Brief Update: International Blvd

Dear neighbors,

Last Thursday at 6, in a public meeting, staff members from both AC Transit and the Oakland DOT (OakDOT) presented their “quick-build” project to improve International Blvd. For folks who couldn’t attend, the project page can be found HERE, with a description of proposed treatments, which is very close to the presentation. When the meeting video becomes available, we will share it.

Here is what we heard

First, this is a quick-build project. This means that temporary plastic posts with rounded bases are going to be used to separate the lanes, along with more signs and painted markings. Second, the project is going to stretch along International from 14th Avenue all the way to the San Leandro border, in two different “study areas”.

During the Q&A, they got a lot of questions pushing the agencies to do more, to better control speeding, and asking whether what was being proposed will be sufficient. Salute to all who attended and asked questions! You all made it very clear that the community is watching and wants serious solutions to this problem.

They say the posts separating the lanes will discourage speeding and illegal left turns. Probably true about illegal lefts, but only a smaller impact on speeding. In re: speed cushions, they were trying to agree on a design that would work for both speed control and accommodate buses (see agenda for tomorrow, below). This is very much a live item, which means there is room for us to influence their decisions.

About why they are not separating lanes with concrete curbs instead of plastic, we heard that Oakland Fire Department (OFD) is resistant because they want enough room in the roadway for one of their trucks to pass another one, as at a fire scene. This demand has scuttled safety elements in other projects around the city. OakDOT is trying to negotiate with OFD to have more leeway for safety features. This will take some time, and Kevin Dalley of TVRR is leading the advocacy effort to get these changes agreed to. On Slack, we have a thread for this, if you are interested.

Re: evaluating the project, the “study areas” align with different versions of interventions, so they can evaluate whether they need to do more. “At the completion of construction, data and public feedback will be reviewed to help evaluate the project’s effectiveness and determine applicable project elements and other improvements along other portions of International Boulevard.” In an effort to advance the work, they are already working on a next phase. Good. Let’s all provide them with our feedback.

The next chance to influence decisions

The project described above is getting built early next year. Great! Given this reality, our call to action is this: get it built ASAP. Do a serious data-driven evaluation. Put safety over travel times: use speed cushions. Install rounded curbs to separate the lanes that big firetrucks can drive over. Don’t give up until International is no longer on the High-Injury Network. Nothing less is acceptable.

• Tomorrow, December 6th, at 10AM, the “Inter-Agency Liaison Committee” between the Oakland City Council and the AC Transit Board will meet. The agenda is now published, with both speed cushions generally and International quick build on the agenda. Public comment will be taken on each item, with 2 minutes for each speaker.

  

  HYBRID MEETING Oakland City Hall, City Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland CA 94612 https://actransit.zoom.us/j/87011398495 US Mobile: (213) 338 8477 Webinar ID: 870 1139 84

• On December 13th, at 5PM, the AC Transit Board is meeting. The agenda is not yet public, so the International safety project may not be included, but we can still challenge AC Transit’s reluctance over speed cushions. Please watch for follow-up communication about this meeting.

  HYBRID MEETING 2nd Floor Board Room - 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland, California Zoom link https://actransit.zoom.us/j/98487175063 Phone (669) 900 6833 Webinar ID: 984 8717 5063

And you can still email key decision-makers with the above request. Any step you take is valuable! Thank you all for your efforts to make life safe for our neighbors on our streets. Who’s streets? Our streets!

Key decision-makers to email:

Fred Kelley, OakDOT Director (fkelley@oaklandca.gov)

Michael Hursh, AC Transit General Manager (mhursh@actransit.org)

The AC Transit Board of Directors (actboardmembers@actransit.org)

Sheng Thao, Mayor of Oakland (officeofthemayor@oaklandca.gov)

The four Oakland City Council Members whose districts include part of International Blvd: Nikki Fortunato Bas (nfbas@oaklandca.gov), Noel Gallo (ngallo@oaklandca.gov), Kevin Jenkins (kjenkins@oaklandca.gov), Treva Reid (treid@oaklandca.gov)

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