Transit & Transportation
Sea
The Port of Oakland is the 2nd busiest container port in the United States, in number of daily gate moves, and handles 99 percent of all containerized cargo that passes through the Golden Gate. The Port handled more than 2.42 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units or TEUs in 2017, with more than 1,600 vessel calls. More than $40 billion worth of international trade moves through the Port of Oakland seaport each year. Oakland is one of the few U.S. seaports whose exports exceed their imports; nearly 55% of Oakland's total cargo tonnage is exports. The Port of Oakland is served by 20 ocean carriers, has 4 marine terminals in operation.
In 2002, the Port installed eight giant new super-Panamax cranes that can load and unload the newer, wider container vessels that now transit the globe. Combined the Port of Oakland has two new marine terminals, 29 post-Panamax size cranes, and a new Joint Intermodal Terminal (JIT). With the expanded terminals, the new JIT, and the giant cranes, the Port of Oakland’s marine facilities have nearly doubled in size. These improvements are expected to lower the time and cost of transporting goods as well as allow the Port of Oakland to remain competitive for years to come.These facilities are supported by a fully developed network of local roads and interstate freeways, warehouses, and international railyards.As part of a $700 million expansion plan, the Port has deepened channels and berths from a depth of 42’ to a depth of 50’ by the middle of the decade. A unique aspect of the harbor-deepening project is its 100 percent beneficial reuse of dredged material for a number of environmental projects, including a large shallow water bay and shoreline habitats and wetlands restoration projects. Click here to watch a video on the Port of Oakland. Watch the Everyone's Port video.
Air
Oakland International Airport's range of modern facilities makes it the most convenient and centrally located airport for travelers and cargo customers in the San Francisco Bay Area. The largest airport in the Bay Area for Air Cargo, OAK is the 4th busiest airport in California.
In 2017, more than 13 million passengers chose to fly to or from Oakland International Airport (OAK). Served by 14 different airline brands, the airport has scheduled service to 60 non-stop destinations, including 14 international cities. New non-stop service scheduled to begin in 2018 includes Rome, Paris, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Indianapolis and more. A $45 million upgrade to the International Arrivals Building greets arriving international travelers.
In November 2014, the $500 million Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) opened. It offers swift, reliable world-class service connecting OAK travelers to the Coliseum BART station in under nine minutes. The train-to-plane project will replace the current AirBART bus service. OAK broke ground on its $300 million Terminal Improvement Program in spring 2004. This program included construction of a new concourse with seven boarding gates and waiting areas; a modern, centralized food, beverage and retail shopping area; expanded ticketing, security and baggage claim facilities and new utilities. The program also includes improvements to the terminal roadway and curbside areas to ease congestion in front of the terminals and reconstruction of the aircraft parking apron. Visit OAK's website for more information.Oakland International Airport handles more than 1 million pounds of air freight and mail each year. The airport’s volume of air cargo ranks among the top three on the West Coast and top 3 in the nation. The major cargo carriers based at Oakland International Airport include FedEx, United Parcel Service and Ameriflight.
Rail
Oakland is the western terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad lines which connect to most major, national rail destinations.
Highways
U.S. Interstates 80, 580, 880 and 980 come together in Oakland, along with state highways 24, 13, 123, 61 and 112. More than 184,000 vehicles travel westbound and 160,000 vehicles travel eastbound on I-580 past Lakeshore Avenue daily, while more than 215,000 vehicles traverse southbound and 211,000 vehicle travel northbound on I-880 at 29th/Fruitvale Avenues.
Ferry Service
Oakland’s waterfront location allows for frequent commuter service on the Alameda/Oakland ferry to San Francisco’s Ferry Building and PIER 39. Service also runs to Pacific Bell Park and on weekends to Angel Island, a nature lover’s paradise.
Mass Transit Oakland has an excellent public transit system. Oakland is the hub for the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), the high-speed, regional rail system with 121-miles of track including the 3.6-mile Transbay tube. With eight stations in Oakland, it is easy to jump on a train to downtown Oakland and other Bay Area cities. A trip from City Center in Oakland to downtown San Francisco takes 11 minutes. Other transit services include AC Transit bus service and Amtrak service with multiple departures daily on three routes linking to the Pacific Northwest, Southern California and the Central Valley including the Capitol Corridor line which is the third-most popluar line in Amtrak's national rail network. The reach and ease-of-use of these transit systems make commuting to Oakland a quick and affordable option for your employees who live in neighboring cities.
511 is a toll-free phone and Web service that consolidates Bay Area transportation-related information into a one-stop resource. This easy three-digit number provides up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions and incidents, details on public transportation routes and fares, instant carpool and vanpool referrals, bicycling information and more.
Commuter Programs
Car/Van Pooling
The 511 Regional Rideshare Program is a free service that introduces commuters to people who live and work nearby, to carpool, vanpool or even bike to work together. Ridesharing benefits include access to the Bay Area's growing network of carpool lanes, free park-and-ride lots, and a host of commute incentives.
Car Sharing
Thanks to the exceptional transit systems in Oakland, many residents choose not to own a car of their own. Car sharing allows use of a car by making vehicles available on a per use basis without incurring the ownership costs. City CarShare offers car shares at 10 Oakland locations including City Center, Rockridge, Lake Merritt, West Oakland, Downtown, Adams Point, Grand Avenue, Old Oakland and Piedmont Avenue. Zipcar offers car shares at six locations including Downtown Oakland, Jack London Square, Lake Merritt, Old Oakland, Adams Point and Rockridge.