Bike Walk Alameda (BWA) is advocating to get a proposed bike-pedestrian bridge connecting west Alameda and Downtown Oakland implemented into Caltrans and Alameda County Transportation Commission’s (ACTC) proposed Oakland-Alameda accessibility plan.

Caltrans and ACTC’s plan, the Oakland Alameda Access Project (OAAP), is designed to revamp the Oakland-Alameda corridor along the Posey and Webster tubes, I-980 and I-880 on- and off-ramps and Chinatown in Oakland to improve access; reduce freeway-bound traffic and congestion; improve multimodal safety; and enhance bicycle and pedestrian accessibility.

If the plan is approved, OAAP will restructure several streets in Downtown Oakland, build new on- and off-ramps for I-980 and I-880 and create new bike lanes in the area. The project also plans to reconfigure Webster Tube to build a bicycle-pedestrian lane similar to the one in the Posey Tube. However, BWA advocates believe the new pathway does not accommodate the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists.

According to the OAAP draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the new pathway in Webster Tube will be just four feet wide. The Posey Tube pathway is three-and-a-half-feet wide. Oftentimes, bicyclist in the Posey Tube must get off their bicycles and carry it over the railing if another person is traveling in the opposite direction.

“The Webster Tube will not meet National Association of City Transportation Officials standards, or even Caltrans’ standards for a bikeway,” stated BWA on its petition page.

The pathway also does not address the noise, smog and confinement complaints cyclists and pedestrians have for using the Posey Tube. Instead, BWA wants the bike-pedestrian bridge in the OAAP. The bridge would connect west Alameda to the Jack London District.

“We feel the bridge should have been included, as it squarely addresses multimodal access and connectivity,” stated BWA.

BWA believes the bridge would reduce traffic congestion; decrease greenhouse gas emissions; and promote active, healthy lifestyles.

Bicycle and health enthusiasts in Alameda have been advocating for a pedestrian-bicycle bridge for years. The City Council backed the idea in 2016, according to the BWA. Alameda officials created a rendering of the bridge for the Transportation Choices Plan 2018 Report.

At a public discussion in Jack London Square in March, Alameda Planning, Building and Transportation director Andrew Thomas said initial estimates for the bridge was about $140 million, with $113 million for the actual bridge and the rest for the approach ramps, according to a report.

BWA said the cost of the proposed bridge, like the OAAP, would be financed by funds from Measures BB and B. Alameda County Measure BB funds are $75 million and Measure B funds are $8 million for this project.

The OAAP draft EIR was released last month. To view the report, visit www.oaklandalamedaaccessproject.com. To submit a comment regarding the report, email Oakland.Alameda.Access@dot.ca.gov or call 880-4195.

To sign the BWA petition, visit www.thepetitionsite.com/520/040/300.