FAQs as of 2021
Original FAQs for Slow Streets program are here(PDF, 116KB) .
Update as of June 14, 2021
A short Slow Street is being implemented in phases on Orion Street, between West Midway Avenue to Pearl Harbor Road. By Tuesday, June 15, barricades will be placed at each end of this street segment. Within the next month, speed cushions will be installed on the street. This effort, which helps to broaden the Slow Streets further into west Alameda, was approved by the City Council in March 2021.
Update as of March 2021
Council direction given in March 2021 not to continue the Slow Streets network expansion, except for adding Orion Street, north of West Midway.
Update as of Feb 11, 2021
On Friday, Feb. 12th, the City will make a minor adjustment to the Versailles Slow Street, by moving the barricade from Otis Dr, back one block to Calhoun St. This new location will be safer, reflect the draft recommendations in the Active Transportation Plan, and provide better connectivity to other destinations. Motorists on Otis Dr wishing to travel north beyond the immediate vicinity are still encouraged to use an alternate route, such as Broadway.
Update as of October 2020
City Council direction given at their October 20, 2020 meeting to continue the Slow Streets program for an additional year, through October 31, 2021.
Update as of September 2020
City staff will take recommendations on the future of the program to the Transportation Commission on September 23 and then the City Council on October 20, 2020.
The program continues to have wide community support. Almost 1000 people have responded to the program survey, with 73% of respondents supporting the program and 72% who would like to see it continue. Of all respondents, 16% live on a Slow Street. The top issue by far with the Slow Streets before June 15th (the time of the most recent program expansion), was "missing road closures barriers/signage" (33%). Since June 15th, that percentage has dropped to 22%, however "speeding cars" and "driver confusion" have gone up from 12 to 23% and 13 to 24%, respectively. However, this data is based on a much smaller pool of responses - there are only 115 responses since June 15th.
Update as of June 18, 2020
On Friday, June 19th, the City will add two additional Slow Streets, creating 4.5 total miles of Slow Streets in Alameda:
Notification flyers were delivered to residents on these blocks on June 16th.
These street segments were selected in part based on community input via our Slow Streets survey (see tab below). The program continues to have wide community support (73% of the 866 survey respondents said they support the program), and the number of people walking and biking on these streets remains high.
The implementation of further phases of the program, endorsed by City Council at their May 19th meeting, will be dependent on ongoing program evaluation and social distancing requirements. Potential future phases are shown on the map in the tab below.
Update as of May 21, 2020
With the City Council’s endorsement at their May 19th meeting, two additional Slow Streets will be added on Tuesday, May 26th:
Notification flyers are being delivered now to residents on these blocks. (Note that the start date on the neighborhood flyer was modified to May 26th after printing.)
At this same meeting, the City Council also endorsed the further expansion of the program, as shown in the map in the tab below. Exact streets and implementation of further phases will be dependent on ongoing program evaluation and social distancing requirements.
Thanks to the over 470 people who filled out our survey as of May 19th! In response to suggestions received, the City added more barricades to the original two Slow Streets and will install barricades at all busier intersections along the two new Slow Streets. With 75% of respondents in support of the program and the increased usage of these streets for walking and biking, staff recommended program expansion. Streets recommended for expansion were selected in large part based on public input.
Update from May 14, 2020
Thanks to the over 320 people who have filled out our survey to date! In response, the City has:
- Added an additional 8 barricades to the Slow Streets on Pacific and Versailles Avenues, to alert drivers that the street is closed to through traffic.
- Recommended an expansion of the program, which is being considered by the City Council on Tuesday, May 19 (Item 2-D of the Special Meeting listed at the end of the regular meeting agenda; methods for public comment are shown at the top of the meeting agenda). Based on community feedback, the Phase 2 expansion, if endorsed by City Council, would extend the Pacific Ave Slow Street to the west to Ninth St, and add Santa Clara Ave from Sixth Street to Pacific Ave. Streets to consider for future expansion are included in the staff report, and in the map included under the map tab below.