Oakland won a $14 million State grant to provide a once-in-a-generation investment in safety and community-driven aesthetic improvements on 14th Street From Brush Street to Lakeside Drive/Oak Street.
Our Work
Update Summer 2023:
On July 18 2023, Oakland City Council unanimously approved the 14th Street protected bikeway contract. The project will now move forward to construction starting this fall. This is an exciting forward step for this vital safety project, and is the culmination of more than 7 years of community engagement, design and project development. WOBO is proud of everyone who helped make this happen!
For more info see here.
Update Summer 2021:
This grant is focused on improving safety on 14th Street for all roadway users – people visiting Downtown Oakland by car, on foot, by bike, or by bus. In the 5 years since the City applied for this safety grant in 2016, 2 people walking were killed by drivers on 14th Street – both Asian American seniors. In that same 5 years, vehicle collisions injured 189 people, 38 of them severely. This stretch of 14th Street represents one of the densest concentrations of traffic injuries and deaths in the City of Oakland.
The City of Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) has launched the 14th Street Safety Project to Invest in safety improvements for all people who use 14th Street and Improve the connection to Downtown for people walking, biking, and taking transit. In summer 2021 OakDOT is coming back to the 14th Street community to provide a status update on our progress in meeting the community’s requests. OakDOT will be walking the corridor and hosting public events for the 14th Street project in Summer/Fall 2021.
For more information see the City Of Oakland’s project page for 14th St.
14th Street is a great local street and a key bike route connection to Downtown. It connects both East Lake and West Oakland to popular destinations Downtown such as City Hall, BART, and a growing number of restaurants, night clubs and clothing shops. The problem–no bike lanes. Because 14th Street is not a major arterial nor a major bus corridor, it is ripe for a redesign for better walking and bicycling. Thanks to our persistence in pushing for safety improvements, Oakland received a $10.5 million State Active Transportation grant in December 2016 to completely redesign the street with protected bike lanes, more rational traffic behavior and safe pedestrian crossings.
WOBO members have remained committed to this campaign over the past few years. We were out on the street talking with commuters and local businesses, organized morning energizer stations on Bike to Work Day, and helped develop the concept for 14th Street (shown above). Things finally started to happen in 2015, when Plan Downtown Oakland launched, which redesigned 14th Street with world-class bikeways. With the new OakDOT, new grant, and passage of the voter-approved $600 million from Measure KK in 2016, 14th Street has a bright future for local businesses, residents and commuters alike.
Working closely with Bike East Bay, WOBO has developed several potential design options for 14th Street. We want to hear your thoughts on what design would best suit your biking or walking style: 14th Street Design Options to Consider.
Get Involved
- Please contact Charlie Ream at CReam@oaklandca.gov with any questions re: the 14th St. Safety Project or to set up a video or small in-person briefing on the project.
- Shop the businesses on 14th Street and make sure they know you walk and bike to shop.
- We want your pretty neighborhood photos! Take a flattering picture of your neighborhood’s street and send it to: info@wobo.org. We’ll use it to promote positive change.
- Patronize the business and get to know the manager/owner.
- Request a bike rack at your favorite business (or on-street bike corral.
- Remind business owners that the City of Oakland will install free bike racks on the sidewalk in front of their business. All they have to do ask.
- Anyone can request a free rack to be placed on City-owned property. Please use the Online Request Form OR contact the Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Coordinator (no need to do both): (510) 238-3983
- If the business already has a bike rack out front, thank them for that and let them know you appreciate it. Don’t be shy about bringing your bike helmet inside with you as a good prop!
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