Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming and Bikeways Project

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.

Community Workshops

• 11/9/2024: Gibbons Dr at Fernside Blvd/High St Intersection Improvements Pop-up (50 attendees)
• 6/5/2024: Community workshop Phase 2 (40 attendees)
• 5/29/2024: Virtual community workshop Phase 2 (13 attendees)
• 12/11/2023: Virtual community workshop Phase 1 (28 attendees)
• 12/4/2023: Community workshop Phase 1 (85 attendees)

Public Hearings

• 12/11/2024: Commission on Persons with Disabilities
• 11/20/2024: Transportation Commission
• 6/5/2024: Commission on Persons with Disabilities
• 6/26/2024 Transportation Commission
• 1/24/2024: Transportation Commission

Online Surveys

• 11/8/2024: Gibbons Dr at Fernside Blvd/High St concept survey (open)
• 5/29/2024-6/19/2024: Design concept options survey (305 responses to much longer survey)
• 11/21/2023-12/17/2023: Existing conditions survey (600 responses)

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

• 11/12/2024: Next Steps for Gibbons Dr at Fernside Blvd/High St + 11/20 Fernside Blvd Project at TC
• 11/8/2024: Survey and 11/9 Pop-Up: Gibbons Dr at Fernside Blvd/High St! Also 11/20 Fernside Blvd Project at TC
• 10/25/2024: Gibbons Dr at Fernside Blvd/High St: Intersection Improvements Pop-up on Nov 9
• 6/18/2024: Fernside Blvd Survey Closes Tomorrow 6/19! Also join the 6/26 Transportation Commission
• 5/31/2024: Survey Open for Fernside Blvd Design Concept Options + 6/5 Public Workshop
• 5/24/2024: May 29 and June 5 Fernside Blvd Workshops - Design Concept Options
• 5/3/2024: Save the Date: June 5 Fernside Blvd Workshop 2 - Design Concept Options
• 12/7/2023: 12/11 Virtual Workshop; Slides Posted; 85 people at the 12/4 Workshop!
• 11/30/2023: This Monday 12/4: Fernside Community Workshop 1
• 11/21/2023: Fernside Blvd Survey + 12/4 Community Workshop
• 11/28/2023: Mastick Senior Center December Programs
• 11/28/2023: News & Events from the City of Alameda
• 11/14/2023: 12/4 Fernside Blvd Community Workshop
• 11/9/2023: Help choose a date for Workshop #1: Fernside Blvd Traffic Calming & Bikeways Project
• 8/30/2023: Help Spread the Word About the Fernside Blvd Mailing List
• Email bulletins sent to advertise board, commission, and City Council agendas that include this project or to agendize its events: Transportation Commission (3), Commission on Persons with Disabilities (1), City Council (3)

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

• 5/8/2024: Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming Public Workshops
• 12/30/2024: Transportation Commission Hears Fernside Update
• 12/8/2023: City Gathers Input from Local Residents on Future of Fernside
• 11/24/2023: Alameda Post: City Asks for Input on Estuary Park, Fernside Boulevard Project

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. 

Design concept options

• 6/13/2024 Design concept options presentation slides(PDF, 5MB) (updated since 6/5)
• 6/13/2024 Plan views of concept options: long-term(PDF, 8MB) and near-term(PDF, 12MB)

Existing conditions & toolkit

• 12/3/2023 Public workshop slides(PDF, 21MB), including project parameters, existing conditions data analysis, and improvement toolkit 
• 12/18/2023 August-December 2023 public engagement activities(PDF, 319KB)
• 1/17/2024: Summary of Public Input, Round 1(PDF, 918KB)

Related plans and policies

• Active Transportation Plan (2022)
• Mobility Element of General Plan (2021)
• Vision Zero Action Plan (2021)
• Street Classifications (2023)
• Policy on Street Width, Lane Width, Crosswalks, and Bulb-outs (2020)
• Policy for Improvements to Visibility (Daylighting) (2019)

Literature and data

Narrower vehicle lanes reduce vehicle speeds

• National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Urban Street Design Guide – Lane Width
• Relationship Between Lane Width and Speed - Review of Relevant Literature

Pedestrian safety improves with curb extensions

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Pedestrian safety impacts of curb extensions case study final report
• FHWA The Effects of Traffic Calming Measures on Pedestrian and Motorist Behavior

Bike lanes increase safety

• Kittleson How Bike Infrastructure Benefits People Who Don’t Bike
• FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasures - Bicycle Lanes
• FHWA Developing Crash Modification Factors for Separated Bike Lanes

Flashing beacons increase pedestrian safety

• FHWA Investigating Improvements to Pedestrian Crossings with an Emphasis on the Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons
• FHWA Evaluation of Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons and Rapid Flashing Beacons 

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%.

• NYC DOT Safety Treatment Evaluation
• NYC DOT Pedestrian Safety and Older New Yorkers

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!