Oakland-Alameda Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge

Update: A Project Initiation Document(PDF, 3MB) (PSR-PDS) was completed for the Oakland Alameda Estuary Bridge project in June 2024. The project area with the three potential bridge locations is shown in this project area map(PDF, 238KB) .

Check out this Estuary Bridge web page for more details, particularly on developing the Project Initiation Document: www.estuarybridge.org

Alameda, in partnership with the City of Oakland and other stakeholders, is working to create a vastly improved estuary crossing for people biking and walking, knitting together the two cities across the estuary. A new, moveable bicycle/pedestrian bridge would create an easy-to-use, safe and enjoyable connection, filling the significant lack of walking and biking facilities between the West End of Alameda, Jack London Square, Downtown Oakland and beyond.

Overview

In 2009, the City issued the Estuary Crossing Study(PDF, 6MB), which evaluated 17 possible ways to facilitate a comfortable crossing for people walking, biking and taking transit. A bridge was the top long-term recommendation.

In early 2021, the Estuary Crossing Study: Detailed Feasibility and Travel Demand Analysis(PDF, 12MB) was published, which further explored a smaller set of crossing options and studied the technical feasibility of a bicycle/pedestrian bridge that meets the Coast Guard navigational requirements. The study concluded that such a bridge is feasible. As a part of this analysis, a spreadsheet tool(XLSX, 6MB) was also developed to compare the expected usage of different crossing options.

With funding from the countywide transportation sales tax, the City is now developing a Project Initiation Document, which will position the project to receive funding for future phases, including construction.

Timeline

2022

January: Presentation to Oakland's Measure DD Community Coalition
March: Released RFP for Project Initiation Document (PID) Phase
May: Included in adopted Alameda CTC Countywide Bikeways Network, a 400-mile bikeway network that will create a fully connected and high-quality network
June: Included in Caltrans Bay Area Bike Highway Study as one of the top three scoring corridors (see p.56)
July: Included as part of the Regional Active Transportation Network, adopted by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)
July: Council awards consultant contracts for PID Phase and work begins
November/December: Technical Advisory Committee meeting #1, Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting #1, Equity Advisory Committee meeting #1
November 17: Presentation to San Francisco Bay Trail Steering Committee
November: Included in North Alameda County Core Connections Plan (Project ID #3)
December: Technical Advisory Committee meeting #2

2021

Completed Estuary Crossing Study: Detailed Feasibility and Travel Demand Analysis, with U.S. Coast Guard concurrence
Alameda CTC allocates $1.56 million for Project Initiation Document (PID)
Project update to Alameda City Council, with acceptance of Alameda CTC funding (June 15, 2021)
Included in Caltrans District 4 Pedestrian Plan
Included in City of Alameda General Plan 2040

2020

Bridge the Gap Workshop(PDF, 2MB) with Jack London Square BID and Groundworks (March 10, 2020)
Included in draft bikeway network recommendations for City of Alameda Active Transportation Plan
Included on 10-year Priority List for Alameda CTC's Alameda Countywide Transportation Plan

2019

Included in Let’s Bike Oakland!, an update to the City of Oakland's Bicycle Plan
Included in Alameda County Transportation Commission's Active Transportation Plan
Referenced in The Downtown Oakland Specific Plan (Public Review Draft)

2018

Included as a Long-Term Project (#39) in City of Alameda Transportation Choices Plan
Included as a Top-Tier Alameda County Project (#Ala-260-X01) in Caltrans District 4 Bike Plan

2016