Oakland Slow Streets Interim Findings Report, September 2020

With a few months of Oakland Slow Streets in the ground, OakDOT took a step back to critically evaluate how the more than 20 miles of Slow Streets Corridors and 15 Slow Streets Essential Places safety improvements are and aren't working across the City, with special attention given to the realities of Oakland's inequitable distribution of resources and opportunities, and the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on Oakland's Latinx and Black communities. This Interim Findings Report shares OakDOT's successes and challenges with the two goals of: 1) evaluating and stabilizing the Slow Streets Program for the duration of the pandemic; and 2) gleaning insights to inform post-pandemic planning that advances safe and more livable streets that support a healthy, thriving communities and a more equitable Oakland.

Key findings from the report include:

- Oakland Slow Streets created space for physical activity without impeding essential street functions.

- Oakland Slow Streets received a lot of positive support.

- Support and use of Oakland Slow Streets varied by demographic and geographic group with the highest levels of support from higher income, White, and North Oakland residents. Essential workers and Deep East Oakland residents shared that the program was not meeting their needs and felt the program conflicted with public health messaging.

- Oakland Slow Streets communications are not reaching enough Oaklanders.

- Traffic safety is a more important transportation issue during Covid-19 than creating space for physical activity for many Oaklanders, especially those in high priority neighborhoods where telecommuting isn’t as prevalent. Cones and barricades are not sustainable materials for implementing partial street closures for the duration of the pandemic due to maintenance and replacement materials costs.

Recommendations for continuing the program past Shelter-In-Place include:

- Evaluate existing Slow Street Corridors and make context-specific changes depending on feedback from the neighborhood.

- Continue the Slow Streets Corridors and Essential Places Program through the end of the Shelter-In-Place order.

- Channel the enthusiasm for Slow Streets into equitable and sustainable programs like pop-up Slow Streets and neighborhood level traffic calming.