The City of Oakland, in partnership with the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit), are working to design, analyze, and ultimately enhance transit and roadway safety along East Oakland's International Boulevard corridor.
AC Transit initially took the lead and spearheaded transit improvements, known as the International Boulevard Quick Build project, primarily along the corridor's Tempo-Line 1T Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes. Commonly referred to as "Quick Build," the project now spans from 14th to 107th Avenues and has been a close collaboration with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Oakland Fire Department (OFD), Oakland Police Department (OPD), and the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT).
"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,” said AC Transit CEO and General Manager Michael Hursh. "Due to Tempo’s overwhelming success as AC Transit's most heavily utilized bus line, we are currently exploring inventive approaches to strengthen the efficiency and dependability of BRT service and its dedicated bus only lane. In fact, our transit district launched an exhaustive process to select a general contractor and is now prepared to proceed with the installation of a series of roadway enhancements that have undergone design and development over several months.”
AC Transit initially secured a $400,000 Quick Strike grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to install several Quick Build safety enhancements along eight blocks of International, from 14th to 42nd Avenues. The City of Oakland is contributing an additional $1.8 million to extend the project to 107th Avenue, prioritizing areas where its data suggests speeding and dangerous driving are concentrated.
The Quick Build safety enhancements include:
- Yellow vertical posts every 10 feet to separate directions of travel.
- White vertical posts every 15 feet between the BUS ONLY lane and general travel lanes.
- White painted text on the pavement to emphasize BUS ONLY lane.
- White painted arrows on pavement to emphasize permissible turns.
- All-new BUS ONLY lane violation and fines signage.
- All-new traffic enforcement Speed Limit signage.
- "BUS" sign installed on transit signals to separate transit-only use.
OakDOT is now partnering with AC Transit to introduce a pilot program for installing speed cushions aimed at curbing and ideally eliminating motorists driving in the bus only lane.
Speed cushions resemble the familiar residential speed bumps found in various Oakland neighborhoods. However, what sets speed cushions apart is their design, which allows for the passage of buses and emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks and ambulances.
“Oaklanders living, working, and shopping along International Boulevard deserve a safe and vibrant corridor. That is why I am committed to working in partnership with Fruitvale merchants and community organizations to address public safety in a holistic manner. Through our partnership we have delivered more police patrols and safety ambassadors, and now we’ll be identifying initial locations for this speed cushion pilot. I thank the business owners, workers, and residents for their relentless advocacy,” Mayor Sheng Thao said. “I want to thank AC Transit and all our community partners, as well as the strong leadership of OakDOT and the Oakland Fire Department who have worked together to support this effort for the City.”
OakDOT, OFD, and AC Transit will work together to identify optimal locations within the city's right of way for the placement of the pilot’s speed cushions. This collaborative effort will prioritize the operational needs of each agency.
This effort compliments the City of Oakland’s commitment to enhanced patrols by Oakland Police, in partnership with the California Highway Patrol, for swifter responses to incidents along the corridor.
“The highest priority of local government is to provide safety for our residents, workers, businesses, and visitors, and the department staff at the City of Oakland pride themselves in going above and beyond to collaborate and deliver results,” Oakland City Administrator Jestin Johnson said. “This effort shows our team at their best: leading with data and innovation, working collaboratively with partners, and solving problems to serve our community.”
Construction is forecasted to begin in late spring and is expected to be completed by the close of summer 2024. When completed, the Quick Build project will cover 75 percent of the International Boulevard corridor.
AC Transit and the City of Oakland will assess the impact of these roadway safety enhancements after implementation to guide future improvements for the corridor.
Community inquiries regarding the International Boulevard Quick Build project can be directed via email to AC Transit at planning@actransit.org.
International Boulevard residents and businesses may provide feedback or report damaged signs, paint, or posts by contacting OAK311 -- dial 311 or (510) 615-5566, report online here, e-mail OAK311@oaklandca.gov, or use our free mobile app for Apple and Android devices.
For media inquiries regarding OakDOT and the City of Oakland's Quick Build participation, please direct additional questions to OaklandPIO@oaklandca.gov.
# # #