The City of Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) Race and Equity Team (RET) supports a broad vision for equitable transportation outcomes for Oakland's diverse community. The OakDOT RET will work to implement this vision in accordance with the OakDOT Strategic Plan, with the support of the Department Director through the adoption of the Race and Equity Charter (the “Charter”), and execution of the OakDOT Race and Equity Action Plan (the “Action
Plan” and to be developed). The overall mission of the RET is to end systemic causes of racial disparity through improving and developing policies, programs, and practices at OakDOT. The RET mission is supported by the Department of Race and Equity and the Administrative Instructions such as 580 - Race and Equity and 6802 - Community Engagement. This mission is a challenging and long-term effort that requires dedication and commitment from all levels of staff.
The OakDOT RET is guided by:
- Oakland Municipal Code 2.29.170 - Department of Race and Equity
- Department of Race & Equity
- OakDOT Strategic Plan
- OakDOT Race and Equity Team Charter
The OakDOT RET includes four (4) active committees, open to all OakDOT staff to join:
Community Engagement - The mission of the Community Engagement RET Committee is to increase our department’s understanding of, commitment to, and investment in robust public engagement that prioritizes Oakland’s most underserved communities. Cities do the most good when they are designed and implemented with the coordination of the people receiving service. We know there are significant disparities regarding which Oakland communities are able to access resources, influence decision-making and demand the City’s attention. We will work toward rebalancing this disparity by establishing transparent and equitable standards for community engagement, working with our leadership and staff to provide the necessary support and resources to meet those standards, and holding our leadership accountable for sustained commitment to this work. The Community Engagement RET Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 11am.
Data Analytics - The mission of the Data Analytics RET Committee is to advance equity through data driven analysis. By providing tools for equity analysis, we will hold the Department of Transportation accountable to the equity goals of the Strategic Plan. The Data Analytics RET Committee meets on the last Monday of each month at 12pm.
Recruitment & Retention - The mission of the Recruitment and Retention RET Committee is to adopt and adapt equitable policies that result in a diverse staff reflective of the community we serve. This Committee meets on the third Thursday of each month at 11:30am.
At-Risk Users - Formed in 2023, the At-Risk Users RET Committee focuses on the accessibility and safety of our transportation system for “at-risk” or “vulnerable” users, including folks with disabilities, older adults, unhoused folks, and children. At its core, the committee provides a supportive environment for staff to explore and share ideas and questions related to at-risk users. The committee has hosted guest speakers, including the chair of the Mayor’s Commission on Persons with Disabilities and a Transportation Planner from Montgomery County, Maryland, with expertise in planning for users with vision disabilities. The group has organized a PROWAG (Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines) training from the ADA Programs Division, added CBOs who conduct accessible outreach to the Community Engagement On-Call Consultant Request for Proposal process, and added disability groups and organizations to the City’s standard outreach list. The At-Risk Users RET Committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 3pm.
How to get involved: OakDOT staff who would like to learn more about OakDOT RET, have questions, or want to get involved, please contact Colin Piethe (cpiethe@oaklandca.gov) or Ruth Meza (rmeza@oaklandca.gov).