Draft plan designed to keep most big rigs away from homes, improve safety
Port of Oakland and City officials are circulating a draft plan to reduce the impact of transport trucks on local streets. Called the West Oakland Truck Management Plan, it’s intended to improve the quality of life for the area’s residents.
Among the plan’s objectives:
- Reduce disruption for residents and businesses in West Oakland from truck traffic and truck parking.
- Increase safety near designated truck routes.
- Have truck drivers know preferred routes to reach their destinations and know the City’s parking restrictions.
“When the plan is implemented, the community should experience fewer trucks driving or parking in residential areas,” said City of Oakland Planner Patricia McGowan.
The plan’s truck management strategies concentrate on West Oakland since that residential neighborhood is closest to the Port. Big rigs stream into the Port daily to pick up or drop off cargo containers. As the City develops adjacent property at the former Oakland Army Base, additional trucks will be driving into the area.
The Truck Management Plan addresses trucks driving on streets not designated as Truck Routes. It also looks at trucks parking in residential areas. The plan would steer trucks away from residential areas with the help of new, more prominent signage for Truck Routes and preferred delivery routes for truck-oriented businesses in West Oakland. Safety measures at street intersections near the Port could include high-visibility crosswalks, improved signage and pedestrian safety zones.
The plan would also propose changes in parking regulations. City staff would be responsible for enforcing truck regulations, according to the plan. Steps would include refresher courses in how to write parking citations for trucks and trailers. The City could also consider hiking fines for truck parking violations.
The Port and City conducted four workshops as part of an extensive public outreach to help craft the 38-page plan. The plan is available for review at Port and City offices as well as some libraries. Public comments on the plan are being accepted through Jan. 4, 2019.
“We’ve listened intently to community concerns about truck traffic in Oakland,” said Port Environmental Planner Andrea Gardner. “And the community has helped us develop a plan that will make life measurably better for our residential neighbors.”
Implementation of the truck management strategies would begin immediately after adoption, said the plan’s authors. The complete rollout is expected to take five years.
