TRANSPORTATION & ACCESSIBILITY
Changes for a Safe and Accessible Oakland
Public transit and the necessary infrastructure that supports it are critical to creating an Oakland of opportunity for its residents. Unfortunately, poor management, lack of funding, and chronic neglect have left major public projects languishing, many roads practically impassable, and sidewalks too dangerous to traverse. Oaklanders deserve better.
The East Bay Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project that runs along International Avenue was pitched to the people as a way to bring frequent, safe, and reliable bus service to East Oakland. However, the construction of the BRT has been far too slow, disrupting business and parking availability, and increasing traffic.
District 5 is notorious throughout Oakland for its hazardous streets, both in Glenview and in Fruitvale. We have had numerous high-profile pedestrian collisions, several resulting in injury and death. Roads with massive potholes prompt erratic driving and swerving, and are also walking hazards to the elderly. Furthermore, roads without speed bumps facilitate speeding and car crashes. As we reimagine public safety, we should prioritize making the roads and infrastructure we already have safer.
After spending an afternoon with Laurie G., a D5 resident and wheelchair user, I was made aware of the lack of curb cuts and shoddy stopgap “bridges” that she and other disabled people contend with every day. The terrible sidewalk conditions force Laurie to get around by riding in the street. This is unacceptable. No one should have to risk their own safety because the city hasn’t made necessary repairs to critical infrastructure.
We can all agree that these problems need to be solved, and that many of the city’s proposed solutions are good in theory, but poor city systems and labor practices stymie good ideas. Oakland’s reliance on outsourcing construction, project management, resident relations, and compensatory small business grant disbursal to sub-contractors, instead of giving jobs to city workers, has brought much needed progress and improvement to a halt.
I intend to use a Black New Deal to create a city-funded job corps that implements vital transportation services. We can pay union scale to Oaklanders, generating economic stability while in the same effort repairing curbs and potholes and building ramps and speed bumps. Additionally, I propose launching a comprehensive accessibility audit of our roads and sidewalks, as many of our city streets are not in alignment with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and I plan to push the city to grant funding for businesses in older buildings to help them achieve ADA compliance.
Addressing basic transportation needs makes Oakland safer and more accessible for everyone. I promise to fight for all Oaklanders’ rights to safe roads and easy access.