| Alcatraz is a long and busy street. It's not very bike or pedestrian friendly, and it's not very student or senior citizen friendly. But take a tour down Alcatraz from Sacramento to San Pablo Avenue and you'll notice Oakland could learn a thing or two from Berkeley about how to make the Oakland intersections safer for everyone. |  A mock-up of Herzog and Alcatraz with pedestrian safety improvements. |
Alcatraz and Herzog: If Oakland's Intersections looked like Berkeley's
The Problem
| This interesection at Alcatraz and Herzog is particularly dangerous. There have been accidents and near misses here for decades. It's near three school sites with over 840 elementary students, a senior housing development and the Golden Gate Recreation Center and Playground. Every day, children and parents scurry across Alcatraz in the midst of the busy morning commute. While Yu Ming School has one trained crossing guard, it is simply not enough to keep everyone safe. According to a Berkeley traffic study, over 4,300 cars pass through each day, making it a major thoroughfare for commuters and residents. The 85th percentile speed profile is 7 mph over the posted speed limit of 25 mph. Translation: A lot of cars are driving a lot faster than they should be. |  Before and now photo at Herzog and Alcatraz: A car accident scene from 1959. Yu Ming Elementary School is on the left. (Posted to Instagram by WeLoveOakland) |
According to Berkeley's critera for traffic calming, our Oakland intersections would most certianly qualify for improvements. It's not clear if OakDOT has a traffic calming program, but if not, how do we get in line?
Berkley's minimum criteria for traffic calming improvements.
The Solution
We can make this intersection safer by replicating the very same improvements that Berkeley has made two and three blocks away on the same street:
- Sidewalks should be extended
- An additional crosswalk should be added
- All crossings should be highly visible
- Traffic should be encouraged to slow down with clear signage
Block by Block from Sacramento to San Pablo on Alcatraz
At a recent neighborhood meeting, parents and neighbors discussed ways to make Alcatraz and Herzog safer. One neighbor suggested the same improvements that were made just up the street, but another neighbor replied, "Well the Baker Street and Idaho Street intersections are in Berkeley, so I don't think we're going to get those nice improvements in Oakland anytime soon." Everyone seemed to accept the fact that it is never going to be as nice - or as safe - as Berkeley. But why not?! If Berkeley has determined this stretch of Alcatraz to be dangerous for pedestrians, why hasn't Oakland followed suit?
Help make Alcatraz Ave in Oakland as safe as Alcatraz Avenue in Berkeley. We don't need any more traffic studies or traffic counts. And we certainly don't need to wait around until someone gets hurt. We just need to follow Berkeley's lead as soon as possible and fix the Alcatraz Avenue interesctions in Oakland.
Help make Alcatraz Ave in Oakland as safe as Alcatraz Avenue in Berkeley. We don't need any more traffic studies or traffic counts. And we certainly don't need to wait around until someone gets hurt. We just need to follow Berkeley's lead as soon as possible and fix the Alcatraz Avenue interesctions in Oakland.
Alcatraz and Baker in 2008 vs. 2011 vs. 2014
This Alcatraz and Baker intersection is only a few blocks away from Alcatraz and Herzog. Over the last 5+ years, the City of Berkeley has made improvements to make this intersection safer by slowing traffic, improving crosswalk visibility and access, widening sidewalks at the corners, and adding signage.
| In response to persistant resident and parent complaints, the crosswalk markings have been recently painted. It's amazing what a difference bright new paint makes and we are so grateful for the city's help. However, much more can be done to make this stretch of Alcatraz even more safe. We look forward to working with Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools program, the City of Oakland and other community partners to make much needed and long overdue safety improvements. |  Before and after: A fresh coat of paint at Alcatraz and Salem. |
Resources
- Yu Ming School Pickup and Drop Off Prociedures
- Oakland Pedestrian Master Plan (2002)
- Oakland Department of Transportation Strategic Plan
- Austin's polka dotted intersection
- Tactical Urbanism Guide
- Seattle Painted Crosswalks Program
- Alameda County Saferoutes to Schools Program
- International Walk and Roll to School Program
- Safe Routes to Schools Program
- School Crossing Guard Guidelines
- Berkeley - Unit Costs of Alcatraz improvements
- Summary of Traffic calming programs (Does Oakland have one?)