March 2021 BPAC Agenda

Thursday, March 18, 2021; 6:00-8:00 pm, online and by phone.

Agenda topics include:

  • Recent Bicyclist- and Pedestrian-Related Crashes
  • Safe Oakland Streets (SOS) Traffic Safety Initiative
  • Reimagining Traffic Safety Draft Recommendations
  • Adoption of BPAC Strategic Plan Update
  • Committee Report Back

The three-month agenda look-ahead and announcements are below.

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BPAC 2021 Draft Strategic Plan Update

At the February 18, 2021 BPAC meeting, BPAC Strategic Planning Committee member, Jesse Jones, led the BPAC in a discussion on updating the BPAC Strategic Plan from 2020. View the presentation below and the full list of Goals and Tasks here.

Purpose of the Strategic Plan

  • Philosophically: Formalize our Commission’s values and work plan for the upcoming year.
  • Logistically: Help the Chair/Vice Chair and OakDOT Staff plan the agenda and coordinate with presenters.

Summary of 2020

  • Emphasis on Community Outreach/BPAC presence: Significantly affected by COVID but built internal awareness
  • Legislative Actions: Focused attention of the Committee
  • Police Relations Committee: Successful partnership with OakDOT

2021 Goals

  • Goal 1: Be strong advocates of bicycle and pedestrian safety.
  • Goal 2: Be a conduit for information on bicycle and pedestrian projects.
  • Goal 3: Encourage equity driven investments and policies and advocate for the bicycle and pedestrian community.
  • Goal 4: Build relationships with policymakers and provide feedback on pedestrian and bicycle policy.
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BPAC 2021 Legislative Committee Recommendations

At the February 18, 2021 BPAC meeting, BPAC Legislative Committee Lead Commissioner Gardner led the commission in a discussion about the Legislative Committee’s recommendations of priorities.

Proposed BPAC Safety Priorities (Local Legislative)

  1. Street Safety Legislation
    • Flexibility to implement traffic calming measures as determined necessary
    • Standardize/Expedite neighborhood traffic calming installations and/or permits
  2. Quick Fix Traffic Calming Budget Request – Tactical temporary installations
    • Bollards (i.e. Flex Posts)
    • Paint for crosswalks
    • A-Frames
    • Other: Speed Feedback Signs, informal (i.e. planters)
  3. Speed Limit Reductions
    • Authority to Reduce Downward Around Schools, (and Parks, and other essential services)
    • Consider a Citywide 30mph Speed Limit Maximum
  4. Equitable Enforcement Strategies
    • Proposal to shift minor traffic enforcement to OakDOT
    • Red light camera pilot project (with privacy and equitable distribution provisions)

The full presentation is below.

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Annual Update of Major Development Projects

At the February 18, 2021 BPAC meeting, Catherine Payne and Audrey Harris, key members of the major projects review team, reported on current development applications under consideration (and recently approved), and shared how to participate in the application review process. The presentation is below, which highlights the four major projects in development:

  • 98th & San Leandro PUD (planned unit development): Multiple phase project, including new streets, 399 residential units, 9 work/live units, 2,500 sf ground floor retail. Market rate (no affordable units). Status: PUD and infrastructure FDP approved, 12/20
  • Lake Merritt BART TOD (transit-oriented development), ENA awarded 2018: 517 du (44% affordable), 500,000 sf commercial. Status: Application review underway.
  • Oakland Waterfront Ballpark District (aka Howard Terminal): Up to: 35,000 seat capacity sports stadium, 3,500 seat capacity entertainment venue, 2.27 million sf commercial development, hotel facilities, 18 acres open space, 3,000 dwelling units, 8,900 parking spaces (max). Status: Draft EIR publication anticipated in Q1, 2021.
  • West Oakland BART TOD: 762 dwelling units (20% affordable) in 3 buildings, 440,000 sf commercial (PUD approved 2/6/19). Status: FDPs for 2 buildings (including affordable housing) and infrastructure approved November 2020.
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February 2021 BPAC Announcements

Below are the announcements that were included in the February 18, 2021 BPAC meeting agenda packet.

OakDOT projects are recommended for Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 5 statewide funding

  • 7th St Connection Project
  • East Oakland Neighborhood Bike Routes

OakDOT Bicycle Facilities Map updated

OakDOT submits grant applications for county Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funding

  • East Bay Greenway
  • 14th Street Project
  • West Oakland Transit Improvements
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Neighborhood Bike Route Implementation Guide – Revised Draft

At the February 4th, 2021 BPAC Infrastructure Committee meeting, Jennifer Stanley, OakDOT staff from the Bicycle & Pedestrian Section, presented the revised draft of the Neighborhood Bike Routes Implementation Guide. The previous draft is here.

Notes from the presentation and discussion are below.

Neighborhood Bike Route Implementation Guide
REVISED DRAFT, last updated January 26, 2021
Map and Figures (numbering to be updated)

This Guide provides direction on implementing the City of Oakland’s bike plan: Let’s Bike Oakland! (2019) recommendations for “neighborhood bike routes” (NBRs) also known as “bicycle boulevards.” The bike plan proposes over 75 centerline miles of NBRs defined on page 22 as:

  • Calm local streets where bicyclists have priority but share roadway space with automobiles.
  • Include shared roadway bicycle markings on pavement and additional traffic calming measures like speed humps or traffic diverters to keep streets comfortable for bicyclists
  • Comfortable for bicyclists with wider range of comfort levels

This Guide does not apply to proposed NBRs that are infeasible (e.g. on high-volume bus routes or on arterial streets). See [name of document] for the feasibility of individual NBRs and the criteria by which feasibility was determined.

The bike plan outlines four actions for streets to be designated as NBRs: Improving Major Street Crossings; Reducing or Preventing Speeding; Preventing High Car Volumes; and Increasing Pavement Quality. This Guide describes implementation in five subject areas: Scoping & Monitoring, Route Establishment, Traffic Calming, Traffic Control, and Public Notification & Comment.

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