City to Convert Slow Streets to Neighborhood Greenways

City seeks public input on speed reduction tools, barricade phase-out, safety measures, traffic reduction tools, and more

Love ’em or hate ’em, Slow Streets are still a thing in Alameda—at least for now. The City is working to convert many Slow Streets to Neighborhood Greenways , designed to give priority to people walking and bicycling, and to allow bicyclists and motorists to safely share the road on low-volume, low-speed, local streets. Barricades on Slow Streets would be removed.

The City is asking for public input on the plan, but first, here’s the story on how Slow Streets got started.

First implemented in 2020 to facilitate physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, these “soft street closures” allowed residents to continue to drive for a very short distance on the streets where they live, while barricades stopped other through traffic and created a safe space for the community to safely walk, run, bike, and scooter.

The streets involved were Pacific Avenue (Ninth to Oak streets), San Jose Avenue (Morton to Oak streets), Morton Street (San Jose to San Antonio avenues), Santa Clara Avenue (Pacific Avenue to Sixth Street), Versailles Avenue (Fernside Boulevard to Calhoun Street), and Orion Street (West Midway Avenue to Pearl Harbor Road).

Neighborhood Greenways

In 2024-2030, the City will work to implement the nine Neighborhood Greenways in the Active Transportation Plan’s 2030 Low-Stress Backbone Network , totaling 10 miles. The first Slow Street segments to be converted to Neighborhood Greenways, in 2024-2025, will be Pacific Avenue, San Jose Avenue/Morton Street and Versailles Avenue. Barricades will be removed on those streets. (Santa Clara Avenue is not slated to become a Greenway.)

Corridor treatments to lower auto speeds and volumes (and increase comfort):

• Speed cushions/speed humps.
• Speed tables.
• Neighborhood traffic circles.
• Chicanes.
• Partial diverters.
• Auto filters/turn restrictions.
• Lower speed limits to 20 mph.
• Move/remove/replace stop signs.

Crossing treatments to increase safety and comfort:

• High-visibility crosswalk markings.
• Raised crosswalks.
• Bulbouts.
• Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, including push buttons for people biking.
• Pedestrian hybrid beacons (HAWK signals).

Placemaking/wayfinding to identify Greenways to all users and allow people to find their way:

• Pavement markings
• Wayfinding signage
• Placemaking such as asphalt art/signage/markers

What’s your opinion?

Take the survey now . Other options to provide comment include the Transportation Commission meeting at City Hall and on Zoom, August 28 at 6:30 p.m., and the City Council meeting at City Hall and on Zoom on September 17 at 7 p.m. Information about joining these meetings via Zoom will be available closer to the meeting date.

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