At the November 17, 2022 BPAC meeting, OakDOT Assistant Director, Megan Wier, provided an overview of OakDOT’s citywide analysis to identify eligible Business Activity Districts, OakDOT’s prioritization approach, and timeline for implementation.
Slowing Speeds in Business Activity Districts: Assembly Bill 43, Friedman: Traffic Safety (AB 43) was signed into law in late 2021 by California’s Governor. Under AB 43, local governments may, by ordinance, set a prima facie speed limit of 20 mph or 25 mph on streets contiguous to a “business activity district” (a new designation authorized by AB 43).
The ordinance amending Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 10.20 (Speed Limits) to establish 20 mile per hour (MPH) and 25 MPH speed limits in Business Activity Districts informed by this analysis was approved by City Council on November 1, 2022 and is scheduled for final passage at City Council on December 6, 2022.
An excerpt is below, followed by the full presentation.
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.
At the October 20, 2022 BPAC meeting, OakDOT’s Safe Streets Division Manager Megan Wier, Supervising Transportation Engineer Joe Wang, and Transportation Engineers Mandana Ashti and Brian Sukkar provided an overview of OakDOT’s Rapid Response to fatal traffic crashes.
Oakland Police Department’s Lieutenant Fleming and Sergeant Bellusa also shared information regarding OPD’s crash investigations, which inform OakDOT rapid responses.
OakDOT staff also shared two case studies of rapid responses to recent crashes involving people walking and biking.
An excerpt of the presentation is below, followed by the full presentation.
At the September 15, 2022 BPAC meeting, Matthew Bomberg, Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) Senior Transportation Engineer, will provide a presentation on the East Bay Greenway project, a regional active transportation project being planned and implemented by Alameda CTC in partnership with the City of Oakland. The project is identified in local and regional plans, including the City’s Bike Master Plan and Measure BB Transportation Expenditure Plan. Alameda CTC is currently developing conceptual plans and conducting community engagement and environmental studies for an East Bay Greenway project which can be implemented in a near-term (3-5 year) timeframe.
At the August 18, 2022 BPAC meeting, Julieth Ortiz, OakDOT Transportation Planner, shared an overview of the crash data-driven HSIP grant program and the current proposals to request funds to implement HSIP-eligible countermeasures that focus on intersection safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. The applications are due September 12th. Following the overview of the grant program, Dean Hsiao, OakDOT Supervising Transportation Engineer, shared an overview of pedestrian signals and leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs).
HSIP Cycle 11 Applications
Safe Oakland Streets Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) Timing
Safe Oakland Streets Major Bike and Pedestrian Crossings
At the August 18, 2022 BPAC meeting, Kerby Olsen, New Mobility Supervisor at OakDOT, presented on the department’s draft proposal to address sidewalk parking through a combination of community outreach and education, street modifications and parking enforcement.
An excerpt is below, followed by the full presentation.
At the July 21, 2022 BPAC meeting, OakDOT Transportation Planner Manuel Corona, presented on two projects, the Bancroft Avenue Greenway project and the 73rd Avenue Active Routes to Transit project. These projects were heard at the February 17, 2022 BPAC meeting and have been submitted as Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant applications for the June 15th deadline. Staff requested the commission review the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Complete Streets Checklists for each project and share comments back to Manuel Corona by July 28th, 2022.
The Bancroft Ave Greenway project seeks to provide a low-stress Class I multi-use path on the existing Bancroft Avenue median from 73rd Avenue to 103rd Avenue. This will involve dedicated bicycle signals at all intersections and new pedestrian-scale lighting. In addition, this project will install new wayfinding signage, benches, landscaping and spaces for people to meet or picnic. This project is a result of community engagement for multiple planning efforts and was previously submitted to the ATP Cycle 5 grant.
The 73rd Ave Active Routes to Transit project will connect three transit hubs by upgrading existing Class II bike lanes to Class II Buffered bike lanes. This will provide more separation from motor vehicles. This project will also install two concrete protected intersections at International Blvd and Bancroft to provide spaces for bicyclist and pedestrians to wait and shorten their crossing distance. In addition, there will be a new direct connection to Coliseum BART by linking the bikes lanes to a Neighborhood Bike route south of International Blvd.
At the July 21, 2022 BPAC meeting, OakDOT Transportation Planner Michael Randolph and GRID Alternatives Micromobility Program Manager Edgar Arellano provided an update on the Oakland Electric Bike Library. This project will provide communities with access to affordable medium and long-term rentals with approximately 500 e-bikes, cargo bikes, and adaptive bikes, while supporting community-run bike shops to perform maintenance and educate users. Staff are seeking input on bike types, rental periods, and other program aspects. This five-year project is funded by $1,000,000, grant from the Clean Mobility Options Voucher (CMO) program.
At the June 16, 2022 BPAC meeting, OakDOT Policy & Intergovernmental Affairs Advisor Nicole Ferrara presented updates on the Safe Oakland Streets (SOS) Initiative. SOS was launched in 2021 with the primary goal of preventing severe and fatal crashes and related disparities impacting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, persons with disabilities, seniors, children, and low-income populations. The presentation includes an overview of the initiative, progress made in 2021, and focal points for work in 2022 and beyond.
An excerpt of the presentation is below, followed by the full presentation.
At the June 16, 2022 BPAC meeting, OakDOT Transportation Planners Charlie Ream and Celina Chan presented on two projects, the 66th Ave Coliseum BART to Bay Trail project and the Laurel Access to Mills, Maxwell Park & Seminary (LAMMPS) – Phase 2 project (this post).
These projects and the 27th St Bay Pl Project which was heard at the May BPAC meeting was submitted as One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) applications for the June 30, 2022 deadline. Staff requested the commission review the checklists attached for each of the three projects and share comments back to Charlie Ream by June 23, 2022.
Project goals
Extend the off-street biking and walking path to Seminary Avenue to provide a safe bicycling and walking connection between Millsmont/Frick and the Laurel
Slow vehicle speeds and curb unsafe driving
Reduce vehicle collisions
Improve safety and comfort for people walking and biking, especially crossing at major intersections
