At the June 17, 2021 BPAC meeting, Laura Kaminski, Acting Strategic Planning Manager, gave an update on existing and new projects including: the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan, an Impact Fee Update, and a General Plan Update.
Downtown Oakland Specific Plan (DOSP) — Mobility Objectives:
Improve access and safety for pedestrians;
Create a world-class transit network linking Oaklanders to downtown
Develop a connected network of low-stress bicycling facilities
See map (in presentation) of Proposed Low-Stress Short-Term and Vision Bicycle Networks
Transportation Impact Fee 5-Year Update:
Update fee schedule from 2016 nexus study based on inflation along with Appendix B – what is necessary to fund cumulative CEQA traffic mitigation costs.
Provide additional fee schedule to fund list of potential citywide transportation projects not included in Appendix B.
Provide additional fee schedules to fund list of specified transportation projects included in the (1) Downtown Specific Plan (DOSP) and (2) Waterfront Ballpark District at Howard Terminal Project (offsite transportation projects, not direct impacts of Howard Terminal project)
General Plan Update Schedule
2021 spring and summer: Approach and Consultant Team Selection
General Plan Update Memo
RFP for Consultant Team (Council – September)
Backbone CBO as part of consultant team
2021 fall: Official Kick-off
2023, January: Adoption of Housing, Safety, and Environmental Justice Element
2025, July: Adoption of Land Use, Transportation, Noise, Open Space, Conservation, and Recreation Elements
At the June 17, 2021 BPAC meeting, Ryan Russo, Director of the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT), presented a brief history of bike facilities on Telegraph Avenue in Koreatown Northgate (KONO); provided an overview of what we’ve learned since the installation of an interim project in 2016; and presented an overview of the proposed recommendation to install enhanced buffered bike lanes with active curb management, which City Council will consider later this month. Director Russo shared how the public can continue participating in the Telegraph Avenue Complete Streets Project.
What we’ve learned (2013-2019)
The good:
The number of people walking and biking doubled
People driving are three times more likely to yield to people crossing the street
People walking and biking report feeling safer with the bike lane than with the five-lane condition
Motor vehicle volumes have remained steady, but 85th percentile speeds have decreased closer to the posted speed limit of 25 mph
The less good:
Reported collisions involving people walking and biking increased by 33%
People driving park in the bike lane
Bike lane and intersection visibility concerns
Pedestrian visibility concerns
Anecdotal reports of increased near-miss collisions
Maintenance challenges
Businesses report negative impacts
Aesthetic concerns
The full presentation and summary of discussion are below.
At the June 17, 2021 BPAC meeting, BPAC Commissioner David Ralston will announce an upcoming Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) federal planning grant opportunity to support green infrastructure and active transit connections along the I-880 corridor in East Oakland. This plan would include potential freeway lid crossings to provide equitable access for East Oaklanders to the Bay Trail and waterfront as well as co-beneficial emission reduction and carbon capture opportunities. Ralston will be seeking a letter of support from the BPAC.
Project background
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), working with regional partners such as MTC and the State DOT, is preparing a planning grant application for this year’s round of federal RAISE infrastructure funding. The RAISE program (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) is a federal grants program previously known as BUILD. This program provides $1 billion in federal FY 2021 discretionary grant funding for capital projects and planning projects.
The proposed planning project focuses on the heavy-diesel “goods movement” corridor of the I-880 Freeway as it passes through the severely impacted environmentally justice disadvantaged communities of greater East Oakland (Estuary to 105th Ave., an approximately 5-6-mile segment). The project will undertake planning feasibility, technical assessments, and conceptual-development designs for utilizing Caltrans (State) ROW along this corridor for the innovative installation of co-beneficial green infrastructure that can:
Mitigate/reduce PM, Black Carbon and other Diesel emissions (as well as noise) to adjacent communities;
Sequester carbon and GHG from vehicular traffic;
Provide vegetative canopy to reduce urban heat island;
Enhance the capacity of groundwater recharge and provide flooding mitigation;
Enable and fill key active transit network gaps (such as connections between local neighborhoods, the East Bay Greenway and the Bay Trail);
Provide opportunity for green jobs works programs.
At the May 20, 2021 BPAC meeting, Nicole Ferrara, OakDOT’s Policy & Intergovernmental Affairs Advisor, presented on and shared ways the BPAC can support two bills aimed at reducing dangerous speeding on California roadways that the State Legislature is considering: Assembly Bill AB 43 (Friedman): Speed Limit Setting, and AB 550 (Chiu): Speed Safety Systems. Both bills would implement Safe Oakland Streets (SOS) strategies, and the bills have been supported by City Council and the Mayor.
Safe Oakland Streets: Goals
Prevent severe and fatal crashes and related disparities impacting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, seniors, people with disabilities and low-income populations
Eliminate severe and fatal injury inequities including racial disparities impacting BIPOC communities that exist today in Oakland
Inform effective and equitable safety strategies that prevent injury and injury inequities, and do not have adverse equity impacts on BIPOC communities, seniors, and low-income populations
Current status of state legislation
AB 43 passed out of the Assembly and heads to the Senate.
AB 550 was held in Assembly Appropriations today (May 20, 2021) and won’t advance this year.
At the May 20, 2021 BPAC meeting, Kerby Olsen, New Mobility Supervisor, gave a quick update on the E-scooter program and introduced two of the three new permitted operators: SPIN, VeoRide and LINK. Seymond Sumulong, Construction Inspector, gave an update on E-scooter parking enforcement and the effectiveness of the locking requirement.
Scooters with locking devices
Starting November 2020, shared e-scooters were required to lock to a bike rack, in-street corral or City street signs when not in use.
Before the locking devices were required, there were an average of 37 issues that were reported in OAK311 per month and an average 8 per month resulted to fines.
After the locking devices were required, there were an average of 32 issues that were reported in OAK311 per month and an average 0 per month resulted to fines.
At the April 15, 2021 BPAC meeting, members of the BPAC Police Relations Committee led a discussion to propose community rides and walks with the Oakland Police Department.
Overview
The BPAC Police Relations Committee is proposing that BPAC implement community rides with members of the bicycling community and the Oakland Police Department (OPD).
We want to bring down barriers to understanding that keep us from participating as bicyclists and pedestrians free of intimidation and fear.
Bicyclists and pedestrians face day to day safety issues, especially from vehicles.
Address the dynamic of different perspectives, especially with regards to safety.
Address the implicit bias bicyclists and pedestrians of color face from the OPD.
Planning Our First Ride
We want to roll-out our first community ride with OPD during the Bike to Wherever Day Pedal Pools on May 21st.
The community rides will be coordinated with the full BPAC, the BPAC Police Relations Committee, OakDOT, OPD and the public. Members and staff of the Oakland City Council could also be included.
BPAC would use the BPAC Blog to advertise events to the public and local community organizations and their networks.
Other details would need to be developed, including ride leaders, routes, duration and protocols.
Next Steps
Proposal submitted to the full BPAC for consideration at the April BPAC meeting. We respectfully request a Motion to Approve the proposal and BPAC support.
The BPAC Police Relations Committee would meet and coordinate with OPD management during April/May as well as coordinate with BPAC leadership and local community organizations.
Report back at the May BPAC and invite OPD representatives to attend
Expanding group rides to include group walks.
While ambitious, again, it is hoped that the first community rides with the OPD happen on Bike to Wherever Day on May 21st.
At the April 15, 2021 BPAC meeting, Chris Hwang, Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (WOBO) Board President, presented on Bike to W(herever) Day and ways to get involved. WOBO will produce a Bike To Wherever Day program at Lake Merritt on the afternoon of Friday, May 21, a national day for celebrating the bicycling commute. The 14-year old nonprofit is proud to produce a self-guided ride around the beautiful lake from 3pm to 6pm. They invite partners who are able to and interested in sharing resources that help Oaklanders experience the city by bicycle to email WOBO if they’d like to participate in programming the area along the walkway between the pergola and El Embarcadero Way, or to sponsor the event. Please stay tuned for additional details, and follow @walkoakbikeoak on social media for announcements and how to get involved.
Bike To W(herever) Day 2021
Friday, May 21, 2021 Lake Merritt Pergola 3pm – 6pm
Bike Bags
Bicycling / Micromobility Orgs
City & Community Resources
Climate Action Partners
Volunteer
Commissioner Rides with Councilmembers, Mayor, Elected Officials
At the April 15, 2021 BPAC meeting, Julieth Ortiz, OakDOT Transportation Planner, presented an overview of existing Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 projects and a draft project list for fiscal year 2021-22. This year’s recommendation is to use funding for existing programs/projects, including the bicycle parking program, the stairs and path program, and Foothill pedestrian safety improvements. Input from the Commission regarding priorities is welcome.
Overview
Construction/engineering of a bicycle or pedestrian capital project
Maintenance of a multi-purpose path
Bicycle safety education program
Development of a comprehensive bicycle or pedestrian plans
At the April 15, 2021 BPAC meeting, Julieth Ortiz and Yvonne Chan, OaktDOT Transportation Planners, provided an update of existing AHSC projects and an overview of the proposed projects OakDOT is currently considering for Cycle 6. The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC) is administered by the Strategic Growth Council and implemented by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. AHSC is one of the CA Climate Investments programs whose goal is to integrate affordable homes and sustainable transportation.
Overview
AHSC is a State “Climate Investment” Program to fund affordable housing + sustainable transportation to direct investment towards the most disadvantaged communities in the state and maximize economic, environmental, and public health benefits.
