Following through on an announcement earlier this week, the City of Oakland announced today the next streets that will receive signage and barriers to implement “soft closures” as part of the Oakland Slow Streets program, and has launched an online survey for community members to provide feedback about the program.
Oakland, CA – Following through on an announcement earlier this week, the City of Oakland announced today the next streets that will receive signage and barriers to implement “soft closures” as part of the Oakland Slow Streets program, and has launched an online survey for community members to provide feedback about the program.
On April 10, the City of Oakland launched Oakland Slow Streets, implementing “soft closures” to restrict neighborhood streets to local vehicle traffic, allowing only residents, emergency vehicles, and service and delivery vehicles. Our goal is to make neighborhood streets safer to walk and bicycle, creating wider spaces than our current sidewalks allow. On these streets residents can make essential outdoor trips using the roadway while reducing foot traffic at parks and on outdoor trails, which have experienced extremely high usage since the Alameda County Shelter-in-Place order began.
The program declares all existing and proposed Neighborhood Bike Routes as Closed to Through Traffic. These 74 miles we previously vetted with community groups as preferred locations for cycling, and account for nearly 10% of all Oakland streets. On April 11 the City piloted “soft closures” on 4.5 miles of that network, using signage, traffic cones and barriers on four corridors.
On Tuesday (April 14) the City announced it had identified 11 additional miles of Slow Streets from which to select 4-5 miles for the second phase of streets to receive “soft closures” beginning this Friday, April 17, and requested community input about this proposal.
After considering feedback from the community, the City has selected the following streets from the candidates identified in the April 14 announcement to receive signage and barriers as part of the Slow Streets Program expansion on April 17, representing an additional 4.6 miles:
- 11th Ave/ Bayview Ave/ Elliot St/ E 34th St – From E 8th St to Park Blvd
- 32nd St – From Mandela Pkwy to San Pablo Ave
- Brookdale Ave – From Fruitvale Ave to Kingsland Ave
- Dover St – From Alcatraz Ave to 52nd St
City staff have received requests for a more interactive map identifying the expanded streets, and to meet that request have produced this searchable, zoomable map: https://arcg.is/0W54bD
These street selections were determined in part by reviewing community feedback about a proposed list of streets to be considered. Of more than 300 total survey responses, the below table highlights those specific to the streets chosen for expansion:
Street |
Positive |
Negative |
Dover St – From Alcatraz Ave to 52nd St |
29 |
|
Brookdale Ave – From Fruitvale Ave to Kingsland Ave |
8 |
4 |
11th Ave/ Bayview Ave/ Elliot St/ E 43rd St – From E 8th St to Park Blvd |
6 |
|
32nd St – From Mandela Pkwy to San Pablo Ave |
6 |
This program is also intended to discourage drivers from using Slow Streets unless necessary to reach a final destination. The City urges all people driving to drive slowly and safely, and reminds drivers to expect to see people walking and biking along ALL streets. Our hospitals are facing unprecedented challenges and don't need any additional patients. This effort does not impact emergency vehicle access.
All Oakland Slow Streets are also displayed on the map on the following page. This map has been updated since our initial launch to remove transit routes, address conflicts with healthcare and emergency service facilities, and remove streets that don’t have any alternative routes. The City is encouraging drivers to avoid these streets unless using them to reach a final destination.
As a clear reminder, Oakland Slow Streets is intended to promote physical distancing of at least 6 feet by creating new low-traffic, low speed streets to allow residents to safely pass one another. Social gatherings on these streets are prohibited. The Alameda County Public Health Department recommends that residents wear cloth face masks while in public. The City of Oakland will continue to monitor CDC guidance on outdoor recreation, transportation, and physical distancing, and will adjust this program as needed.
The Oakland Slow Streets program rolled out quickly in response to the unprecedented and ongoing COVID-19 emergency, and will require communication and partnership with the communities it seeks to serve. Solutions that work for Oaklanders need neighbors' feedback and participation. The City is seeking out and inviting ongoing community feedback, and will work to make responsive adjustments to the program implementation, as possible.
To take the survey, please go online to https://tinyurl.com/oaklandslowstreets.
To provide general feedback about how this program can best serve your neighborhood, please contact OAK311 by dialing 311 or 510-615-5566, e-mailing OAK311@staging.oaklandca.gov, going online to 311.staging.oaklandca.gov, or using the free OAK311 mobile app for Apple and Android devices. You can also post on social media using the #OaklandSlowStreets hashtag.
For additional program information and the interactive location map, please visit https://www.staging.oaklandca.gov/projects/oakland-slow-streets.