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STAFF COMMUNICATIONS (DISCUSSION)
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A. TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION UPDATES
2025 City Council actions on items reviewed by the Transportation Commission:
• May 5 and 13: Held budget workshop to provide direction on Fiscal Year 2025-2027 budget proposals
• May 6: Authorized replacing the Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway Bus Lanes Project with three transit-focused multimodal projects as the Named Measure BB Bus Project in the 2014 Alameda County Transportation Commission Transportation Expenditure Plan
• April 15: Approved Stargell Complete Streets Corridor design concept and accepted funding
• April 1: Accepted the Transportation 2024 Annual Report & 2025 Work Plan; Adopted the 2025 Climate Action & Resiliency Plan Mid-Cycle Update
• March 18: Approved Fernside Blvd Traffic Calming & Bikeways concepts with direction regarding for the Fernside/High/Gibbons intersection
• February 4: Approved the $16M Safe Streets for All Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Agreement for the Lincoln Ave/Marshall Way/Pacific Ave Project. Staff noted that this funding is in jeopardy under the current presidential administration.
Note: these are brief, descriptive highlights. See meeting agendas, videos, and minutes for the full details and record of City Council decisions: <https://alameda.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx>
Upcoming Transportation Commission meetings:
• August 27
• September 24
• November 19
Potential Transportation Commission agenda topics for upcoming meetings:
• None noted
B. PUBLIC EVENTS
May 31 Urban Cycling Workshop at the Main Library
<https://www.alamedafree.org/Events-directory/Urban-Cycling-Workshop-with-Bike-East-Bay-May-2025>
June 6 Transportation 101 & Clipper Cards for Seniors
<https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/alamedarecreation/activity/search?activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=transportation&viewMode=list>
C. UPDATES
Oakland-Alameda Water Shuttle
This July, the water shuttle team is planning to add a sixth day of service on Tuesdays, along with other service expansions. In April, the Water Shuttle had its busiest month since August, carrying 9,600 passengers and 2,122 bicycles. Since launching on July 17, 2024, the Water Shuttle has served over 83,000 passengers, with an average daily ridership of 413.
<http://www.watershuttle.org/>
Successful Bike Month
The City hosted the well-attended Alameda Bike Festival on April 26 at Paden Elementary School with support from multiple partners. Activities included free bike repairs, helmet giveaways and decoration, bike rodeos, bike riding and safety classes, and more.
Bike to School Day and Bike to Wherever Day were on May 15 and included school events, energizer stations, and a festive after-party hosted by the Alameda Transportation Management Association.
Transportation Funding
On May 22, the Alameda County Transportation Commission will consider approving their 2026 Comprehensive Investment Plan with funding four City projects:
• Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle Operations - additional two years of service ($730,000)
• Neighborhood Greenway Crossings ($2,000,000)
• Willie Stargell Complete Street Corridor ($800,000)
• Doolittle Drive/State Route 61 & Bay Farm Island FEMA BRIC Match ($937,000). Note: FEMA recently ended the BRIC program but the City is still advancing this project to protect the community from flood hazards.
Central Ave Safety Improvements
Phase 1 is under construction and is expected to be paved by July. Phase 1 includes the north side of roundabouts at 3rd and 4th Streets, and the cycle-track on the south side from Encinal High School to 8th Street.
Phase 2 is expected to start in July and be paved by September. Phase 2 includes the south side of roundabouts at 3rd and 4th. Phase 3 is expected to start in September, including the roundabout at Pacific/Main.
Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway (RAMP) Signal Improvements
Although this project was substantially completed in 2024, Public Works continues to upgrade and refine these signals. New bicycle detection indicators were installed at the Main Street, Webster Street, and Wilma Chan Way intersections to let bicyclists know the bike signal will turn green. Additionally, a new protected left turn phase was added to the westbound Atlantic Approach to Wilma Chan Way, improving efficiency and allowing for a longer green right turn arrow for eastbound Atlantic traffic turning right onto Wilma Chan Way - a source of frustration for drivers when bike phase was first implemented.
Grand Street Safety Improvements
Construction commenced on Phase 1 from Shoreline Avenue to Otis Drive. The project includes a two-way bikeway on Grand Street, pavement rehabilitation, curb ramps, on-street parking, a mid-block crosswalk near Wood School with flashing beacons and pedestrian refuge island, bus stop improvements, and restriping for existing automobile travel lanes.
Neighborhood Greenways
The Pacific Ave Neighborhood Greenway broke ground on April 18 when new all-way stop signs, high visibility crosswalks, and daylighting were installed at the intersections with Willow St and Walnut St. The second phase of construction, for Pacific Ave from Lafayette to Oak, is expected in late summer.
The April 19 San Jose Ave and Versailles Ave Pop-ups were successful with over 160 people in attendance. Many comments were gathered in person and over 145 people provided comments in the weeks following the event.
<http://www.alamedaca.gov/NeighborhoodGreenways>
Fernside Blvd/High St/Gibbons Dr Planning
The traffic study for this intersection is underway, with public outreach planned for late summer/early fall.
Paid Parking & Increased Security at Ferry Terminals
The new security guard started work at Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal on May 19, with paid parking slated to begin this summer when a mobile payment option is in place. Paid parking aims to make parking spaces available for people arriving for later ferries, and it will offset security costs. It will be Tu/We/Th only at $3/day, with options to pay via app, text, or pay station.
On May 19, the City published a press release and social media announcing the new security and upcoming paid parking. A broader communications plan is planned when the date is set.
<http://www.alamedaca.gov/ferryparking>
Oakland Alameda Access Project (Alameda County Transportation Commission project)
In April and May, the Alameda County Transportation Commission held a series of public open house informational events, including two in Alameda as well as one virtual workshop. Construction, which will be led by Caltrans, is anticipated to begin in the fall. Project information:
<https://www.alamedactc.org/programs-projects/highway-improvement/oakland-alameda-access-project>
Join the OAAP mailing list:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSddQxwNajxRWHdArPfyKgSLw4ETpjsq9gwhStPSf30mBRyl1Q/viewform
D. LOCAL RESOURCES
Subscribe to transportation mailing lists: <https://www.alamedaca.gov/subscribe>
View City meeting agendas, videos, and minutes: <https://alameda.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx>
Alameda transportation, traffic safety, and parking webpages: <https://www.alamedaca.gov/transportationlinks>
Alameda SeeClickFix - City of Alameda platform for service requests and reporting street safety concerns: <https://www.alamedaca.gov/reportaproblem>
Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools: <https://www.alamedacountysr2s.org>
E. TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES
Get Around Alameda: <https://www.alamedaca.gov/getaround>
SF Bay Ferry BayAlerts: <https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/bayalerts>
Bay Area Transit Agencies & Service Information: <https://www.allaboardbayarea.com/info/>
Clipper (adults): <https://www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/get.html>
Clipper discounts for youth, seniors and people with disabilities: clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/discounts.html <https://www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/discounts.html>
Clipper START program - discounts for low-income adults: <http://www.clipperstartcard.com/s/>
FasTrak or toll tag for I-880 Express Lanes: bayareafastrak.org/en/signup/signUp.shtml <https://www.bayareafastrak.org/en/signup/signUp.shtml>
F. EMERGENCY RESOURCES
Subscribe to Alameda Emergency Alerts: www.acgov.org/emergencysite/ <http://www.acgov.org/emergencysite/>
Subscribe to Regional Emergency Transportation Alerts: 511.org/alerts/emergencies/511Alert <https://511.org/alerts/emergencies/511Alert>
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Trainings: alamedaca.gov/Departments/Fire-Department/Alameda-CERT <http://www.alamedaca.gov/Departments/Fire-Department/Alameda-CERT>