Title
Review Complete Streets Checklist for Fernside Traffic Calming and Bikeways Project (Discussion)
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Transportation Commission
From: Lisa Foster, Secretary to the Transportation Commission
Abby Thorne-Lyman, Interim Planning, Building, and Transportation Director
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City staff is developing a grant application to complete final design (Plans, Specifications & Estimates, or PS&E) for the Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming and Bikeways project long-term design concept. City Council approved this design concept in March 2025, including a two-way separated bikeway, crosswalk safety enhancements, bus stop upgrades, accessibility improvements, and corridor traffic calming between Tilden Way and San Jose Avenue.
The City will apply for $3.5 million from the regional Safe Routes to Transit and Bay Trail program, which is administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and funded by Regional Measure 3 (RM3) bridge toll funds. MTC requires that a transportation-related City commission or committee review a draft Complete Streets Checklist, which is part of the application. Staff recommend that the Transportation Commission review and provide input on the Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming and Bikeways project draft checklist.
BACKGROUND
On March 18, 2025, City Council approved near-term and long-term concept plans for the Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming and Bikeways project. The near-term plan will be implemented this fall with the Phase 44 Pavement Program and includes buffered bike lanes, traffic calming, and crosswalk enhancements between Tilden Way and High Street.
In November 2025, City Council approved quick-build traffic calming for the Gibbons Drive/Fernside Boulevard area and provided direction on phasing for the long-term Fernside Boulevard project related to the Gibbons Drive/High Street/Fernside Boulevard intersection. Per City Council direction, near-term, quick-build traffic calming will be constructed in the Gibbons Drive area in 2026 and 2027. After these improvements are installed, staff will collect data and return to the Transportation Commission and City Council with future traffic calming measures for the area, including concepts for the Gibbons Drive/High Street/Fernside Boulevard intersection. More information is at <https://www.alamedaca.gov/GibbonsFernsideHigh>.
The grant application timeline allows this evaluation and analysis to be completed ahead of final design for the long-term Fernside Boulevard project.
DISCUSSION
The City is applying for Cycle 2 of the Safe Routes to Transit and Bay Trail grant program, to fund preliminary engineering and final design for the long-term Fernside Boulevard design concept. This regional grant program, administered by MTC, requires all projects with a total project cost of $250,000 or more applying for regional discretionary transportation funding or requesting endorsement from MTC to comply with their Complete Streets Policy, and to show this compliance by submitting a Complete Streets Checklist. One requirement of the policy is that the project be reviewed by a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Per its bylaws, the Transportation Commission serves as the City of Alameda’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
The Transportation Commission is requested to review the Checklist (Exhibit 1) and provide any comments on it, which will be added to the final Checklist.
The project will complete final design for the Council-approved long-term concept plan for Fernside Boulevard (Exhibit 2), which includes:
• Two-Way Separated Bikeway: Creates low-stress, two-way separated bikeway connecting to the Cross Alameda Trail and the Bay Farm Bicycle Bridge. This bikeway closes a key gap in the local and regional active transportation networks, including a Bay Trail gap.
• Corridor traffic calming: To improve safety for all modes, narrower travel lanes, new median islands, and curb extensions will reduce corridor speeds.
• Pedestrian safety enhancements: Shortens crossing distance with new median islands and curb extensions and adds new marked crosswalks and flashing beacons.
• Transit: Upgrades existing bus stops with bus boarding islands (bikeway side) and bus bulbs (non-bikeway side), accessibility improvements, and stop amenities.
• Accessibility: Upgrades all non-compliant curb ramps and constructs a new accessible passenger loading zone at the Marina Garden Nursing Center.
The grant proposal is for programming in fiscal year 27/28, with preliminary engineering planned for 2028 and detailed design starting in 2029.
Staff selected this schedule to align with City Council direction from November 2025. Beginning design in 2028 allows time for evaluation of new quick-build traffic calming features in the area after they have been in place for several months. The proposed scope of work will include additional outreach on the ultimate intersection design for Fernside/Gibbons/High, as directed by City Council. Staff will pursue construction funding when preliminary engineering (35% design) is complete, with updated construction cost estimates.
The Transportation Commission is requested to review and provide input on the draft Complete Streets Checklist for the Safe Routes to Transit and Bay Trail grant application.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The grant request for preliminary engineering and final design will be $3.5 million, the full cost of the design phase. There is no required matching fund.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The City Council Strategic Plan (2023) TIE 10 calls for the City to “Plan, Design, and Construct a backbone low-stress bicycle network, pedestrian safety, and traffic calming projects.”
The Active Transportation Plan (2022) includes Fernside Boulevard as Project 23 in the 2030 Infrastructure Plan, to be completed by 2030. It is identified as a multi-pronged project affecting pedestrians, bicyclists, trails (the San Francisco Bay Trail), and the 2030 Low-Stress Backbone Network. The 2030 Low-Stress Backbone Network also includes Neighborhood Greenway crossings across Fernside Blvd at Versailles Ave, Garfield Ave, and San Jose Ave.
The Vision Zero Action Plan (2021) calls for prioritizing investment on High Injury Corridors and identifies Fernside Boulevard as a Tier 3 all-modes High Injury Corridor and a Tiers 2 and 3 Bicyclist High Injury Corridor. (Tier 1 has the highest density and severity of crashes of the three tiers. Only 20% of Alameda’s streets are identified as a High Injury Corridor of any tier.)
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City Council previously found the project is categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) Existing Facilities (Minor alterations to existing facilities including bicycle facilities) and Section 15304(h) (Minor Alterations to Land and the creation of bicycle lanes on existing public rights of way).
CLIMATE IMPACT
Making the street more comfortable for pedestrians and bicyclists will encourage more people to walk and bike for transportation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
RECOMMENDATION
Review and provide input on the draft Complete Streets Checklist for the Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming and Bikeways project.
Respectfully submitted,
Susie Hufstader, Senior Transportation Coordinator
Exhibits:
1. Draft Complete Streets Checklist
2. Long-Term Design Concept
cc: Scott Wikstrom, City Engineer/Deputy Public Works Director