14th Avenue is a major east-west corridor that connects International Boulevard to Highland Hospital, MacArthur Boulevard, and I-580. 14th Avenue is currently a relatively high-speed, 4-lane divided roadway that is a barrier for people walking between residential neighborhoods to the north and south. The street is also an important, (relatively flat) connection for people biking and is a critical gap in the network between the Foothill Blvd and Macarthur Blvd bike lanes. The City recently completed Phase 1 of this Project, which upgraded sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and landscaping between International Blvd. and E 19th Street.
The next phase of The 14th Avenue Streetscape project will deliver pedestrian crossing improvements to all intersections on 14th Avenue between E19th Street and E27th Street. These improvements include Flashing Pedestrian Beacons (RRFBs), expanded sidewalks at intersections, street trees, a reduction in vehicle lanes from 4 to 2, and turn lane upgrades. This project will also install an important bicycle connection on 14th Avenue from Foothill Blvd to 27th Street/Highland Hospital. These bike lanes will form the foundation for a complete network connection north to MacArthur Blvd/Excelsior, which is prioritized in the City of Oakland's Capital Improvement Plan.
The goals of this project are to:
- Improve safety and comfort for people walking, especially for people crossing 14th Avenue
- Plant new street trees on the sidewalks and median along 14th Avenue (up to 52 trees planned!)
- Increase the visibility of people walking and biking
- Slow vehicle speeds and create a calmer street
- Provide a dedicated space for people riding bikes on 14th Avenue from E 19th Street to E 27th Street
- Improve access for people with disabilities
- Upgrade bus stops on the corridor with safer pedestrian crossings and more pedestrian space.
Thanks to everyone who responded to our online survey or corresponded with OakDOT regarding this project. We've worked to incorporate your feedback and have made the following changes to our design, which are illustrated in the presentation at the bottom of this page:
- Installed expanded sidewalk areas at transit stops to allow for quick and efficient bus loading, ADA-accessible wheelchair access, and more sidewalk space for the community
- There are several areas on 14th Avenue (particularly on the south side of the street), where tree wells would not fit in the narrow sidewalk. To make up for these tree locations that were removed, this project is adding more trees in sidewalk bulbouts, and even some in new "tree bulbs" in the parking lane in some locations.
- In response to concerns about vehicles using the new bike lanes as a passing lane, we have expanded the painted median area and narrowed the bike lane to make it less attractive for passing movements.
