Oakland, California, is taking a proactive approach to reshape its streets, prioritizing people-powered movement and community engagement through its innovative Slow Streets program. Spearheaded by the City of Oakland’s Department of Transportation (OakDOT), this initiative is transforming neighborhood streets into vibrant public spaces, drawing inspiration from successful bicycle boulevards and lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Vision Behind Oakland’s Slow Streets
Imagine city streets designed not just for rapid transit, but for community connection and pedestrian-friendly environments. While urban freeways efficiently move vehicles across Oakland, they often dominate streetscapes, sidelining pedestrians and cyclists. The speed and volume of car traffic can create intimidating environments, reducing neighborly interactions and outdoor activities. Oakland California Streets, under the Slow Streets initiative, are being reimagined to counter this.
Think of Slow Streets as a complementary layer to Oakland’s existing transportation network, working in harmony with major thoroughfares, public transit, and freeways. These are streets intentionally designed to encourage walking, biking, jogging, and the use of low-speed electric vehicles. The ultimate vision is to transform Oakland California streets into valuable public spaces and thriving community resources.
Pandemic Street Closures: A Stepping Stone to Permanent Slow Streets
The Covid-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity for Oakland to experiment with the Slow Streets concept. OakDOT implemented temporary closures across 21 miles of streets, limiting through traffic. This rapid response yielded positive outcomes but also presented challenges that informed the development of a more sustainable, long-term strategy. By early 2022, the temporary pandemic program concluded, and OakDOT began analyzing the lessons learned to pave the way for permanent Slow Streets. You can explore the archive of Oakland’s pandemic Slow Streets program for more details on this initial phase.
Implementing Permanent Slow Streets in Oakland
OakDOT has developed a comprehensive framework to guide the implementation of permanent Slow Streets, detailed in this presentation. This framework encompasses both strategic planning – identifying suitable streets for the program – and thoughtful design, focusing on the specific treatments to be installed. The program builds upon the groundwork laid by Oakland’s 2019 Bicycle Plan, which envisioned an extensive network of neighborhood bike routes (bicycle boulevards). However, the Slow Streets initiative broadens this vision, adopting a more inclusive and holistic approach to street design.
Currently, improvements are being integrated into Oakland California streets through the City’s Five-Year Paving Plan, prioritizing streets already identified as neighborhood bike routes in the 2019 Bicycle Plan. Of the 75 miles of proposed bike routes, 50 miles are slated for paving upgrades. OakDOT is strategically incorporating speed humps and traffic circles into these 50 miles, aiming to minimize uncontrolled intersections and enhance crossings at major streets.
This implementation strategy is largely guided by OakDOT’s Neighborhood Bike Route Implementation Guide. It’s important to note that updates to signage and pavement markings are being introduced as outlined in the framework presentation. OakDOT plans to evolve the Neighborhood Bike Route Implementation Guide into a comprehensive Slow Streets Implementation Guide, incorporating insights gained from ongoing projects and public feedback on both the framework and the existing guide.
Community Input and the Future of Oakland Slow Streets
OakDOT values community participation and encourages feedback on the Slow Streets initiative. You can share your thoughts and suggestions via email using the contact information provided on the OakDOT website. At this stage, feedback on the overall program direction is particularly valuable as OakDOT establishes the foundational framework. While location-specific inquiries are less helpful at this time, your broader perspectives are welcome.
The rollout of permanent Slow Streets is intentionally gradual and incremental, a deliberate contrast to the rapid implementation during the pandemic. This measured approach, focusing on elements like speed humps and traffic circles, and careful street selection, may reassure those who had reservations about the pandemic-era street closures. While supporters may hope for faster progress, this thoughtful process ensures a sustainable and community-responsive program.
Essential Places: Prioritizing Community Needs on Oakland Streets
The concept of “essential services” gained prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting services crucial for well-being that needed to remain accessible. OakDOT recognized “Essential Places” as a valuable lens for prioritizing safety improvements and understanding the travel patterns of vulnerable populations meeting their basic needs within Oakland California streets.
Essential Places encompass vital community hubs such as schools, health clinics, early childhood development centers, senior centers, libraries, recreation centers, public transportation access points, and grocery stores. Oakland is home to approximately 380 Essential Places. This framework is already being used to prioritize traffic safety service requests, and OakDOT is exploring further applications of Essential Places as a planning and prioritization tool for broader safety enhancements across Oakland California streets.
Requesting Slow Streets and Traffic Calming in Your Neighborhood
Currently, Oakland does not offer a program for residents to directly request Slow Streets for their specific streets. While there was significant community interest during the pandemic in traffic calming and creating neighborhood social spaces, OakDOT’s current resources are focused on the broader, planned implementation. However, looking ahead, OakDOT aims to develop a “Pop-up Slow Streets” program to empower residents to organize temporary street closures for block parties and community events. This initiative would foster a culture of utilizing Oakland California streets as neighborhood assets for social gatherings and recreation.
For residents seeking traffic calming measures on their street, information on how to apply for a speed bump is available. To organize a block party, you can utilize the special event permit process. For suggestions regarding streets that could be incorporated into the Slow Streets network, you are encouraged to provide input via email to the contact information on the OakDOT website.
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Last updated: 2/21/2023
