Alameda City Council is Disappointed with Public Works Solutions

By Erica Madison

At a joint City Council and Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority meeting on Jan 6, 2009, Public Works staff, presented partial solutions to the $74 million traffic problem.

After presenting City Council with a list of concerns about ACCMA’s I-880 improvement proposal, the staff presented less than satisfactory mitigations.

1. Provide transit queue-jump lanes during peak times by limiting parking from Buena Vista to the bridge.
2. These lanes could become exclusive transit lanes. The parking limitations will coincide with the peak direction of travel.
3. Provide full traffic signal detection at Buena Vista Ave, Clement Ave, Blanding Ave, using latent technology.
4. Modifying signals and cabinets to accommodate transit queue-jumps.
5. Provide appropriate signage and striping changes to implement the peak time queue jumpers and exclusive transit lanes.
6. Provide signal preemption equipment at Buena Vista Ave., Clement Ave. and Blanding Ave. intersections to implement future signal priority for transit buses.
7. Include transit improvements along 23^rd and 29^th Avenues in Oakland to improve transit access to the freeway.

However, City Council members were unimpressed with Public Works solutions to I-880 improvement problems.

”You guys (Alameda County Congestion Management Agency and Public Works), need to lock yourselves into a room until you figure this out”, said Mayor Beverly Johnson.