Title
Recommendation to Authorize the Public Works Director to Install Improvements to the Lincoln Avenue and Walnut Street Intersection, Prohibiting Through and Left-Turn Movements from Walnut Street.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this action is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities). (Public Works 310)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Adam W. Politzer, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends a pilot project to construct quick-build improvements at the Lincoln Avenue and Walnut Street Intersection which will prohibit through and left turn vehicular movements from Walnut Street with a diverter island, forcing right turns at Lincoln Avenue. The goal of the improvements will be to reduce the high number of broadside collisions that have occurred at this intersection, which is identified as a high collision intersection in the Vision Zero Action Plan. After extensive outreach with the neighbors near the intersection, the proposed improvements were presented to the Transportation Commission (Commission) on January 18, 2026 and the Commission endorsed the project and recommended it to City Council.
The pilot project, if approved, is planned to return to the Commission six months after construction to review traffic and collision data. The pilot project could be made permanent as part of the larger Lincoln-Marshall-Pacific project.
BACKGROUND
Lincoln Avenue is a primary east-west arterial within Alameda with convenient access from the main island to the Park Street bridge and the Miller-Sweeney bridge on Tilden Way. Most of the primary intersections on Lincoln Avenue are controlled with traffic signals including the adjacent intersections of Lincoln/Willow, Lincoln/Oak, Lincoln/Park, and several others along the corridor.
The intersection at Walnut Street is the first non-signalized intersection...
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