it easier and less expensive
  • East from Rusdale “traffic filter” area with gateway treatment – Buses, biking and walking, but through car traffic discouraged
  • Forced turn car diverter proposed on 81st at Plymouth, and also 81st and Olive Ave
    • People driving to nearby schools will have to use different routes, but can still get to all the destinations
    • Commenter likes the idea, thinks it will deter crime
    • Commenter concerned about drivers running into the diverter
      •  Response – Robust, heavy materials will be used
  • Raised intersection proposed at E Oakland Pride Elementary School
    • Possibly stamped concrete to look like brick
    • Commenter concerned that drivers will intentionally do sideshows on top of intersection art
      • Planters on corners could help shrink the intersection to help discourage sideshows
  • 81st on each side of Bancroft proposed to allow car traffic only in one direction each way, but 2-way bike traffic
    • Commenter says treatments are needed to slow car traffic on Bancroft ahead of 81st, perhaps convert the Bancroft bike lane from buffered to protected just around the intersection – Could also help prevent people from driving in the Bancroft bike lane as well.
• OakDOT will be bringing on an outreach consultant (September 2023 at the earliest) to start direct community engagement.

Discussion notes

• 81st Ave 2-way cycle track – Talk to the schools in the area, also U-Haul, food trucks, others.
  • Would parking be removed on that side? Staff response: Yes.
  • Any ideas for keeping vehicles on the path and/or street sweeping?
    •  City has mini sweeper that could get to the path.
  • Any ideas for how bike riders can get to/from the cycletrack on each end? Bike signals?
    • Yes, a treatment at 81st / San Leandro, but the area around the train tracks will have little/no upgrades due to Union Pacific railroad conflicts.
      • Commenter: Berkeley has a similar new cycletrack crossing of the train tracks at Gilman, try following up with Caltrans to ask how they managed that.
• Traffic filter east of Rusdale
  • Same concept works somewhat on Market Street in San Francisco
  • Only one speed table currently between Rusdale and B Street, more are needed
  • Also think about school traffic in the morning and afternoon, including at 81st and Rusdale intersection
  • Also consider delivery drivers needing to access that area
  • OakDOT should coordinate with online mapping services to ensure drivers aren’t routed to this corridor as a through street.
  • Consider a curb to curb art treatment to make this area look different visually and not like other through streets
  • Interest expressed by committee members to do some proactive outreach with neighbors and school families to let people know about the project ahead of official OakDOT outreach. Stress safety as a primary outcome / goal.
• A Citywide campaign is needed to get people to drive safely.
• Existing speed tables on 81st Ave work well for slowing car traffic, need more of those.
• Will the design need to allow for two buses to be able to pass one another?
  • Staff response: Yes.
• Consider a rebranding of project away from East Oakland Neighborhood Bike Routes to instead highlight the other project elements that people might be interested in, including pedestrian and school safety, drainage, sidewalk repairs, greenery, etc. – Maybe using Slow Streets naming convention or something less mode-specific and more oriented toward project goals.
  • Send any branding ideas to staff.
• Does the project include a traffic diversion study?
  • Response: Yes, this will be included.
• Any goals for traffic speeds / volumes on these corridors? Data collection for current conditions to help explain and justify various treatments?
  • Neighborhood Bike Route goals are less than 2500 cars per day and car speeds 20 mph and lower. Yes, data collection will be happening.