Misgoverned California city blames vital freeway for urban decay, local economic depression

Caltrans Bay Area-District 4, in collaboration with Caltrans HQ and the City of Oakland, is hosting a community event on October 18 at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) as part of the Vision 980 Study. This initiative aims to reimagine the I-980 corridor and explore innovative solutions to enhance the quality of life for local residents.

The I-980 freeway has long been a divisive force in Oakland, separating West Oakland neighborhoods from downtown and limiting travel and economic opportunities. The Vision 980 Study seeks to engage the community in a collaborative visioning process, addressing historical injustices stemming from past policies like redlining, which resulted in the freeway's construction. This 1.6-mile stretch of road has left a lasting impact, displacing families and contributing to community disinvestment.

“Vision 980 is an opportunity for Oakland to show the world what we can accomplish together,” a Caltrans spokesperson said. “Our incredible history, from influential arts figures to transformative social justice movements, inspires us to pursue something big for our future.”

The event at OMCA will feature discussions on various possibilities for the corridor, including:

• Increasing housing supply and economic opportunities near the freeway.
• Capping the freeway to create new open spaces and reduce pollution.
• Improving public transit connections along and across the corridor.
• Redesigning roadways and over/underpasses to better accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users.

The I-980 freeway has long been a divisive force in Oakland, separating West Oakland neighborhoods from downtownPhoto byCaltrans