The Transportation Choices Plan Annual Report for 2018 lists what transportation related projects have been done in 2018 and what is planned for 2019. The Annual Report will be presented to City Council on April 16, 2019 (item 6B), but if you’ve been wondering what’s on the horizon with regards to bike and pedestrian infrastructure, here’s a summary.
The Cross Alameda Trail (aka CAT) is being built in sections.
1. From Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal (to be completed in 2020) at Alameda Point to Main St. (the road that goes to the Main St. Ferry Terminal) will have protected bike lanes and sidewalks open for public use in 2020.
2. From Main St. to Constitution Way along Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway (aka RAMP) across from the College of Alameda, the City has hired a construction firm to build separated bike, walking and jogging paths in the former railroad right-of-way. Construction will be completed in 2019.
3. From Constitution Way to Sherman St. is the fabulous Jean Sweeney Park that opened at the end of 2018.
4. Sherman St. to Grand St. on Clement Avenue is partially completed, but the remaining sections will either be completed by the developers of the Del Monte, Encinal Terminals, and Pennzoil properties, or the City will look for grant money to complete.
5. Grand St. to Broadway on Clement Ave. will have a bikeway, which is, hopefully, protected. The City has $5 million in grant funds for this section and construction is expected to start in 2020.
6. Clement Avenue from Broadway to the Miller Sweeney Bridge (aka Fruitvale Bridge) will require extending Clement to Tilden Way and to acquire the Union Pacific property, with its old railroad tracks, along Tilden Way. The City has $8.4 million in grant funds, and in 2018 initiated eminent domain to acquire the property. Construction is expected to be completed by 2021.
7. Plans to stripe the Miller Sweeney Bridge with bike lanes are in the works now and should be completed by 2019. Head over the Bridge toward Oakland and turn right along the Estuary, and you are on the Bay Trail. It will be a great day when all these sections are complete and we have the Cross Alameda Trail from Alameda Point to the Miller Sweeney Bridge!
Transportation Safety Improvements:
Central Avenue—Construction should begin in 2020. Studies are still underway for the Webster St. intersection, but a Class IV bike lane (aka protected or buffered bike lane or cycle track) has been approved from Encinal High School down to McKay Avenue. Bike Walk Alameda is hoping this can be extended down to 8th Street, but that is as yet undecided.
Otis Drive—Discussions with the community are underway for slowing down traffic on Otis between Westline Drive (which runs along Crown Beach and turns into 8th St.) and Willow St., approximately one mile in length. Bike lanes are planned on this route.
Main Street—(road to the Main Street Ferry Terminal) is earmarked for restriping and bike lanes between Pacific Avenue and the Ferry Terminal to be completed in 2019.
Encinal Avenue—This project belongs to CalTrans and restriping is planned between Sherman St. and Broadway. Bike Walk Alameda will be advocating for bike lanes.
If you’d like to follow all this on a map, you can pick one up for free at the Main Library and the West End Library compliments of the City of Alameda and Bike Walk Alameda.