The West Oakland 14th Street Project is an initiative by OakDOT focused on significantly improving safety and reducing the persistent issue of excessive speeding along 14th Street West, specifically between Mandela Parkway and Brush Street. This corridor has been identified as a high-risk area within OakDOTâs High Injury Network, a designation it has held since 2018, underscoring the long-term safety concerns.
This section of 14th Street West has tragically witnessed multiple traffic fatalities in recent years, including in 2015, 2016, and 2022. In each of these incidents, dangerous speeding and aggressive driving were determined to be major contributing factors. To combat these issues, OakDOT is implementing a comprehensive road diet for 14th Street West.
The planned road diet involves reconfiguring the street to remove one traffic lane in each direction. This new design will provide a single travel lane for vehicles in each direction, alongside dedicated buffered bike lanes. This strategic change aims to calm traffic, reduce speeding, and create a safer environment for all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians.
Funding for the 14th Street West safety enhancements includes a significant $1.57 million grant from the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP Cycle 10) awarded in 2021. These funds are specifically allocated for pedestrian crossing improvements at key intersections along 14th Street West, such as Mandela Parkway, Poplar Street, Magnolia Street, and Adeline Street. Local funding will further support intersection upgrades at Union Street and Filbert Street, ensuring comprehensive safety improvements throughout the corridor.
Residents and stakeholders can expect to see physical modifications at intersections along 14th Street West. These may include the installation of bus boarding islands, protected intersections designed to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety, and pedestrian flashing beacons at crosswalks to increase visibility. Signal system upgrades are also planned, potentially incorporating protected left turns, new pedestrian signal heads, and leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) to give pedestrians a head start when crossing.
These changes to 14th Street West are designed to create a safer, more accessible, and more pedestrian-friendly environment in West Oakland. By addressing speeding and improving intersection safety, the project aims to prevent future tragedies and enhance the quality of life for the community.
