We sometimes darkly joke about the snail-paced progress of the Oakland-Alameda bike/pedestrian bridge, about how our great grandchildren will enjoy it one day. About how when it gets done, we may no longer be riding bikes or walking, but it’ll be ADA-compliant, so at least we can enjoy it in wheelchairs!
But then a summer like this last one happens.
Wow! Who said summers were slow?! Here are some highlights:
– Critical Studies Likely Funded through the Oakland Alameda Access Project (OAAP)
OAAP is a complex, decades-long effort to improve multimodal connectivity between Oakland and Alameda, involving Alameda CTC, the Federal Highway Administration, Caltrans, the cities of Oakland and Alameda, local advocacy groups, individual businesses, and the business districts of Chinatown and Jack London Square. While a bike/pedestrian bridge was technically out of scope of this project, it got a lot of discussion over the last year, especially this summer, and it’s very likely we’ll be getting considerable funding for key bridge studies from it, assuming it gets finalized and passes later this year.
– Appearance in Key Local and Regional Planning Documents
We’re really excited about the recent publication of the Draft 2019 Oakland Downtown Specific Plan, where the bridge is featured in a callout box on page 110. It also appeared in maps throughout the Oakland 2019 Bike Plan, and Alameda’s Transportation Choices Plan (Project #39). It’s been recommended for Plan Bay Area 2050, an initiative run by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments that charts the course for future transportation infrastructure in the Bay Area. These fresh publications build on earlier ones, making a solid case for a bike/pedestrian bridge. The bridge has been recommended by the Caltrans D4 2018 Bike Plan (Project #256, now #260). And ten years ago the bridge was identified as a long-term alternative in the 2009 Estuary Crossing Feasibility Study.
Looking ahead, there’s a chance of getting the bike/pedestrian bridge in the Mega Measure (aka Faster Bay Area) — read more about that also in this newsletter.
– An Assist from the A’s?
The A’s are proposing a stadium just east of Jack London Square, directly across the estuary from Alameda Landing. This is precisely where one of the preferred bridge alignments is located. They’re looking for ways to get people to the stadium without causing major traffic headaches. A bike/pedestrian bridge would do just that, while fixing the long-standing gap in our bike network. We call that a home run! We’ve connected with the A’s to discuss it further.
Apparently, the A’s are working with BIG, an innovative Danish architecture firm that apparently loves “green” challenges — just imagine the fun they could have with this iconic and transformational bridge! The creativity and energy of the A’s would be a huge asset for this effort, and we’re optimistic about their support.
– The Rise of “Active Transportation”
OK, so this didn’t necessarily happen this summer, but still, active transportation is a thing now. Planners are getting serious about prioritizing infrastructure that enables people to make healthy and positive transportation choices — choices that are good for themselves and the environment. In the case of the estuary crossing, a safe, active transportation option simply does not exist. And the only real solution is a bike/pedestrian bridge. The more we talk about active transportation, the more urgent the case for the bridge becomes.
This is all good stuff that makes us very hopeful. We’re excited that there is now substantial awareness, significant and impactful support from city staffs on both sides of the estuary, and undeniable momentum. We’ve got a long way to go still, but we’re daring to imagine the view of the Tribune Tower over our handlebars as we bike to our offices, to school, to BART or Amtrak, or to cool events (and maybe a stadium) in Jack London Square or beyond!
Want to join our #BridgetheGap campaign? If you are interested, please let us know — there is much to do! You can visit our website’s volunteer page or email us at info@bikewalkalameda.org.