Last December we reported about three big funding wins for the East Bay via state active transportation program (ATP) grants: with Oakland and Bay Point winning big. This time, we’re back with even more funding and good news. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) just announced recommendations for which regional projects will receive grant funding. Game-changing projects in Ashland, El Cerrito, and Emeryville have come out on top, plus North Bay connections to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge will be getting smoother too! Projects in store have upgrades for people who walk, bike, take transit, love the Bay Trail, and more—we’re ready for it!
Bike East Bay members support relentless advocacy to fund better bikeway connections in the East Bay. Become a member today.
Ashland
In Ashland, East Lewelling Boulevard will get sidewalks, shorter crossings plus more visibility for pedestrians, and bike lanes. The street connects schools and parks, but previously had little to no accommodations for people who walk or ride. Funding for this project is a huge step forward, and connects to a long-term vision of better walking, biking, and transit options in central Alameda County.
El Cerrito
Bay Trail connections are getting even sweeter in El Cerrito with MTC’s recommendation to fund connections along Central Avenue. Traveling under the I-80 overpass, the project will widen sidewalks and create a separated cycletrack. When all is said and done, the new lanes will connect to a planned BART to Bay Trail connector.
Emeryville
Bus-only lanes, bike lanes, and what one Advocacy Director calls “the best (already designed) complete streets project to date”—all that is coming to 40th Street in Emeryville thanks to the recent funding recommendation. Part of a vision for better transit, walking, and biking, this project includes a two-way bikeway, bicycle-pedestrian intersection improvements, bus stop passenger boarding areas, public art. Plus #FreshElmo (aka fresh red paint) is on the way with Emeryville’s first red bus-only lanes.
Bike East Bay members support relentless advocacy to fund better bikeway connections in the East Bay. Become a member today.
Funding for these projects officially becomes available in 2023-2024. And in a bit of bonus news, Marin County is getting funding to close the bikeway gap from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge touchdown to the entrance to the Sir Francis Drake flyover, while San Francisco will receive funding to design the needed bikeways on Yerba Buena Island to connect the East and (future) West Spans of the Bay Bridge. But unfortunately, Fremont’s application for more protected intersection funding on Walnut Avenue just missed the funding cut off. While not the largest source of bike-ped funding in the East Bay, the ATP program is transformative due to its ability to fund large capital projects, many of which are complete streets projects that welcome all street users including people walking, riding, and taking public transit.
As we awaited final design and approval of these projects, previously funded ATP projects are in the works and being finalized, including 14th Street in Downtown Oakland, Central Avenue in Alameda, Walnut Avenue in Fremont, Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland, Rumrill Blvd in San Pablo, Marina in Richmond, new sidewalks in Castro Valley, 9th Street connection in Berkeley, Bailey Road near Pittsburg BART Station, and more.
Bike East Bay members support relentless advocacy to fund better bikeway connections in the East Bay. Become a member today.
