Slow Streets Alameda

What is the current intention for the Slow Streets, in 2023?

To have low-speed and low-volume streets that provide comfortable places for people of all ages and abilities to bike, and for people to comfortably walk on the sidewalks. They will be in place until the actions described at the top of this web page are implemented. 

How do I drive on a Slow Street?

The streets are intended for local access only, which means you may drive on the street segment if you live there, are visiting someone, or have business, like a delivery, on that street segment. People driving on Slow Streets are encouraged to go very slowly and use caution on these shared streets. Other motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes.  

What activities are allowed on these Slow Streets?

• Bicycling by people of all ages and abilities in the street and walking/running on the sidewalks.
• Emergency vehicles, paratransit vehicles, and those whose final destination is on the street.
• People carrying out essential business activities, such as deliveries.
• Waste collection is allowed and will continue.
• On-street parking. 

Is the City adding more Slow Streets?

No. The Active Transportation Plan, however, identifies many new Neighborhood Greenways, which are traffic-calmed, low-volume and low-speed streets.

What about all the other streets in the city?

Alameda is a Vision Zero City and strongly urges all drivers to drive slowly and safely, and to expect to see people walking and biking along ALL streets. 

Please select the appropriate request method: 

• Report a specific maintenance issue along streets that have been designated as Slow Streets. Go to See Click Fix, and select the "Street Signs" category. Note that the Slow Street barricades and posts are regularly maintained on a monthly basis, so the repair may not be done for several weeks. 
• Report a safety issue or your general input on the Slow Streets by emailing Transportation@alamedaca.gov.

The City has 4.7 miles of Slow Streets in Alameda on these streets:

• Pacific Ave (Ninth to Oak Streets) 

• San Jose Ave (Morton to Oak Streets) + Morton St (San Jose to San Antonio Avenues)

• Santa Clara Ave (Pacific Ave to Sixth St)

• Versailles Ave (Fernside Blvd to Calhoun St)

• Orion St (West Midway Ave to Pearl Harbor Rd)

(PDF, 186KB)

Staff conducted a thorough evaluation of the Slow Streets program, with public engagement, from July-September 2021, to gather input on the impact of the Slow Streets program and opinions on if and how to continue the program beyond October 2021. At its December 21, 2021 meeting, the City Council voted to continue the program until the recommendations for the Slow Streets in the Active Transportation Plan (ATP) are implemented. This approach was re-affirmed at the Council's December 20, 2022 meeting where the ATP was adopted, as summarized at the top of this web page.

Recommendations and Data Analysis:  

• Recommendations to City Council (12/21/21) - Supported
• Recommendations to Transportation Commission (10/27/21) - Unanimously supported.
• Traffic Data: Alameda Slow Streets Before and After Study(PDF, 1MB)   
• Bicycle, Pedestrian and Auto Counts(PDF, 114KB)  

Public Engagement: 

• Community survey, conducted August 9 - 29, 2021, with almost 2,000 responses:

• Summary of survey responses(PDF, 388KB)

• Survey comments on specific Slow Streets and overall:

• Orion(PDF, 74KB) •  Pacific(PDF, 144KB)  •  San Jose/Morton(PDF, 112KB)  •  Santa Clara(PDF, 105KB)  •  Versailles(PDF, 198KB)  •  Additional Comments(PDF, 284KB) •  All Comments compiled(PDF, 516KB)

• Four virtual open houses:

• Summary of comments [coming soon]
• Watch the Open House presentation [12 minutes]
• Thursday, August 12, 12 noon – 1 pm
• Thursday, August 12, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
• Tuesday, August 17, 6:00 - 7:00pm
• Monday, August 30, 5:30 – 6:30 pm

• In person outreach events:

• Farmers Market: Saturday, July 17, 9:00 – 11:00 am
• Open House: Saturday, July 17, 2:00 - 5:00 pm

Stay up-to-date: subscribe to our mailing list (look for "Transp - Commercial and Slow Streets")

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:

• San Jose Ave (Morton to Oak Streets) + Morton St (San Jose to San Antonio Avenues)

• Versailles Ave (Extend current Slow Street from Central Ave to Otis Dr)

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:

• Pacific Avenue (Grand to 9th Streets)

• Santa Clara Avenue (Sixth St to Pacific Ave)

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.