Central Avenue Safety Project

This project constructed a separated two-way bikeway on Central Ave from Eight St to Lincoln Ave, built on the south side of the street to provide access to Washington Park, the San Francisco Bay Trail, Paden Elementary, and Encinal Jr./Sr. High.

Tips for Drivers

• No parking is allowed in the bikeway. You may cross the bikeway only to enter or exit a driveway.
• Before crossing the bikeway to turn into a driveway, look for bicyclists traveling in both directions. When making a left turn, remember to look for bicyclists traveling in the same direction as you.
• When exiting a driveway, drivers should not try to cross the sidewalk, bikeway, and vehicle travel lanes at the same time. Instead, make your movement in stages, as shown below:
  • First, stop and yield to people walking on the sidewalk.
  • Second, proceed slowly and yield to people in the bikeway. Look left and right for people biking both ways.
  • Third, look both ways and yield to vehicle traffic. It is ok to pause your vehicle in the sidewalk and bikeway as needed while waiting to turn.

Image modified from the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide

Tips for Bicyclists

• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. 
• Be aware that drivers may cross the bikeway to enter or exit driveways. Pay special attention at busy driveways like McKay Avenue. 
• Ride slowly through busy areas so that everyone has more time to see each other and react.
• Use a bell to help alert others of your presence.

Tips for Pedestrians

• At intersections without a traffic light, look both ways before crossing the bikeway and then look both ways again before crossing the travel lanes.
• Avoid walking in the bikeway except for short periods, like accessing parked vehicles or bus stops.

How to Use a Roundabout in Alameda

The Central Avenue project aims to improve safety for all street users and to reduce vehicle delays. In 2026, project construction was substantially completed on the following updates:

• A road diet with two motor vehicle travel lanes (one in each direction) and a two-way left-turn lane as a center lane.
• Three modern roundabouts Main/Pacific/Central, Third/Taylor/Central, and Fourth/Ballena/Central.
• A two-way, protected bikeway on the south side (closer to the Bay) between Main St and Eighth St near Washington Park. From Eighth St to Sherman St, the project added conventional one-way bike lanes on both sides of the street, closely matching the conditions on Encinal Ave, east of Sherman St.
• Improved bus stops, including a new transit island for safer bus boarding and alighting in front of Washington Park
• Enhanced pedestrian crossings
• Pavement resurfacing

The project also includes landscaping and stormwater management, being installed in late 2026 and early 2027. 

Project Background

The project area is along Central Avenue between Pacific Avenue/Main Street and Sherman Street/Encinal Avenue. Central Avenue is in school and recreation zones, an island arterial and a truck and transit route. Central Avenue is designated as Caltrans State Highway 61 between Webster Street and Sherman Street. AC Transit Lines 20, W, 631 and 661 run along Central Avenue mainly between Webster Street and Eighth Street. Prior to this project, no bikeways existed except for a path between Pacific Avenue and Lincoln Avenue. 

Why Central Ave

Prior to this project, the Central Avenue study area had a disproportionate number of injuries from collisions compared to other streets in Alameda. The Vision Zero Action Plan designated this corridor as a High Injury Corridor, and found that the Third/Taylor/Central and Webster/Central intersections with High Crash Intersections. 

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) also has issued a case studies document as well as additional resources.  FHWA Video and Fact Sheets are as follows:

Safety Benefits of Roundabouts

Roundabouts reduce the types of crashes where people are seriously hurt or killed by 78-82 percent when compared to conventional stop-controlled and signalized intersections, per the AASHTO Highway Safety Manual.  Roundabouts result in lower vehicle speeds, generally 15-25 miles per hour, around the roundabout.  Crashes that occur will be less severe because of this reduced speed and the more “sideswipe” nature of crashes.  Pedestrians are generally safer at roundabouts, and are faced with simpler decisions at a time. Videos and presentations on roundabouts are as follows:

• FHWA Video on Modern Roundabouts: A Safer Choice: https://youtu.be/uhHzly_6lWM
• FHWA Video on Modern Roundabouts: An Innovative Solution to Intersection Safety Concerns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6LoK0hxj7k
• Video on Why the US Hates Roundabouts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqcyRxZJCXc  
• FHWA Roundabout Safety Benefit Presentation: https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/innovative/roundabouts/presentations/safety_aspects/short.pdf 
• FHWA Roundabout Technical Summary Document: https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/innovative/roundabouts/fhwasa10006/fhwasa10006.pdf
• City of Alameda Transportation Commission roundabout education - January 27, 2021 - staff report/presentation - video
• MTC Video comparing roundabout and stop controlled intersection: 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4Si8tCuTCQ

• City of Carmel, Indiana - CBS News story video

This project added many features to improve access for people with disabilities, such as curb ramps, improved bus stops, and new disabled parking zones. For blind or low-vision road users, tactile maps of the roundabouts are available at the Reference Desk of the Alameda Main Library. If you would like to discuss these maps, please contact ada@alamedaca.gov.

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The City of Alameda will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities. If you need an alternative or translated format, please contact ada@alamedaca.gov or if you need a different reasonable accommodation, please fill out our ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request form. 

City Council approved the concept in 2021 with four roundabouts, and approved additional funding for three of the roundabouts in spring 2023. As of June 7, 2024, Caltrans authorized the City to start the construction phase with three funded roundabouts. The roundabout at Sherman/Encinal/Central is unfunded.

For the virtual open house, please click here.

For the project concept map, please click here(PDF, 4MB).

Open Forum / Web Surveys (Closed Topics)

Read what other community members have said about the Central Avenue Concept Proposal in several web surveys.  Staff reviewed the responses and incorporated them into the decision process.

Project Flyer - English - Spanish - Chinese

Meetings

• Community Workshop #1

- When: April 14, 2015

- Where: Encinal High School Cafeteria

   Press Release(PDF, 143KB)

   Letter Notification(PDF, 722KB)  (sent to 300 foot radius around the study area)

   Presentation(PDF, 8MB)

   Comments(PDF, 57KB)  (as of April 20, 2015)

- When:  May 27, 2015

- Where: City Hall, City Council Chambers

   Presentation(PDF, 6MB)

   Staff Report(PDF, 777KB)

   Comments(PDF, 300KB) (as of May 17, 2015)

   Video Link (select "Transportation Commission" and then "Video" (timestamp: 1:19:40)

• Community Workshop #2

- When:  June 4, 2015

- Where: Encinal High School Cafeteria

   Press Release(PDF, 267KB) (sent to 300 foot radius around the study area)

   Letter Notification(PDF, 113KB)

   Presentation(PDF, 6MB)

   Preferred Options Hand-out(PDF, 3MB)

   Facilitator Guide(PDF, 23KB)    

   Comment Card(PDF, 192KB)

   Comments(PDF, 1MB)

• Community Workshop #3

- When: September 17, 2015

- Where: Encinal High School Cafeteria

   Press Release(PDF, 340KB)

   Letter Notification(PDF, 733KB)  (sent to 300 foot radius around the study area)

   Presentation(PDF, 7MB)    

   Toolkit Hand-Out(PDF, 1MB)

   Intersections-Preliminary Recommendation(PDF, 4MB)

   Table Handouts(PDF, 4MB)

   Facilitator Guide(PDF, 23KB)

   Comment Card(PDF, 313KB)

   Comments(PDF, 754KB)  (as of October 12, 2015)

• Transportation Commission

- When: November 18, 2015

- Where: City Hall, City Council Chambers

   Staff Report(PDF, 833KB)

   Comments(PDF, 2MB)

   Existing Conditions Memo(PDF, 2MB)

   Concept Memo(PDF, 109KB)

   Presentation- Part 1(PDF, 7MB)

   Presentation- Part 2(PDF, 8MB)

• City Council - Special Meeting to request concept approval

- When: February 24, 2016 and February 29, 2016

- What:

   Staff Report(PDF, 7MB)

   Comments(PDF, 2MB)

   Existing Conditions Memo (same as above)

   Concept Memo (same as above)

   Concept Drawings - Pacific Avenue/Main Street to Encinal High School(PDF, 7MB)

   Concept Drawings - Paden School to Webster Street(PDF, 7MB)

   Concept Drawings - Webster Street to Eighth Street(PDF, 4MB)

  Concept Drawings - Eighth Street to Sherman Street/Encinal Avenue(PDF, 5MB)

   Cost Estimates(PDF, 42KB)

   Presentation - Part 1(PDF, 6MB)

   Presentation - Part 2(PDF, 5MB)

   Video Summary and Video Links - February 24, 2016 and February 29, 2016

   Staff Report

• City Council Meeting to Approve Central Avenue as a Grant Submittal

- When: October 18, 2016

- What: link to staff report

• City Council Meeting to Approve the Consultants for the Caltrans Required Project Initiation Document

- When: April 17, 2018

- What: link to staff report

• Community Workshop #4

- When: December 5, 2018

- Where: City Hall, City Council Chambers

- Why: Request community input to refine preliminary alternatives for further consideration and analysis in 2019 for the Webster Street Area and the San Francisco Bay Trail Area

Presentation(PDF, 5MB)

Video

Roll Plots of Preliminary Alternatives and Concepts:

- Section 1(PDF, 5MB) (Main Street/Pacific Avenue to Fourth Street)

- Section 2(PDF, 6MB) (Fourth Street to Sixth Street)

- Section 3(PDF, 11MB) (Sixth Street to Eighth Street)

- Section 3 zoomed in(PDF, 897KB) part between Webster Street and Page Street

- Section 4(PDF, 5MB) (Eighth Street to Sherman Street/Encinal Avenue)

• Transportation Commission

- When: January 23, 2019

- Why: Request Transportation Commission to approve the Webster Street options to analyze in 2019 and to extend the two-way bikeway along the SF Bay Trail between Paden School and McKay Avenue.

- What: link to staff report

• City Council

- When: March 19, 2019

- Why: Request City Council approval of the draft options for the Webster Street area to analyze in 2019 and request approval to extend the two-way bikeway along the SF Bay Trail between Paden School and McKay Avenue.

- What: link to staff report

• City Council

- When: November 5, 2019

- Where: City Hall, City Council Chambers (2263 Santa Clara Avenue)

- Why: City Council approval of a consultant contract amendment for the project approval and environmental phase (PA&ED) and the final design - plans, specifications and estimate phase (PS&E)

- What: link to staff report

- When: Tuesday, May 19, 2020

- Where: Zoom

- Why: City Council approval of Caltrans Cooperative Agreement for the project approval and environmental phase (PA&ED) and the final design - plans, specifications and estimate phase (PS&E)

- What: link to staff report

• Virtual Open House

- When: October 5 to 20, 2020

- Where: Please click here.

- Why: An opportunity for community member review of the Central Avenue design before Transportation Commission and City Council approval, and also includes the Caltrans' Encinal Avenue Pavement Preservation Project

• Transportation Commission

- When: November 18, 2020

- Where: Zoom

 - Why: The Transportation Commission recommended City Council approval of the final concept including the Webster Street area and roundabouts.

- What: link to staff report

• Virtual Open House

- When: February and March, 2021

- Where: Please click here

- Why:  An opportunity for community member review of the Central Avenue design before City Council request for approval, and also includes the Caltrans' Encinal Avenue Pavement Preservation Project.

• City Council

- When: April 20, 2021

- Where: Zoom

- Why: City staff/consultant team recommended approval of the final concept including the Webster Street area and roundabouts.  The City Council approved the final concept including the four roundabouts with the Sherman Street/Encinal Avenue roundabout as a slip lane and not a cul-de-sac. The City staff/consultant team are working to complete the environmental clearance this year and the design next year with construction expected to begin in late 2022. Please note that only two of the four roundabouts are funded, and City staff is seeking more monies for the Fourth Street/Ballena Blvd./Central Avenue and Sherman Street/Encinal Avenue/Central Avenue roundabouts.

- What: link to staff report

2026

• Construction expected to end

2025

• Construction begins

2024

• Completed design
• September: City Council approved the construction contract

2023

• Feb: City Council approved the Caltrans Cooperative Agreement for construction - Staff Report
• April: City Council approved the OBAG3 grant to fund the third roundabout at Central Avenue/Fourth Street/Ballena Blvd. - Staff Report
• June: City Council approved the EPA Water Quality grant to fund the bioretention areas of the three funded roundabouts - Staff Report(PDF, 197KB)

2022

• Sept: City Council approved a parking restriction resolution on the State Highway, which was a Caltrans requirement - Staff Report
• Dec: City Council approved an amendment to the consultant contract for design and construction - Staff Report
• Design in process

2021

• Feb: Virtual Open House, also includes the Caltrans' led Encinal Avenue project - Please click here. 
• April: City Council approved the final design concept - Staff Report
• Nov: Environmental clearance completed (CEQA and NEPA)

2020

• April: Caltrans approved the Project Initiation Document
• May: City Council approved the Caltrans Cooperative Agreement for the PA&ED and the PS&E - Staff Report
• Oct: Joint virtual open house with Caltrans on Encinal Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation Project - Please click here.
• Nov: Transportation Commission approved the final concept design including Webster Street area and roundabouts - Staff Report

2019

• Jan 23: Transportation Commission approved draft Webster St area options for analysis in 2019 and the two-way bikeway extension along the San Francisco Bay Trail area between Paden School and McKay Avenue - Staff Report
• March: City Council approved draft Webster St area options for 2019 analysis and the two-way bikeway extension along the San Francisco Bay Trail area east to McKay Avenue - Staff Report
• June: City Council approved $2.5 million for fiscal years 2019 to 2021 as shown in the Capital Improvement Program Project Sheet(PDF, 126KB)
• Nov: City Council approved a contract amendment for the project approval and environmental phase (PA&ED) and the final design - plans, specifications and estimate phase (PS&E) - Staff Report

2018

• Jan: City Council approved the Transportation Choices Plan, which included the Central Avenue project - Staff Report
• April: City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a cooperative agreement with Caltrans and a contract with CDM Smith to prepare the PID - Staff Report
• Dec: Community Workshop #4: Review of draft options for Webster St and SF Bay Trail area 

2017

• April: Won an Alameda CTC grant totaling $3.5 million
• June: City Council approved $557,000 of the local match monies for fiscal years 2017 to 2019 as shown in the Capital Improvement Program Project Sheet(PDF, 135KB)

2016

• Feb: City Council approved the Central Avenue concept - Staff Report(PDF, 7MB)
• Oct: City Council approved the Alameda CTC CIP 2018 grant submittal - Staff Report
• Dec: Won ATP grant totaling $7.3 million - CTC Staff Report(PDF, 243KB)

2015 (Details in Town Hall tab)

• April: Community workshop #1 (Encinal High School)
• May: Transportation Commission (City Hall)
• June: Community workshop #2 (Encinal High School)
• Sept: Community workshop #3 (Encinal High School)
• Nov: Transportation Commission (City Hall)

2014

• Nov: City Council awarded the concept proposal contract to Placeworks - Staff Report(PDF, 146KB) 

2013

• March: Staff submitted a Community-Based Transportation Planning (CBTP) grant to Caltrans.
• May: City Council approved the planning grant application - Staff Report(PDF, 294KB)
• Sept: Caltrans awarded the City of Alameda a CBTP planning grant totaling $232,000 with a local match of $25,800 from Measure B.

2012

• Oct: Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) included the Central Avenue study area in the Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans as part of the Bicycle Vision Network.