Oakland's International Boulevard is gearing up for a significant safety overhaul as the city teams up with AC Transit to implement a raft of new measures to improve transit and reduce traffic mishaps. The partnership, which includes an initial $400,000 Quick Strike grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and an additional $1.8 million from the city, is set to extend from 14th to 107th Avenues, according to an announcement by the City of Oakland.
In their concerted effort, the City and AC Transit have focused on quick-build safety enhancements that promise to substantially streamline the commute. As stated in the announcement, "Since 2020, Line 1T-Tempo Bus Rapid Transit has transformed a near gridlock commute of two hours to a mere 50 minutes between Uptown Oakland and San Leandro,” Michael Hursh, AC Transit's CEO and General Manager proudly exclaimed. The new features include yellow and white vertical posts at intervals along the corridor, road signage to assert the bus-only lane's dominance, and concrete speed cushions that permit buses and emergency vehicles while impeding cars.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has thrown her support behind the project, lauding the ongoing partnership with local businesses and community-serving entities to create a corridor that's both bustling and secure. "We have delivered more police patrols and safety ambassadors, and now we’ll be identifying initial locations for this speed cushion pilot," Mayor Thao stated on the City of Oakland website.
Collaboration is key to deploying these initiatives effectively. OakDOT, OFD, and AC Transit are joining forces to optimally place these pilot speed cushions, which work like speed bumps but are designed to be bus- and emergency-vehicle-friendly. This push compliments the Oakland Police Department's efforts, in association with the California Highway Patrol, to provide swifter responses to incidents along the vibrant stretch. Oakland City Administrator Justin Johnson underscored the commitment to public safety. Construction is slated for late spring, with a completion target of the end of summer 2024.
Residents and businesses along International Boulevard can expect to see the culmination of these efforts, covering 75 percent of the corridor by summer's end. Oakland and AC Transit are planning to monitor the impact closely after implementing these enhancements. Feedback and reports of damage can be addressed to OAK311 via various communication channels, ensuring that the community stays engaged in the process.
For those seeking further details on the upcoming changes or looking to provide input, direct engagement is encouraged through the channels established by AC Transit and OakDOT. Inquiries related to the Quick Build project can be directed to AC Transit at [email protected], while OakDOT handles its media inquiries via [email protected].
