Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming and Bikeways Project

On January 8 (meeting rescheduled from December 11), the Commission on Persons with Disabilities will discuss the Fernside Blvd Traffic Calming & Bikeways Project draft final design concepts (agenda will be posted HERE). On November 20, the Transportation Commission endorsed the concepts: see the meeting video and staff report. A quick summary of the concepts is in the "About the Project" section below. 

This project will create a design concept to update Fernside Boulevard from Tilden Way to San Jose Ave, aiming to reduce auto speeds and increase safety and mobility for all road users, as well as develop design concepts to implement Active Transportation Plan bikeways. It will also work to develop a near-term striping update for Fernside from Tilden Way to High St that can be implemented with pavement resurfacing.

November 2024 Update

After over a year of work and two phases of outreach and analysis, the project team recommends the following design concepts, which were endorsed by the Transportation Commission in November 2024 and will be heard by Commission on Persons with Disabilities and the City Council. See the Transportation Commission staff report and attachments for more information on the concepts. 

Long-Term Draft Final Design Concept: Pedestrian Median Islands with Two-Way Protected Bikeway

This concept would apply to the full corridor from Tilden Way to San Jose Ave. This design design improves pedestrian safety with shorter pedestrian crossings, new curb extensions, marked crosswalks, and flashing beacons; creates a low-stress bike facility either raised to sidewalk level or protected by curb medians; and reduces motor vehicle speeds with removal of the center turn lane west of High St and narrower travel lanes. It includes two motor vehicle lanes (one in each direction) and curbside parking on both sides of the street. The implementation goal is 2030 per the Active Transportation Plan, pending approval and finding funding. 

 Rendering and concept design drawing showing pedestrian refuge islands, curb extensions, and sidewalk-level two-way cycletracl

Long-term draft final design concept

Near-Term Draft Final Design Concept: Quick-Build Pedestrian Median Islands with Buffered Bike Lanes

The project also has the opportunity to improve safety and comfort in the near term on Fernside Blvd from Tilden Way to High St, as part of a planned pavement maintenance project for this roadway segment. This design improves pedestrian safety with quick-build pedestrian median islands, curb extensions, and new marked crosswalks; continues the painted buffered bike lanes currently east of High St, with hardening in the buffer at some intersections; and reduces motor vehicle speeds with removal of the center turn lane and narrower travel lanes. It includes two motor vehicle lanes (one in each direction) and curbside parking on both sides of the street. Estimated implementation is in 2026. 

 Rendering and design concept drawing with pedestrian refuge islands, curb extension, and paint-buffered bike lanes

Near-term draft final design concept

 

Community Workshops

Public Hearings

Online Surveys

Postal mail

  • 10/21/2024: Gibbons Pop-Up flyer mailed to all addresses within 150' of Gibbons Dr (approx. 148)
  • 5/20/2024: Flyer mailed to all addresses within 300' of Fernside Blvd (approx. 1,400)
  • 11/27/2023: Flyer mailed to all Fernside Blvd addresses (approx. 400)

Email Bulletin Mailings

A-Frame Posters

Posters were placed on A-frames at 5 locations along Fernside Blvd during these dates:

  • 5/31/2024-6/20/2024
  • 12/1/2023-12/18/2023

Press

Local Schools and Community Groups

The following groups were known to share information about this project: Fernside Homeowners Association (HOA), East Shore HOA, Alameda Vista View Neighbors, Edison Elementary, Otis Elementary, Lincoln Middle School, and Bike Walk Alameda. 

 

Draft Final Design Concepts

Design concept alternatives

Existing conditions & toolkit

Related plans and policies

Literature and data

Narrower vehicle lanes reduce vehicle speeds
Pedestrian safety improves with curb extensions
Bike lanes increase safety
Flashing beacons increase pedestrian safety
New York City Safety Treatment Evaluation

2022 analysis from NYC DOT of the changes to crash injuries and fatalities from various safety treatments based on data from 1,000 street improvement projects 2010-2021. For instance, curb extensions reduced pedestrian fatalities and severe injuries by over 44%, and separated bike lanes reduced all injuries for all modes by nearly 15%.

 

 

Project Phases

We anticipate the following phases for this project:

  1. Public outreach for existing conditions & initial input: November 2023-January 2024
  2. Public outreach for draft concept alternatives: May-June 2024
  3. Public hearings for final design concept: Transportation Commission and City Council public hearings (including seeking City Council approval), fall 2024 - early 2025
  4. Resurfacing and restriping on Fernside Blvd west of High St, 2026
  5. Construct full corridor project: Goal of 2030, but timing will depend on finding funding

 

 

11/14/2024 update:

While working on the draft final concept design for the Fernside Blvd Traffic Calming & Bikeways Project, the team recognized a need for safety improvements and updates at the Fernside Blvd/High St/Gibbons Dr intersection. In November, the City hosted a pop-up open house event on-site near the intersection and launched an online survey to hear feedback on proposed updates that would simplify this challenging intersection, including a partial limitation of traffic movements between Gibbons Dr and High St.

A summary of initial feedback is available HERE.

After receiving input, the Fernside team determined that finding a workable solution at this intersection will require more time, public process, and analysis than anticipated. The team is planning further traffic study and public engagement before recommending a design concept for this intersection as part of the Fernside Blvd project, likely in the long term. The corridor design concepts the commissions are reviewing mark this intersection treatment as "pending further traffic analysis and public engagement."

The SURVEY is still open so we can continue gathering input on this important intersection. Your feedback is important!

 

 

Progress

Existing conditions study and public engagement round 1 complete. Design concept options and public engagement round 2 complete. Public hearings for draft final design concepts underway.

Project Contact

Transportation Planning

transportation@alamedaca.gov 

510-747-6833

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Funding

Planning for this project is funded by Measure BB Local Streets and Roads

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