Segment of Webster Street to be reduced to 2-lanes

Published on August 04, 2020

Segment of Webster Street to be reduced to 2-lanes to increase space for physical distancing and outdoor dining and retail

As we enter the fifth full month of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our local businesses are suffering. To allow more space for businesses to thrive, a segment of Webster Street will be reconfigured, similar to what was done on Park Street in early July. This effort is part of the City’s Commercial Streets program, approved by the City Council in May, to create more space in our business districts for people to wear a face covering while they safely shop and dine.

This Thursday night, August 6, and Friday morning, August 7, the City will restripe Webster Street (from Taylor Avenue to Lincoln Avenue) from 4-lanes to 2-lanes, with left turn pockets at major intersections. During the restriping, at least one lane will remain open at all times, and signage will be in place alerting people to the change.

The existing parking lane will become space for outdoor dining, retail, and for customers to line up. The current outer traffic lanes will become pick-up and drop-off parking only, leaving the two inside lanes for vehicles and bicycles to travel. This conceptual diagram shows how the reconfiguration will look once complete:

Planned restriping on Webster Street from to Santa Clara Avenue to Haight Avenue

Right away, you can expect to see the space being used to allow for more physical distancing while waiting in line and dining. Some businesses, with a City-approved permit, have already begun installing “parklets” (using parking spaces), where they can use the expanded space for outdoor dining. Additional businesses have applied for parklet permits and will be approved and built soon. Additional bicycle parking will also be installed in select former parking spaces. All bus stops will remain in place. At this time, the restriping is expected to remain in place through early November.

The City is closely monitoring the benefits and impacts of restriping Park Street with an inter-departmental and cross-agency team that meets weekly, and has found the project to mostly be working favorably. A similar effort will be done for Webster Street. An early evaluation will be conducted for both streets and will be brought to the City Council in October for their consideration of continuing the program past November.

Many thanks to the West Alameda Business Association (WABA) for their assistance in developing this new program, which will support the health of our businesses and the entire community.

Read more about the Commercial Streets program, find information about applying for a parklet permit, and, once the street is restriped, complete a survey on how the street is working.