WEST OAKLAND SPECIFIC PLAN Final Plan

5. Circulation

5.1 Complete Streets 5.2 Enhancing Transit

June 2014

5: Circulation

The transportation system necessary to support IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PUBLIC new growth and development includes: CIRCULATION SYSTEM • Utilizing a “Complete Streets” approach for The extent of new growth and development transportation projects in West Oakland in envisioned under the West Oakland Specific order to make the street network better and Plan will need to be supported by safer for drivers, transit users, pedestrians improvements to the underlying public and bicyclists, and to enable safe access for transportation system, as well as the public all users regardless of age, ability, or mode infrastructure improvements identified in of transportation. Chapter 6. With an anticipated expanding • Enhancing public transit and its connections population and employment base, there is a to, from and through West Oakland with reciprocal need to address public rights-of-way improved bus service, streetcars, light rail in a manner that serves all users and modes of and/or shuttle service, and linking housing travel and enhance the transportation and and jobs in West Oakland to the West transit systems. Oakland BART Station, commercial activity at the Emeryville/Oakland city limit line, the All of these necessary improvements may prove MacArthur BART station, downtown too expensive to implement in the short-term, Oakland, Jack London Square, and the relative to the availability of current public former . financial resources, especially now in the post- Redevelopment era. Furthermore, the first One of the keys to realizing the full wave of new private development pursuant to development potential of West Oakland is to this Plan could consider the added costs of ensure that existing and new residents have full public infrastructure improvements as cause to access to a safe, convenient and efficient reconsider locating to West Oakland, and transportation system that provides them with instead choose another area fully equipped direct routes between home, work, shopping, with necessary backbone public infrastructure and recreational locations. That same system improvements. Therefore, a joint must provide existing and new employees the public/private financing approach will be same full access to transit routes that connect needed, with an emphasis on outside sources their homes to job opportunities in West of grants, low cost loans and other creative Oakland. A transit goal of this Plan is to provide finance strategies. Such an approach may be better connections between important local slow to take shape and will require diligent activity nodes and the regional BART system; pursuit of all available funding strategies. this can be accomplished by creating an

West Oakland Specific Plan  5-1

enhanced transportation loop that interconnects West Oakland to other central BART stations in the system (the West Oakland, MacArthur, and 12th & 19th Street stations), as well as to the major new employment center at the former Oakland Army Base, downtown Oakland, Emeryville, the regional medical center (“Pill Hill”), and to Jack London Square (which is also served with both ferry and Amtrak service). Defined as ‘the O’, this transit proposal is a key element of the Specific Plan and is described and illustrated later in this chapter.

5-2  West Oakland Specific Plan

5.1: Complete Streets

“Complete Streets are streets for everyone. They travel along and across streets through a are designed and operated to enable safe access comprehensive, integrated transportation for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and network that serves all categories of users. public transportation users of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across EXISTING TRANSPORTATION NETWORK a complete street. Complete Streets make it easy to cross the street, walk to shops, and bicycle to As illustrated in Figure 5.1.1, West Oakland is work. They allow buses to run on time and make it serviced by an extensive network of freeways, safe for people to walk to and from train stations.” major arterials, railroad tracks, pedestrian and National Complete Street Coalition bicycle systems and truck routes.

Oakland’s Complete Streets Policy and Freeway System Ordinance West Oakland is located at the hub of the Bay “Complete Streets” describes a comprehensive, Area freeway system that also serves the integrated transportation network, with northwest area of Oakland including I-80, I-580, roadways designed and operated to enable I-880, I-980 and SR-24. safe, attractive, and comfortable access and • I-80 is a major transcontinental freeway travel for all users - including: pedestrians, spanning between and New bicyclists, persons with disabilities, seniors, Jersey. In the Bay Area, it serves San children, motorists, movers of commercial Francisco and East Bay destinations in goods, operators of public transportation, Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties. public transportation users of all abilities, and I-80 is connected to West Oakland by emergency responders. freeway ramps that terminate at the West In February 2013, the Grand Avenue/I-880 Frontage Road unanimously approved a Complete Streets intersection. I-80 currently carries policy to ensure that Oakland streets provide approximately 242,000 vehicles daily. safe and convenient travel options for all users. • I-580 is a major east-west freeway The Council also adopted ordinances amending connecting the Bay Area and the Central the Oakland Municipal Code to clarify and Valley. From West Oakland, it extends update street design standards; to establish northwest to US 101 in Marin County, and responsibilities for development, extends southeast to Interstate 5 in San implementation and monitoring of Complete Joaquin County. Access to/from West Street system design and construction Oakland is provided via the West Grand standards; and to enforce the standards Avenue / I-80 ramps, West Street/San Pablo uniformly. Avenue ramps, and I-980. The City of The purpose of Oakland’s new policy and Oakland has placed a heavy truck restriction ordinances is to establish the City's intent to on I-580 between Grand and 106th implement Complete Streets serving all users Avenues. I-580 currently carries and modes so as to uniformly regulate the approximately 118,000 vehicles daily past design, construction, operation, and West Oakland. maintenance of the street system. The City of Oakland intends to use Complete Streets to provide safe, comfortable, and convenient

West Oakland Specific Plan  5-3 5 Fig. 5.1.1: Existing Transportation Network

CIRCULATION Emeryville MacArthur 1 Station

Hollis Street

Bay Bridge Interstate 580 Bay Bridge/Interstate 80 San Pablo Avenue

28th Street Former Oakland Army Base 24th Street Interstate 980 Martin Luther King Jr. Way 27th Street

16th Street West Grand Avenue Interstate 880 Station Frontage Road 18th Street

Pine Street 14th Street

19th Street Peralta Street Station

Main Post Office Mandela Parkway 7th Street Adeline Street Downtown Oakland Market Street 12th Street Station

Port of Oakland 3rd Street

1000 2000 4000

FEET N Legend Interstate 880 Planning Area BART Freeway Major Street

FINAL PLAN - JUNE 2014

• I-880 serves west Alameda County and • Frontage Road extends between West Santa Clara County connecting I-80 in Grand Avenue and 7th Street along I-880 Oakland to I-280 in San Jose. Access to and and serves as the western boundary of West from West Oakland is provided by ramps at Oakland. The four-, north-south street 5th, 6th and 7th Streets. I-880 connects to provides access from West Oakland to/from west I-80 at the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza. I-80 and I-880, and to the adjacent Port of Interchange ramps connect I-880 to Union, Oakland. Adeline, and Market streets, and a • Mandela Parkway spans between 3rd Street connection to I-80 east is provided at the and Hollis Street providing West Oakland north end of Frontage Road. I-880 currently with access to Emeryville to the north. It has carries approximately 123,000 vehicles daily two travel in each direction between west of 7th Street. 7th Street and Hollis Street, and one lane • I-980 runs between I-580 and I-880 to the per direction south of 7th Street. Between immediate east of West Oakland. North of I- 8th and 32nd Streets, a landscaped linear 580, it continues as State Route 24 to Contra park serves as a wide median island along Costa County via . I-980 Mandela Parkway. currently carries approximately 113,000 • Adeline Street extends from Shattuck vehicles daily just south of I-580. Avenue in Berkeley south through Emeryville and the middle of West Oakland Local Roads to continue as Middle Harbor Road south of West Oakland is also generally well-served by 3rd Street. Throughout West Oakland it has local roadways. West Oakland has many two travel lanes per direction. connections to Downtown Oakland via • Market Street is a north-south roadway that numerous streets that serve autos and AC spans between Alcatraz Avenue in Berkeley Transit buses. There are also many street and just south of 1st Street in the Port of connections between West Oakland and Oakland. A landscaped median is provided Emeryville, including the Mandela Parkway south of 19th Street, and a painted median extension completed in 2005. Transportation is provided along most of the segment connections to Jack London Square include the north of Mead Avenue. 5th and 6th Street one-way street pair along I- • San Pablo Avenue, also known as State 880, and the connection of Mandela Parkway to Route 123, begins in downtown Oakland 3rd Street. and runs diagonal to Oakland’s north-south Major local roads, or arterials, in West Oakland streets, connecting through Emeryville, include: Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, San Pablo and Pinole. Before construction of the I-80 • 7th Street is a four-lane east-west street. It freeway, San Pablo Avenue served as the serves local and cross-town traffic for main thoroughfare along the east side of project area traffic and also provides the Bay. freeway access to I-880 south. Port Connections • West Grand Avenue provides access to I-80 to/from West Oakland. It spans between the The Union Pacific railroad tracks, I-880 and the I-80 junction and Maritime Street, and I-880 frontage road present a barrier between Broadway in downtown Oakland. West West Oakland and the . The only Grand Avenue has two travel lanes in each connections to the Port from the Plan Area are direction, with the exception of the along West Grand Avenue, 7th Street, and segment between Mandela Parkway and Adeline Street to Middle Harbor Road. Market Street which has three lanes per direction.

West Oakland Specific Plan  5-5

Pedestrian and Bicycle System District routes have a more local function as the location of schools, community centers, There is a strong interest within the West and smaller scale shopping. They are often Oakland community in improving facilities for located within a single district and help to walking, bicycling and transit service, relocating define the character of that district. truck services to the Oakland Army Base, and reducing truck parking in West Oakland. These • Neighborhood Routes: Wood Street, interests stem from the existing constraints on Campbell Street and 14th (between Wood the transportation system in and around West Street and Campbell Street), 18th, and 28th Oakland. Many of the streets in West Oakland Streets are designated as Neighborhood were designed primarily to support industrial Routes which are local streets that connect uses, and are under-developed for pedestrians, schools, parks, recreational centers, and bicyclists, and transit service. The West Oakland libraries. They are places for people to meet Infrastructure Report (see Chapter 4 of this Plan) and they provide the basis for describes the numerous rail spurs that once neighborhood life. They are used for served industries but are no longer needed to walking to school, walking for exercise, and serve businesses in the area. These rail lines safe walking at night.” have declined into a state of disrepair and • Pedestrian Routes: Numerous streets in currently present obstacles to bicycle and West Oakland are designated as Pedestrian pedestrian mobility, particularly for disabled Routes. These Pedestrian Routes have been individuals. established as having high importance to the community and should not be Pedestrian connections between West Oakland interpreted to imply that other routes and Downtown, Jack London Square, should not be improved to adequately serve Emeryville, and the parks at the Port of Oakland pedestrians. are of limited quality and are challenging for safe and comfortable pedestrian use. Also, There are many limitations in the pedestrians sidewalks are non-existent and/or too narrow system. For example, pedestrian access along in many West Oakland areas, lighting is less West Grand Avenue west of Mandela Parkway than desirable, and many travel ways are not is limited to a single 5-foot sidewalk extending accessible for the disabled. Additionally, across the elevated bridge structure. Also, the connections to some community facilities are flat terrain in West Oakland combined with compromised. inadequate drainage facilities and deferred maintenance has resulted in deterioration of Designated Pedestrian Routes pavement quality, which can pose significant obstacles for pedestrians and bicyclists. The City of Oakland’s Pedestrian Master Plan, adopted in 2002 (see Figure 5.1.2) designates streets throughout the City based on their function and design, as defined below. • City Routes: City routes designate streets that are destinations in themselves – places to live, work, shop, socialize and travel. They provide the most direct connections between walking and transit and connect multiple districts in the City. In West Oakland, the designated City routes are Mandela Parkway, Market Street, 7th, 8th, and 14th Streets. • District Routes: Adeline Street and West Street are designated as District Routes.

5-6  West Oakland Specific Plan Fig. 5.1.2: Designated Pedestrian Routes 5

Emeryville CIRCULATION MacArthur Station Interstate 580

Bay Bridge

Bay Bridge/Interstate 80 34th Street 34th Street 32th Street Brockhurst Street

Peralta Street

Interstate 880

Former Oakland 26th Street

San Pablo Avenue Army Base West Street 24th Street 20th Street Interstate 980 27th StreetMartin Luther King Jr. Way West Grand Avenue 18th Street 16th Street Interstate 880 Station

14th Street

Brush Street

Wood Street 14th Street

19th Street Station

Mandela Parkway Main Post Office 8th Street Adeline Street West Oakland Station 7th Street Filbert Street Market Street Downtown Oakland 12th Street Station

Port of Oakland Interstate 880

1000 2000 4000

FEET N Legend District Routes Major Priority Pedestrian Route Planning Area City Routes Minor Priority BART Neighborhood Pedestrian Route Routes

WEST OAKLAND SPECIFIC PLAN

Bicycle Facilities Figure 5.1.3 illustrates constructed and planned bicycle facilities in West Oakland. • Class 1 bike paths provide for bicycle travel on a paved right-of-way that is completely separated from the street. A Class I bike path exists on 7th Street east of Wood Street. Class I bike paths are planned for Maritime Street, Middle Harbor Road, Burma Road, and from 40th Street in Emeryville looping into Oakland and under I-80 out to the proposed Gateway Park at the foot of the new Bay Bridge. • Class II bike lanes are on-street striped lanes that are designed to accommodate bicycle riding alongside other vehicular traffic, and are identified by specific signs and pavement stencils. Class 2 on-street bike lanes are provided along Mandela Parkway, 3rd Street, and portions of Market Street, 8th Street, West Street, 14th Street and West Grand Avenue east of market Street. Class II bike lanes are planned for the entirety of 7th Street west of Wood Street, the entirety of West Grand into the Port area, 14th Street from Wood to downtown Oakland, and Adeline from 3rd Street to 61st Street.

Truck Routes Truck routes have been established along various routes in West Oakland including West Grand Avenue, Peralta Street north of West Grand Avenue, and portions of Market, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th Streets. Through truck traffic has been prohibited along: • Portions of Adeline Street between 7th and West Grand Avenue, • Portions of 30th, 18th, and 14th Streets, and many other residential streets in the Clawson, McClymonds, Prescott, and South Prescott neighborhoods. Figure 5.1.4 shows truck routes and through truck traffic prohibitions.

5-8  West Oakland Specific Plan Fig. 5.1.3: Existing & Proposed Bikeway Network 5

Emeryville CIRCULATION MacArthur Station

Hollis Street Interstate 580 Bay Bridge Bay Bridge/Interstate 80

32nd Street 32nd Street

West Street Former Oakland Army Base San Pablo Avenue 27th Street

West Grand Avenue

16th Street Interstate 880 Station

Interstate 980

14th Street

Peralta Street 19th Street Station

Mandela Parkway

Main Adeline Street Post Office 8th Street West Oakland Station 7th Street Market Street Downtown Oakland 12th Street Station

Port of Oakland 3rd Street

Interstate 880

1000 2000 4000

FEET N Legend Existing Class 1 Bike Path Proposed Class 3A Arterial Bike Route Planning Area Existing Class 2 Bike Path Proposed Class 3A BART Proposed Class 2 Bike Path Arterial Bike Route

WEST OAKLAND SPECIFIC PLAN 5 Fig. 5.1.4: Truck Routes & Prohibitions

CIRCULATION Emeryville MacArthur Station 1 Hollis Street

Hannah Street Interstate 580 Bay Bridge Bay Bridge/Interstate 80 32nd Street

30th Street

Former Oakland 28th Street Army Base 26th Street San Pablo Avenue 29th Street

24th Street West Grand Avenue

16th Street Interstate 880 Station Peralta Street 18th Street

Wood Street

Pine Street 14th Street

19th Street

Mandela Parkway Station

Main Adeline Street Post Office West Oakland Station Market Street Interstate 980 7th Street Downtown Oakland 6th Street 12th Street Station 5th Street Port of Oakland

1000 2000 4000

FEET N Legend Interstate 880 Planning Area BART Truck Routes Prohibited to Trucks

FINAL PLAN - JUNE 2014

TRANSPORTATION AND COMPLETE travel modes and improve the STREET STRATEGIES attractiveness of the area. Complete Streets-5: Should the California Complete Streets Strategy for West Waste Solutions recycling facility on Pine Oakland Streets Street relocate to the former Army Base property as anticipated, explore removing the 10th Street barricade that currently Intent: Provide a network of “Complete blocks access to Frontage Road from Wood Streets” to support the desired mix and Street as part of the existing recycling intensity of land uses, and to enhance operations. mobility for all travel modes. Streetscapes Complete Streets-1: Ensure adequate capacity and safety on those arterial streets that serve the planned intensification of land use Intent: Improve the attractiveness of within West Oakland by committing only streetscapes to promote walking and biking, the necessary right-of-way necessary to traffic safety, public safety, and attract accommodate vehicle movement, transit, desired development (see Figure 5.1.5). bicycle, and pedestrian uses. These arterial streets include Mandela Parkway, West Streetscapes-1: Fully implement the Grand Avenue, 7th Street, 5th Street, Union improvements identified in various (south of 7th Street), Adeline (south of 7th Streetscape Master Plans that the City has Street), Market Street, San Pablo Avenue, already prepared, including the following: and 27th Street. • Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Peralta • Remove unused rail sidings and spurs to Street Streetscape Master Plan: Implement eliminate hazards for drivers, bicyclists, the recommendations and design pedestrians and bus riders. strategies contained in the Martin Luther • Provide bike lanes (or other appropriate King Jr. Way and Peralta Street bicycle facilities) and high quality Streetscape Master Plan This pedestrian streetscapes on arterials. Streetscape Master Plan represents a ‘roadmap’ for implementation of Complete Streets-2: Improve existing community endorsed streetscape connections across or under freeways to improvements over a long-range time activity centers, in particular on Mandela horizon. Streetscape improvements are Parkway at I-580 and on West Grand Avenue intended to improve a street’s at I-980, using lighting, public art, way- functionality, visual character and public finding signage, acoustics, and other design safety. These improvements, in turn, can features. stimulate new development and Complete Streets-3: Work with the Port to redevelopment along the street 1 develop strategies to prioritize freight corridor. movement along arterial corridors outside of the West Oakland residential areas. Complete Streets-4: In coordination with transit agencies, promote traffic calming strategies in residential neighborhoods and within each Opportunity Area to improve 1 Martin Luther King Jr. Way & Peralta Street safety, discourage truck travel off Streetscape M aster Plan, Gates & Associates, designated routes, encourage alternative March 2012, http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca1/groups/ced a/documents/report/oak034887.pdf

West Oakland Specific Plan  5-11 5 Fig. 5.1.5: Streetscape Improvements

CIRCULATION Emeryville MacArthur 1 Station

Hollis Street Interstate 580 Bay Bridge Bay Bridge/Interstate 80

32nd Street

Former Oakland 28th Street San Pablo Avenue Army Base

West Grand Avenue

16th Street Martin Luther King Jr. Way Interstate 880 Station

18th Street

Pine St

14th Street 19th Street Station 7th Street Peralta Street 12th Street

Mandela Parkway Main Post Office West Oakland Interstate 980 Station

Adeline Street Downtown Oakland 12th Street Market Street Station

3rd Street Port of Oakland Interstate 880

1000 2000 4000

FEET N Legend Recommended Streetscape Future Improvements Planning Area Streetscape In Progress BART Improvements

FINAL PLAN - JUNE 2014

• 7th Street Concept and Urban Design Plan: include incremental improvements to the Complete implementation of the streetscapes of the local streets which they recommendations and design strategies abut. Typical streetscape improvements contained in the 7th Street Concept and could include a variety of elements, such as Urban Design Plan. 2 The 7th Street installing special signage that identifies Concept and Urban Design Plan includes West Oakland’s formally historic schematic designs for streetscape neighborhoods as well as other improvements on Seventh Street in neighborhoods, and could involve a public three zones: the historic district process in designing the elements. Capital commercial zone bifurcated by the BART improvements should include funding for tracks, the new transit-oriented operations and maintenance. Elements of development area arising around the these improvements could be: West Oakland BART station and former • low impact development stormwater industrial parcels; and the mixed-use management approaches; district at Mandela Parkway. • new or widened sidewalks to include Streetscape-3: Develop and implement similar more bus stop amenities such as arterial streetscape master plans for other benches and shelters; important arterials in West Oakland. Priority • the inclusion of street furniture, streets recommended for additional landscaping, and art; streetscape programs include: • street trees and planter strips between • The northern section of Mandela sidewalks and the street to provide a Parkway and Yerba Buena Avenue from safety buffer for pedestrians, allowing nd 32 Street to the Emeryville city limit tree wells and planters to be used line (at Hollis Street), instead of planter strips where parking or • West Grand Avenue, bicycle lanes are next to sidewalks; • Adeline Street • adequate and neighborhood-scaled • San Pablo Avenue, and lighting for pedestrian safety and comfort; • Market Street. • medians, pocket plazas and wide Streetscape-4: Prioritize the development of sidewalk spaces as potential gathering local streetscape improvement plans, areas and to display public art; and including lights, trees, bulb outs, sidewalks, • educational and interpretive signs, etc., on: artwork, and landscaping to highlight • Mandela Parkway from 7th to 8th Street; historical and cultural features. • 8th Street from Union to Mandela and Streetscapes-6: Use the City’s 1.5% Public Art from Williams to Wood Street; and Ordinance and seek additional funding • Wood Street from 7th to 8th Street. sources to incorporate public art into the pedestrian network. Streetscape-5: Improve the streetscapes of other neighborhood local streets as development occurs. Throughout West Oakland, new development projects should

2 7th Street Concept and Urban Design Plan, Walter Hood, et al., October 2004, http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca/groups/ceda /documents/marketingmaterial/oak029112.pdf

West Oakland Specific Plan  5-13

Pedestrian Improvements all streets have continuous sidewalks conforming to ADA standards. Intent: Fully develop and improve West • Identify those gaps in the sidewalk Oakland’s pedestrian network. network that are high priority fixes for safety reasons. “Promote a pedestrian-friendly environment; • Promote use of the City’s ClickFix web- where public spaces, including streets and off- based program to identify specific areas street paths, will offer a level of convenience, of concern. safety and attractiveness to the pedestrian that • Continue to require property owners to will encourage and reward the choice to walk.” add sidewalks, ADA-accessible ramps at City of Oakland, Pedestrian Master Plan, 2002 intersections, and other streetscape Pedestrian-1: Promote street right-of-way improvements along the entire property design standards that make walking frontage at the time of new convenient and enjoyable. development, substantial additions, or rehabilitations. • Put shade trees in sidewalks, not • Consider the creation of a special medians, to benefit pedestrians. financing district to aid in the finance of • Slow down vehicular traffic with coordinated and complete sidewalks. narrower urban travel lanes (10’-10.5’), Pedestrian-5: Improve pedestrian safety at on-street parking and two-way streets. street crossings, particularly at locations Pedestrian-2: Promote land use and site design with high pedestrian activity. Design and that makes walking convenient and improvements that can enhance pedestrian enjoyable. safety include: • Discourage facilities that create blank • neighborhood-scaled street lighting at walls, unscreened edges along regular intervals, which promotes sidewalks, and gaps between sidewalks pedestrian safety and discourages and building entrances. criminal activity; • Locate parking lots, driveways and • enhancements at uncontrolled loading areas behind buildings, with crosswalks, including high-visibility access on side or rear streets where crosswalk markings on the street at un- feasible. signalized locations; and • Continue blight elimination and • making all walkways more accessible to nuisance abatement programs, and people with physical disabilities, install trash cans in heavily-used particularly with ADA-accessible ramps pedestrian areas, especially near local- at intersections. serving retail establishments. Pedestrian-6: Improve the following pedestrian Pedestrian -3: Encourage the development of connections between activity centers: pocket parks, plazas and infill development opportunities where the street pattern has • Improve existing connections across or created small, angular or otherwise under freeways to activity centers, in unbuildable parcels and large leftover particular on Mandela Parkway at I-580 paved areas. Explore opportunities for street and on West Grand Avenue at I-980, vacations in these areas to make larger sites using lighting, public art, way-finding suitable for development opportunities. signage acoustics, and other design features. Pedestrian-4: Maintain a complete sidewalk • Work with the City’s Safe Routes to network free of gaps by implementing the School project to improve pedestrian City’s Pedestrian Master Plan to ensure that safety around schools.

5-14  West Oakland Specific Plan

• Coordinate the location of new • Re-stripe to add Class 2 bike lanes on crosswalks with the location of bus stops Peralta Street. to ensure convenient and safe access to • Provide for implementation of bike lanes bus stops and that also maintain along 7th Street from MLK Jr. Way to pedestrian visibility of automobile Wood Street. This may occur as part of drivers. development of the West Oakland BART • Implement pedestrian improvements Station TOD and other development along transit corridors and at the West projects along 7th Street, or as part of a Oakland BART station to strengthen separate City project. connections to transit. • Prioritize funding to enable construction of a buffered Class 2 bike lane on 14th Bicycle Network Street from Wood Street to . • Prioritize implementation of bicycle Intent: Improve the network of bikeways connections to the existing bikeway on through West Oakland. 40th Street, as identified in the City’s Bicycle Master Plan. "Oakland will be a City where bicycling is fully Bicycle-2: Improve bicycle connections from integrated into daily life, providing transportation West Oakland to the surrounding regional and recreation that are both safe and bike and pedestrian network. convenient.” • Construct a safe bikeway on 7th Street to City of Oakland, Bicycle Master Plan (2007) Middle Harbor Shoreline Park as part of Oakland’s Bicycle Master Plan is the citywide, the larger-scale 7th Street Grade long-range policy that promotes bicycling as a Separation project. viable means of transportation and recreation. • Construct a safe bikeway within the West Adopted in 2007, the Plan reflects a detailed Grand Avenue corridor from West analysis of the proposed Bikeway Network. This Oakland to the new east span of the Bay analysis led to proposals for maximizing Bridge. bicyclist safety and access while minimizing • Study additional bike and pedestrian adverse effects on other roadway users. connections to and from other Bicycle-1: As indicated on the Bicycle Master prominent locations. Plan and in coordination with transit Bicycle-3: Make bicycle riding more safe, secure agencies, seek to implement the Class 2 and convenient. bicycle lanes indicated throughout West Oakland to provide a safer and more fully • Enhance bicyclist safety at the numerous connected bicycle network (see Figure railroad crossings in the area by 5.1.3). removing unused rail spurs or improving pavement quality, reducing the flange- • Provide new Class 2 bicycle lanes on way gap, removing abandoned tracks, West Grand Avenue between Market and installing warning signs to indicate Street and Mandela Parkway and on rough surfaces or skewed tracks where Adeline Street between 36th Street and needed. 3rd Street, by converting traffic travel lanes to bicycle lanes. • Encourage enforcement of truck prohibitions and traffic laws that protect • Seek implementation of the remaining bicyclists and pedestrians and make the elements of the bike and pedestrian streets safer for the surrounding improvements identified in the 2006 neighborhoods. Community-Based Transportation Plan.

West Oakland Specific Plan  5-15

• Encourage the expansion of private and but prohibit additional encroachment of non-profit bicycle programs to teach truck routes into West Oakland bicycle safety. neighborhoods. • Promote secure and conveniently • In the Mandela/West Grand Opportunity located bicycle parking at destinations. Area, maintain existing designated truck • Encourage secure bicycle storage at the routes specifically limited to West Grand West Oakland BART station, major Avenue and Peralta Street (north from employers, higher density multi-family West Grand Avenue to I-580). residential and commercial • In the 3rd Street and 7th Street developments, and community facilities. Opportunity Areas, maintain designated • Identify security and monitoring truck routes specifically limited to 3rd mechanisms for bicycle parking Street (from Adeline Street to Market including lighting, video cameras, call Street), 5th Street (east of Union Street), boxes, and security patrols. 7th Street (east of Union Street), Union Street (south of 7th Street), Adeline • Consider requiring parking maximums for cars and increasing the parking Street (south of 8th Street), and Market minimums for bicycles over that already Street (south of 5th Street). required under the City Planning Code as • In the San Pablo Avenue Opportunity part of transportation demand Area, maintain designated truck routes management (TDM) strategies for new specifically limited to West Grand development. Avenue. • In the San Pablo Avenue Opportunity Truck Traffic Area, maintain existing truck prohibitions on 30th Street (east of San Pablo Avenue). Intent: Reduce the adverse effects of freight- related truck traffic impacting West Oakland’s • In the Mandela/Grand Opportunity Area residential neighborhoods. and vicinity, maintain existing truck prohibitions on 12th Street, 13th Street, “Freight transport is a major source of unhealthy 14th Street (Mandela to Brush), 15th and pollution that disproportionately affects low- 16th Streets (between Willow and income citizens and communities of color Peralta), 18th Street (Mandela to Market), throughout our region. Partly due to their 24th, 26th, 28th and 30th (Peralta to proximity to polluting land uses, many of these Adeline), 32nd Street (Mandela to communities are burdened with the highest Adeline), Union and Magnolia health risk from toxic air contaminants in the Bay Streets(Grand to Peralta), Hannah, Helen Area. For many residents of these communities, and Louise Streets ( 34th to Peralta), and conflicts between residential and freight- Adeline (7th to Grand). transport related uses materialize in their daily • In the 3rd Street and 7th Street lives in the form of noise, traffic congestion, Opportunity Areas and vicinity, maintain pedestrian safety hazards, and worst yet, serious existing truck prohibitions on 3rd Street health problems like asthma, cancer and heart (between Peralta and Mandela), 5th disease.” Street (between Peralta and Mandela), “Ditching Dirty Diesel”, At a Crossroads in Our Goss Street, 8th Street (between Pine Region’s Health: Freight Transport and the and Mandela),Chase Street, 9th Street, Future of the Community Health in the San 10th Street, 11th Street, 12th Street, 13th Francisco Bay Area, Pacific Institute, Street, 15th and 16th Streets (between December 2011 Willow and Peralta), Center Street (from Truck Traffic-1: Maintain those truck routes 3rd to 5th ,and 7th to 17th), Chester necessary to serve Port of Oakland activities, Street, Henry and Lewis Streets (from 3rd

5-16  West Oakland Specific Plan

to 7th), Peralta (from 3rd to 16th), • Consider revisions to the Oakland Campbell (from 7th to 16th), Willow Municipal Code (OMC) that could better Street (from 7th to 13th), Wood Street enforce truck restrictions. Such revisions (7th to 12th), and Pine (Goss to 11th). may include: Truck Traffic-2: Relocate truck parking and • Update OMC Section 10.52.120, which services (including food and restrooms) stipulates those local roads included as from West Oakland neighborhoods to a part of the designated truck route, to consolidated site or sites in the Port/former match Port-published literature and the Oakland Army Base area. most currently designated truck routes. Truck Traffic-3: Implement a traffic calming • Expand OMC Section 10.52.050, which program in residential neighborhoods( that stipulates that truck traffic over 4 ½ tons could include vehicle lane reductions, speed is prohibited between the hours of 11 humps, neighborhood traffic circles, pm and 6 am, to pertain to all residential pedestrian crossing improvements, etc.), to areas of West Oakland. discourage truck traffic from entering the • Expand OMC Section 10.52.060, which area (see also Complete Street strategies, stipulates that truck traffic over 4 ½ tons above). is prohibited on certain roads, to apply to all residential areas of West Oakland. Truck Traffic-4: Enhance truck route enforcement and education to keep trucks Truck Traffic-5: Continue, expand and improve off of neighborhood streets. Truck route the Port’s diesel truck replacement program. enforcement and education efforts should • Encourage Port operations to provide include, but are not limited to the following: sufficient staff and funding to enable • Enforce truck parking laws by increasing more replacement and retrofit of diesel the number of parking monitors in the trucks. neighborhood. • Include community and industry input • Increase the number of Oakland Police on the program design and ongoing Department officers and Port security implementation. patrolling the neighborhood for truck • Collaborate with Port of Oakland efforts violations, fund extended hours of to conduct additional research on the enforcement, and fund a resident-based independent trucker market to help “monitor and enforce” program that will more effectively target and attract complement the work of regular police driver/owners. and security officers. • Create a central truck-sighting hot line, Parking so residents can report truck route violations; explore the use of a radio frequency identification device program Intent: Ensure an adequate supply of parking for trucks, with a published time line, to to attract and support desired development include tracking personnel to monitor and uses, while encouraging alternative deviations from approved truck route. travel modes and efficient use of parking supply. • Increase the number, and enhance the appearance, of posted signs that direct Parking-1: Provide parking consistent with the and prohibit truck parking and truck parking recommendations identified in the traffic on residential streets off of Land Use Element of the General Plan, and designated truck routes, and include as required by Zoning Code Chapter 17.116, posting of acceptable truck routes at but study the option of instituting places of business where truck operations are frequent.

West Oakland Specific Plan  5-17

maximum parking requirements/limits to • Provide ample lighting in and around encourage alternative travel modes. parking lots and structures to ensure safety. Ensure that these lights are “full • Allow the sharing of parking facilities cut-off” to prevent glare and over- among buildings with different peak lighting. demand times. Allow reduced parking requirements for buildings with • Encourage the installation of solar panels adequate parking spaces in shared on roof-decks of parking structures, both surface parking lots. as shading devices for vehicles and as a sustainable energy source. • Consider requiring dedicated Car Sharing spaces in larger residential and Parking-4: Consider implementation of a employment developments. residential parking permit program as and • Consider providing preferred parking for where needed to prevent commuters from alternative energy vehicles and charging parking in residential neighborhoods. stations for electric powered vehicles. Parking-5: Reduce the current emphasis of • Encourage parking garages for higher commuter-based parking only, at the West density developments. Oakland BART Station, and consider implementation of a Residential Parking • Retain on-street parking. District in the area surrounding the Station. Parking-2: Encourage a “park-once-and-walk” strategy on the edges of West Oakland that • With a more diverse land use program at encourages multiple destinations within an the West Oakland BART TOD, the area to be connected by pedestrian trips. amount of commuter-based parking provided should be reduced as the Parking-3: Ensure that all new development patrons will be commuting both to and provides for the mitigation of potential from the station (as opposed to simply adverse aesthetic impacts of parking. commuting from, as is now the case). • Ensure that any necessary surface • Balance the supply of parking provided parking, driveways and loading areas in in any new parking structure planned as new development is located at the rear part of the West Oakland BART TOD, of the building, or is screened by such that it does not lead to even more landscaping. in-commuting and traffic congestion. • Encourage podium parking in higher Parking- 6: Require that any new parking be intensity residential and non-residential associated with new development. Do not development to be “wrapped” with allow additional surface lots or stand-alone active uses along the primary façades. garages without a concomitant increase in • Design façades of parking structures to residences or employment that is linked to reduce adverse effects on the pedestrian that parking. environment where ground-floor uses are not possible, with “green screens”, landscaping, public art, lighting, semi- opaque windows, etc. Mitigate any required blank walls with plantings, murals, architectural articulation, faux façades, etc. • Reduce the bulk of parking structures by breaking up façades with articulated fronts, varying rooflines, architectural details and upper story step-backs.

5-18  West Oakland Specific Plan

5.2 – Enhancing Transit

The “last mile” refers to the provision of transit that directly (within ¼ mile) connect their service from home or workplace to the nearest homes to job opportunities in West Oakland. regional rail station. The availability This Plan identifies strategies that will lead to of last-mile transit service is one of the main better connections to the regional incentives to the use of public transit in urban transportation system (BART). One major areas. Too frequently, the default solution to the strategy is an enhanced transportation loop last mile is driving a private vehicle. (described herein as “the O”) that connects Adapted from “Approximating the Performance West Oakland to the most central BART stations of a “Last Mile” Transportation System, Hai in the system (the West Oakland, MacArthur, Wang and Amedeo Odoni, Massachusetts and 12th and 19th Street Downtown Oakland Institute of Technology stations), as well as to the major new The West Oakland BART station at 7th Street and employment center at the former Oakland Mandela Parkway is located at the major Army Base, the Broadway corridor in downtown intersection of the BART transit system, which Oakland, Emeryville, the Alta Bates/Summit and links and San Mateo counties to Kaiser Oakland medical centers (“Pill Hill”), and the east Bay. Because of its central location to Jack London Square (which is also served within the overall BART system, the West with both ferry and Amtrak service). Oakland BART station is perhaps the busiest station in the system in terms of number of cars EXISTING TRANSIT SERVICES per day. The West Oakland BART station is a major asset and a resource for successful BART – The Regional Transit System revitalization of the entire West Oakland The (BART) system is the community. The connection of West Oakland to heavy-rail public transit and subway system the regional transit system could hardly be that connects the city of Oakland with San better. Francisco and the cities in the East Bay and However, assuming a reasonable walking suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART distance of ¼ mile to the nearest transit operates five routes on 104 miles of line, with connection, the West Oakland BART station, by 44 stations in four counties. With an average of itself, provides immediate transit service to a 373,945 weekday passengers (as of January small percentage of West Oakland’s population 2013), BART is the fifth-busiest heavy rail rapid and employment base. Most BART riders rely transit system in the United States. on another form of transportation to and from The West Oakland BART station is located at the the station, and too frequently this form of intersection of direct rail transit that links the transportation is the private car. metropolitan areas of Alameda and Contra One of the keys to realizing the full Costa counties with San Francisco and San development potential for West Oakland is to Mateo counties. Because of its central location ensure that existing and new residents have full within the overall BART system, the West access to a safe, convenient and efficient transit Oakland station is perhaps the busiest station system that provides them with direct (within in the system in terms of number of cars per ¼ mile) routes to work and shop, without day and is a major asset and a resource for having to rely on their own vehicles for that first successful revitalization of the entire West leg of their journey. Reciprocally, that same Oakland community. The West Oakland BART system could provide existing and new station serves both local residents and riders employees the same full access to transit routes from throughout the region with its excellent

West Oakland Specific Plan  5-19

freeway access and short ride to downtown San grid of north-south and east-west routes Francisco. Much of BART’s ridership at the West approximately ½ mile apart. North-south Oakland station is either passing through on its routes include Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, way from one place to another, or has arrived San Pablo Avenue, and Market, Adeline and via automobile from other locations and has Peralta Streets. East-west routes include 7th parked near the station because of its Street, 10th Street, 14th Street, and West Grand convenience. Ave. Almost every home and business in West Oakland is within ½ mile or less of an AC Transit The West Oakland BART station and the bus stop. The routes operate from at least 6 elevated tracks are shown in Figure 5.2.1. a.m. to 10 p.m., and some routes operate longer Frequent weekday service is provided from 4:00 hours. Frequency of service ranges from every AM to 1:00 AM, and Saturday and Sunday 6.5 minutes to every 30 minutes. Every bus service is provided from 6:00 AM to 1:00 AM, goes to at least one BART station. However, no and 8:00 AM to 1:00 AM, respectively. Trains bus line currently provides transit connections also arrive frequently, with a typical headway of between West Oakland and the Oakland Army 15 minutes on weekdays and 20 minutes on Base immediately across the I-880/I-980 Saturday and Sundays. freeway. AC Transit – The Current Transit Link Currently, all of the bus routes serving West Oakland operate below available bus capacity. AC Transit provides an extensive network of Few of the bus routes serving West Oakland are fixed-route bus services throughout Alameda crowded, with most routes carrying passenger and Contra Costa counties, including routes loads of between 50 to 80% of capacity. throughout West Oakland (see Figure 5.2.2). The AC Transit bus lines in West Oakland form a

Fig. 5.2.1: West Oakland BART Station

5-20  West Oakland Specific Plan Fig. 5.2.2: Existing AC Transit Route Map 5

Emeryville CIRCULATION MacArthur Station B E NX Hollis Street NX1 Interstate 580 NX2 NXC Bay Bridge NX3 NX4 Bay Bridge/Interstate 80 San Pablo Avenue P V 32nd Street 802

88

28th Street 26 18 Former Oakland 31 Army Base NL

72

West Grand Avenue 72M Interstate 980 Adeline Street 16th Street Interstate 880 72R Station Market Street

Martin Luther King Jr. Way

26 NL 800 314 88 26 Pine St 14th Street 31

19th Street Station 800

Main Peralta Street 31 Mandela Parkway 0 Post Office 26 314 West Oakland 800 62 Station 0X 7th Street Downtown Oakland S 12th Street SB 26 Station 31 W 3rd Street 62 Port of Oakland

Interstate 880

1000 2000 4000

FEET N Legend AC Transit Planning Area Commute-Hour Service 00 All Nighter 00 Dashed Route (lower service) Daytime 00 Other Operating Hours 00 BART Day & Evening 00 Transbay Service XX X

WEST OAKLAND SPECIFIC PLAN

THE PLAN’S TRANSIT-BASED LAND USE Improving access to jobs with enhanced transit DEVELOPMENT PATTERN is especially important to lower- income households who spend a greater proportion of their income on housing and transportation West Oakland BART Station Transit- and often have to travel long distances to find Oriented Development, or TOD good-paying jobs and training. One of the West Oakland Specific Plan’s more The immediate presence of the Port of Oakland important land use concepts is the realization as a major regional economic force has resulted of a major new Transit Oriented Development in a long-established clustering of Port-related (TOD) project next to the West Oakland BART businesses throughout West Oakland. The Station (see Chapter of this Plan for more Oakland Global Trade and Logistics Center details). A West Oakland BART Station TOD has under development at the former Oakland long been a component of the City’s General Army Base will further increase potential for Plan, and the city’s current S-15 Transit- expanded Port-adjacent business growth and Oriented Development zoning for the blocks development in West Oakland’s business and surrounding the West Oakland BART station industrial areas, especially in the 3rd Street and already encourages concentrated development Mandela/West Grand Opportunity Areas, and with pedestrian amenities near the transit will increase the transit demands between the station. Center and its employees. Implementation of the West Oakland BART Station TOD is recommended as a means of Greater Connections to Major Jobs enhancing and increasing regional transit Centers ridership by making regional transit a more likely and assessable transportation choice, as This Specific Plan is not only focused on Transit- well as a revitalizing development opportunity Oriented Development as a land use strategy, within West Oakland. The acres of surface but also considers transit as a means of parking lots which sit adjacent to the West attracting, retaining and growing more Oakland BART station are envisioned to be commercial and office businesses and jobs. replaced with new high density housing, office and various commercial uses, converting this The Oakland Global Trade and Logistics Center area from a commuter’s temporary parking lot will transform the former Oakland Army Base to a fully viable destination. into a world-class intermodal trade and logistics center of national significance. New development at the former Army base is Land Use Patterns Enhanced by Transit planned to include construction of a new rail The land use strategy inherent in this Specific terminal, restoration of the deep water break- Plan encourages new development along bulk terminal, construction of new trade and corridors served by expanded transit service, logistics facilities for warehousing directly including Mandela Parkway, West Grand within the Port area, relocation of export- Avenue, 7th Street, and San Pablo Avenue. oriented recycling operations and trucking These corridors are identified as locations operations from impacted neighborhoods, and where new and enhanced employment and improvements to the infrastructure of the housing growth can be effectively and former Base. Proposed actions include roadway efficiently served by expanded transit service. improvements to Maritime Street and Burma Road. Construction and operation of the former With a more compact and corridor-based land Army Base reuse project is expected to support use plan that places jobs along transit routes current jobs and create new construction and that serve the local community, households permanent jobs. Many West Oakland residents have increased employment opportunities live immediately adjacent to this major job close to home, with more than one center, but do not have convenient transportation option connecting the two. transportation and transit links connecting

5-22  West Oakland Specific Plan

them to the Oakland Global Trade and Logistics The critical element that is currently under- Center at the former Army Base. provided in West Oakland is a local-serving transit system that directly connects and unites Other major centers of employment that are each of these other elements. within the immediate circle of West Oakland, but not well connected to West Oakland This Plan recommends the creation of a new include downtown Oakland, the jobs and enhanced transit “loop” that interconnects shopping in Emeryville, and the other regional West Oakland to the most central BART stations transportations links at Jack London Square. in the system (the West Oakland, MacArthur, Bus service is the only form of public transit in and 12th and 19th Street stations), as well as to West Oakland besides BART along 7th Street. the Broadway corridor in downtown Oakland, Jack London Square (which is also served by Enhanced Transit – the “O” both ferry and Amtrak service), the Alta Bates/Summit and Kaiser Oakland medical Many of the elements needed for a successful, centers (“Pill Hill”), and Emeryville. This fully served transit-based community are enhanced local transit service is envisioned as a currently present in West Oakland: loop, or circle with the following route: • Four BART stations are located within a • Beginning at the West Oakland BART maximum 2-mile radius, providing the Plan Station, the transit loop would travel up Area with excellent access to the regional Mandela Parkway with frequent stops at transit system; major employment centers along the way; • AC Transit bus service provides local • At upper Mandela Parkway, the transit loop connections from the BART stations to most would connect to the Emeryville transit West Oakland destinations, and service from service and to major Emeryville residential areas in West Oakland to the employment and retail/entertainment BART stations; centers (e.g., Pixar, Bay Street, etc.); • Emeryville’s Emery-Go-Round shuttle • From Emeryville, the loop would travel system provides near-by transit service to eastward to connect with the MacArthur and from a major regional shopping and BART station and continue to Broadway and entertainment district; the regional medical centers at “Pill Hill”; • Downtown Oakland’s jobs, services and • At Broadway, the loop would travel south retail/entertainment uses are immediately connecting to the 19th Street and 12th adjacent to West Oakland, though divided Street/City Center BART stations and by the intervening I-980 freeway. downtown Oakland; continuing south to • The area surrounding Mandela Parkway is a Jack London Square at 3rd Street; significant job-based corridor, with • At 3rd Street the loop would turn back to additional employment-based land uses the west, connecting through the 3rd Street planned for the future; Opportunity Area, under the I-880 freeway, • The Oakland Global Trade and Logistics and back to the West Oakland BART station. Center at the former Oakland Army Base will • A separate but coupled transit loop could be a major new employment center within a be added over time to utilize West Grand short distance of most of West Oakland’s Avenue, Broadway, 14th Street and Pine employee base, though divided by the Street to interconnect the 16th Street Train intervening I-880 freeway; Station area, the Mandela/Grand • San Pablo Avenue and 7th Street are mixed- Opportunity Area and downtown Oakland. use corridors, with plans for new In addition this loop could also be added commercial development to enhance nodes over time to utilize Mandela Parkway, 7th of neighborhood-serving focal points. Street, Maritime Street and West Grand

West Oakland Specific Plan  5-23

Avenue to better connect West Oakland to indicated in the text boxes on Figure 5.2.3, both development at the former Army Base. household and employment growth has already been sustained at important activity This enhanced transit service would operate as nodes along the proposed transit loop between a continuous or semi-continuous loop around 2000 and 2005; additional growth can be and through major West Oakland and anticipated in the future as improvements are surrounding destinations (see Figure 5.2.3 and made to the Plan Area. Figure 5.2.4) and is dubbed the “O” to specifically indicate this circular intention. As

Fig. 5.2.: Proposed Transit Enhancements

5-24  West Oakland Specific Plan Fig. 5.2.: Proposed Transit Enhancement - Initial Transit Loop Development Nodes 5 CIRCULATION

West Oakland Station West Oakland Station

WEST OAKLAND SPECIFIC PLAN

STRATEGIES FOR TRANSIT LINKAGES • Another emerging alternative is the “on demand” transit service, usually provided by The West Oakland BART Station TOD and the rubber tire shuttles. These shuttle systems increase in clustered, corridor-based can even enable smart-phone and GIS- employment centers are complementary based requests for transit service to be strategies of this Plan that need to be linked quickly responded to on an individual basis, together to achieve maximum mutual benefits. while remaining idle or at low service during By coordinating new development around less busy times of the day. both regional transit and local transit links, Additional work, substantial community input both existing and new West Oakland residents and detailed cost/benefit analyses should be will have greater opportunities to work and undertaken before determining the ultimate shop in the same neighborhoods where they enhance local transit system that is the best live. The benefits include minimizing the time choice for West Oakland. However, this Plan and costs of commuting, fostering the creation offers the following broad intentions for transit, of new local jobs and a thriving local economy, including strategies and processes whereby the and helping to fuel the local housing market. details of a local transit system serving West Connecting TODs to job centers can reduce car Oakland can evolve. These recommendations and truck traffic, air pollution and greenhouse also include specific enhancements to the gas emissions, and facilitate a desired land use existing system that can be implemented in the mix that takes full advantage of locational interim. efficiencies. These recommendations for enhanced transit Enhancements to Existing Transit System services would provide better connections to, from, and within West Oakland, and explore the Intent: Seek and identify funding sources to best specific transit mode that can accomplish significantly enhance existing transit service that objective: between the West Oakland BART station, the • Fixed-route systems such as light rail and Oakland Army Base and Emeryville. streetcars offer the advantages of certainty. Travelers know where the routes are located Existing Transit Enhance-1: Seek and identify due to the tracks. In addition, the long-term funding mechanisms to increase the investment in fixed-route systems inspires frequency of AC Transit bus service and confidence among the development make other transit improvements in and community that transit-based development through West Oakland. is a solid bet because the system is permanent. Light rail and street cars have • As recommended in the 2006 West the additional advantages of non-exhaust Oakland Community-Based fumes, and are generally quieter and Transportation Plan, work with AC smoother. Research shows that public Transit to create an expanded senior transit ridership generally increases when shuttle service and BART access evening light rail and streetcars are installed. shuttle • Work with AC Transit to expand bus • Another option is enhanced bus service which allows flexibility of routes, is less service schedules, especially at night and costly, and responds to fluctuating transit on weekends (evening/weekend demands. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems services, longer service hours, greater are newer transit-planning strategies frequencies, bus stop amenities, etc.). generally offering higher speeds, better • Work with AC Transit to expand AC reliability and improved passenger comfort Transit bus service routes to better serve as compared to standard bus systems, but key destinations such as the Oakland at lower costs than most fixed-rail systems. Army Base, West Oakland job centers,

5-26  West Oakland Specific Plan

Emeryville, Jack London Square and Existing Transit Enhance-3: Improve West downtown Oakland. Oakland BART station access and public • Work with AC Transit to insure that bus safety at night time with an on-demand (by service increases as development occurs phone) door-to-door bus/van service to and and transit demand increases. from BART in the evenings and at night, and with improved night time lighting in the • Provide optimal bus stop locations parking lots and station vicinity. Safety throughout West Oakland. Bus stops could also be enhanced by instituting Crime should be located so as to maintain a Prevention Through Environmental Design minimum of 1,000 feet between transit (CEPTED) strategies introduced in Chapter 7: stops, should be located on the far-side ‘Obstacles to Community & Economic of intersections, and should be designed Development’, with particular emphasis on in a manner that permits vehicles to pass ensuring clear lines of sight and visual during loading and unloading (i.e., with connections, and well-lit pedestrian turn-outs). connections to parking areas. • Enhance bus stops with appropriate new amenities (e.g., shelters, benches, Existing Transit Enhance-4: Coordinate with AC lighting, real-time passenger Transit and the City of Emeryville (which information, and security apparatus) to received a grant) to study and consider improve the comfort and safety of transit expanded shuttle/transit service in West riders. Oakland, similar to the Emery-Go-Round. • Limit the use of private shuttles along AC Existing Transit Enhance-5: As recommended Transit routes, as these shuttles diminish in the 2006 West Oakland Community- the viability of the AC Transit network. Based Transportation Plan, work with BART Where a shuttle is proposed, first work to complete a BART noise study focused on with AC Transit to determine if service the West Oakland BART station area; and changes are possible and apply any develop an agreement with BART for developer fees that would support a regularly scheduled rail grinding in the West shuttle to AC Transit service. Oakland area. Existing Transit Enhance-2: Undertake the Local Enhanced Transit System (the “O”) following station capacity improvements at the West Oakland BART Station to ensure public safety and to meet BART's Intent: Develop a high quality West Oakland performance standards. transit system for all residents, employees and visitors traveling to, from, and within • Work with BART to assess whether the West Oakland station needs to have West Oakland. wider train platforms (for both the lower and upper platforms), Enhanced Local Transit-1: An enhanced system should provide fast, frequent, safe and • Work with BART to assess whether reliable transit service in pleasant and additional vertical circulation (stairways, aesthetically pleasing vehicles and facilities. escalators and elevators) should be provided, including adding pedestrian Enhanced Local Transit-2: The local transit access to the station platform at the system should be composed of a network of north and south ends of the West circular routes seamlessly interconnecting Oakland station. West Oakland to nearby neighborhoods, job destinations, and to other city and regional • Work with BART to assess the needs for additional fare gates, and potentially transit systems. additional platform screen doors.

West Oakland Specific Plan  5-27

Enhanced Local Transit-3: The system should be • The appropriate and cost effective ways designed to support West Oakland land that stops, stations and vehicles of the uses. transit linkage system should reflect the history and character of West Oakland; Enhanced Local Transit -4: The enhanced transit and system may use one or more of the many potentially appropriate transit modes, • Economic analysis of the value (both including but not limited to local buses, absolute and relative to other types of rapid buses, express buses, streetcars, light public services and capital rail, and additional modes. improvements) of improvements to bus and rail service, with an emphasis on Enhanced Local Transit-5: To develop a fully experience in cities which share complete and enhanced local transit service, common characteristics with Oakland. the City of Oakland, in conjunction with AC Transit, BART, Caltrans, Emeryville, and the Future Transit Link-3: Whichever transit modes Port of Oakland, should undertake a West are ultimately selected, improve community Oakland Transit Needs Study. The Study identity by “branding” the transit service as should consider the transit needs of West an identifiable and known community Oakland at intermediate stages of service similar to Emery-Go-Round and development, identifying technical Broadway “Free B”. (i.e., “The O”). requirements, costs and funding sources. The study will engage a cross-section of the Enhanced Transit Coordination with the West Oakland community in evaluating the proposed BART TOD Project options. A specific outreach program will be tailored to the business community that may be asked to financially support for the Intent: Coordinate BART TOD development system. The Transit Needs Study could also with local transit improvements. include evaluation of noise issues associated with transit, but should also formulate BART TOD Coordination-1: Ensure that the technically sound analyses and findings on design of any new BART TOD development at least the following topics: incorporates and facilitates multi-modal linkages and access that include: • Transit routes which would best serve the evolving needs of West Oakland • Oakland ‘O’ connections residents and businesses; • Bicycle access and associated secure • Appropriate service characteristics (such bicycle parking as frequency and hours of operation)-for • Pedestrian-oriented design, including the West Oakland transit network; streetscape and way finding signage • The level of transit capacity required on • Bus bays various routes at various levels of land • ‘Kiss and Ride’ drop off areas use development; • Future linkages to the Capital Corridor • The need for capital improvements and project roadway changes (such as reserving • Safe connections to parking resources rights-of way for dedicated transit lanes); • The probable levels of funding required, considering varying alternatives for both transit operating costs and capital improvements; • Potential sources of operating and capital improvements for transit service above current levels;

5-28  West Oakland Specific Plan

Transit and Mobility who either cannot afford vehicle purchase/maintenance or who do not need a full-time vehicle to improve their mobility Intent: Increase mobility for all West Oakland for grocery shopping and other auto- residents and employees, including for dependent tasks. seniors, persons with disabilities, youth, children, and low-income individuals and groups.

Transit Mobility-1: Actively engage and partner with technology firms and transportation industry providers that are at the leading edge in development and advancement of Demand Response Transit (i.e., computerized dispatch of GPS-equipped transit stock, connected via digital devise applications which can hail roving shuttles to the exact location of the customer, at the time needed, and even transacting the cost of the ride electronically). Such systems could potentially enable increased mobility and economic development in neighborhoods where fixed transit is inconvenient, inconsistent or too costly to operate per ride. Demand Response Transit may also increase passenger safety by reducing waiting time and selecting direct destinations. Transit Mobility-2: Improve medical service access by working with the Alameda County Transportation Commission and City of Oakland pilot medical service return taxi voucher program to expand services for seniors in West Oakland. Transit Mobility-3: Work to expand the current City of Oakland/Bay Area Community Services Senior Shuttle, which takes seniors from large residence facilities to shopping and other destinations outside West Oakland, by providing the same service to seniors in single-family homes and smaller buildings. Trips on the shuttle for medical appointments can be linked with the medical service access return taxi voucher program. Transit Mobility-4: Investigate funding availability to be used for subsidizing car sharing to remove prohibitive cost barriers and extend car sharing to low-income individuals and groups in West Oakland

West Oakland Specific Plan  5-29