Clement Avenue/Tilden Way Improvement Project

Existing Conditions to Proposed Conditions

About the Clement Avenue/Tilden Way Improvement Project

The Clement Avenue/Tilden Way Improvement project will improve safety for all street users and reduce vehicle delays on and off the island. It includes a roadway reconfiguration with the construction of a roundabout at Tilden Way/Blanding Avenue/Fernside Boulevard, safety improvements at the intersection of Tilden Way/Broadway, and an extension of Clement Avenue from Broadway to Tilden Way. The project also proposes to improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities, improve bus stops, resurface the pavement, and create an open space dog park and other landscaping. For information about how to use a roundabout, please visit the Roundabouts in Alameda webpage.

Construction work is planned to take place in 5 stages and involve various road closures with detours both for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.  Work includes, but is not limited to, demolition of existing roadways, installation of new utilities and roadways, and new pavement delineation and landscaping. The Bridgeside Shopping Center will remain open throughout the duration of construction, although expect detours to gain access to the center.

Figure 1 - Existing Conditions

Existing Conditions

 

Figure 2 - Proposed Final Conditions

Proposed Final Conditions

 

What's Next: Stage 1

Stage 1 construction involves temporarily closing the right shoulder of Broadway between Tilden Way and Clement Avenue. Street parking and driveway access within the work area will be affected. “No Parking” signs will be posted 72 hours in advance of any work.

This stage will focus on constructing the extension of Clement Avenue from Broadway to Tilden Way. This stage will also focus on constructing half of the pedestrian/bicycle path from the Bridgeside Shopping Center along Tilden Way. Temporary walkways will be placed giving pedestrians and bicyclists a travel path from the extended Clement Avenue to the shopping center.

Nearby residents and businesses will receive more information directly as construction progresses. The City’s contractor is scheduled to mobilize on October 20 to start construction activities. Stage 1 is expected to begin this October and end in February 2026, subject to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Figure 3 - Stage 1 Construction Areas

Stage 1 Construction Areas

 

See below for all construction stages and scheduled work for each.

Stage 1: October 20, 2025 - February 2026

  • Mobilize for construction
  • Construction for Clement Avenue extension
  • Pedestrian improvements north of Tilden Way
  • Removal of railroad tracks, platform, and equipment

Stage 2: February - May 2026

  • Implement Fernside Boulevard closure at approach to Tilden Way with detours around road closure
  • Construction for roundabout at Tilden Way/Fernside Boulevard/Blanding Avenue intersection
  • Temporary Tilden Way roadway north of roundabout

Stage 3: May - July 2026

  • Continue Fernside Boulevard closure a approach to Tilden Way with detours around road closure
  • Construction for pedestrian islands/medians at south side of Tilden Way/Fernside Boulevard/Blanding Avenue intersection

Stage 4: July - August 2026

  • Open Fernside Boulevard approach to Tilden Way
  • Remove temporary roadway
  • Open roundabout
  • Construction of pedestrian improvements west side of intersections at Tilden Way/Broadway and Tilden Way/Fernside Boulevard/Blanding Avenue
  • Complete connection of Clement Avenue extension to Tilden Way

Stage 5: August - October 2026

  • Implement Blanding Avenue closure at approach to Tilden Way with detours around road closure
  • Construction for Blanding Avenue approach improvements to Tilden Way
  • Pedestrian improvements east side of intersection at Tilden Way/Broadway
  • Complete landscaping/irrigation/dog park improvements
  • Final paving improvements

2026

  • Construction expected to end

2025

2024

  • Summer: Prepare detailed design
  • Fall: Submittal of the soil cleanup plan for review by the Department of Toxic Substance Control
  • Late: Complete design

2023

  • Jan 25: AC Transit Interagency Liaison Committee - presentation(PDF, 4MB)
  • Jan 25: Transportation Commission endorsed recommended concept - Staff report: click here
  • March 7: City Council (request approval of recommended concept and consultant amendment) - WITHDRAWN from agenda - agenda
  • March 15: Site tour with the Mayor and City Council - corner of Fernside Blvd. and Tilden Way - special meeting announcement is shown here
  • March 21: City Council (endorsed recommended concept and consultant amendment) - staff report: click here
  • Preliminary design

2022

2021

  • August: City purchased Clement/Tilden property from Union Pacific via eminent domain for $1.54 million

2019

  • June: City Council appropriated an additional $2 million in Measure BB grant funds and $470,000 of local match for fiscal years 2019 to 2021 as shown in the CIP Project Sheet(PDF, 176KB)

2018

  • July: City Council authorized the pre-construction grant funding agreement with Alameda CTC totaling $2 million in Measure BB funds and $445,000 in local match - Staff report: click here
  • Sept: City Council approved taking action to acquire Union Pacific property via eminent domain for the Clement Avenue/Tilden Way extension - Staff report: click here

2017

  • April: Won an Alameda CTC Measure BB grant totaling $8.4 million with $1 million local match to fund the right-of-way purchase, planning, environmental clean-up, design and construction
  • June: City Council appropriated $1.7 million in Measure BB grant funds and $548,000 of local match for fiscal years 2017 to 2019 as shown in the Capital Improvement Program Project Sheet(PDF, 313KB)

2016

  • October: Alameda CTC CIP grant submittal

Project Goals

For the Clement Avenue/Tilden Way Project, the City seeks to:

  • Promote safety by prioritizing Vision Zero
  • Improve mobility for all modes, including AC Transit buses and trucks
  • Comply with City plans & policies
  • Provide flood reduction and landscaping opportunities

  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Recommended Strategies

The City staff/consultant team will consider various strategies to improve safety and operations such as road diets and roundabouts as described more below.

Road Diets

The reduction of motor vehicle travel lane(s) provides an opportunity to reallocate space for other uses such as bike lanes and a center two-way left-turn lane.  According to the Federal Highway Administration's informational guide(PDF, 2MB) , streets with travel lane reductions have multiple benefits for people driving, walking and bicycling, such as:
  • Decreases vehicle travel lanes for pedestrians to cross;
  • Allows for better visibility of pedestrians waiting or attempting to cross the street;
  • Improves circulation for bicyclists when a bikeway is added;
  • Reduces rear-end, sideswipe and left-turn collisions by at least 19 percent and up to 47 percent through the use of a center two-way left-turn lane;
  • Improves speed limit compliance by three to five miles per hour, which reduces the severity of collisions; and
  • Improves travel flow since through vehicles are separated from left turning vehicles.

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

Roundabouts

Roundabouts reduce the types of crashes where people are seriously hurt or killed by up to 78 percent when compared to signalized intersections.  Roundabouts result in lower vehicle speeds 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:

Project History

In March 2023, the City Council endorsed the design concept and authorized the consultant amendment to proceed with design - staff report is here . In July 2024, BART and the City of Alameda signed an agreement securing $2.1 million in Safe Routes to BART funding, which is from voter-approved Measure RR funds. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2025 after the Department of Toxic Substances Control approves the soil cleanup plan.

Background: The Clement Avenue/Tilden Way project uses the abandoned railroad right-of-way at Clement Avenue and Tilden Way to extend the Cross Alameda Trail between Broadway and the Miller-Sweeney/Fruitvale Bridge and to improve the truck and bus routes in this area.  This project connects to the City's Clement Avenue Complete Street project, and to the City of Oakland's planned and funded Fruitvale Avenue improvements.  In 2017, the Alameda County Transportation Commission awarded a grant to the City of Alameda for $10 million including local match to close the gap in the Cross Alameda Trail and truck route.  This project is funded by Measure BB, Alameda County's transportation sales tax. In July 2024, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) awarded a grant to the City of Alameda for $2.1 million to include bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of Tilden Way and Broadway.

Concept: Includes a bikeway, walkway, road diet, westbound Clement Avenue extension, open space, stormwater gardens, bus stop improvements, a dog park, a roundabout at the Blanding/Tilden/Fernside intersection, and bicycle/pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of Tilden Way and Broadway.  Road diets reduce crashes up to 47 percent.  Roundabouts reduce fatal and severe injury crashes up to 78 percent compared to traffic signals.

Westbound Vehicle and Cross Alameda Trail Extension Concept(PDF, 2MB)  

Roundabout overlay with existing conditions(PDF, 1MB)

Status

Bids were received on June 3 and a construction agreement awarded by City Council on July 15, 2025.

 

The project is currently in the pre-construction phase, with the City's construction contractor, Bay Cities, scheduled to be mobilized on October 20, 2025.

 

Upcoming construction stage: Stage 1

 

For project updates via email, subscribe directly here.

Project Contacts

Public Works/Engineering

Ali Hatefi, Senior Engineer

ahatefi@alamedaca.gov 

510-747-7972

 

Construction Manager (for details about construction)

Gene Barry

gbarry@4leafinc.com

510-856-6820

Quick Links

> Roundabouts in Alameda

> Building Safer Streets

> Vision Zero

More Information

Learn more information on this project from the City's 2023-2025 Capital Budget CIP Project Sheet(PDF, 273KB).

Funding

This project is funded by Measure BB, Alameda County's transportation sales tax, Measure RR (the Safe Routes to BART), Transportation Development Impacts Fees (DIF), Construction Impact Fees (CIF), Highway Users Tax Account (HUTA Gas tax), and General Fund (Dog Park Construction).

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