November 2012 election requires 2/3rds support
for final approval

We are delighted to report that the Alameda CTC Board approved on January 26 a total of $883 million for bike/ped projects in the Expenditure Plan for the Measure B transportation sales reauthorization. This is 11.34% of all funds in the $7.8 billion Plan and in today's dollars amounts to approximately $22 million/year for bikes and pedestrians, more than four times what the current Measure B allocates. The Board also committed to a student bus pass and a full alternatives analysis for BART to Livermore.

Measure B will allocate more money for bike/ped projects than highway projects - a first!....Art Dao, Executive Director, Alameda CTC

Art Dao, the Executive Director of the Alameda CTC, emphasized to the Board that Measure B's 11.34% for bike/ped projects is the highest percentage of any transportation sales tax in the region. Mr. Dao also provided a unique perspective on funding priorities: Measure B will allocate more money for bike/ped projects than highway projects - a first! Of course, all this good news requires 2/3rd voter approval come November 2012. You will be hearing a lot more this year about EBBC's "Yes on Measure B" campaign and how you can help make Alameda County one hecka bike-friendly town.

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Bike Ped Fact Sheet for Measure B

Measure B Expenditure Plan 2012

January 18 Update:
The Planning Commission directed staff to schedule a public workshop and walking tour of Chinatown in February 2012 to further explore issues around development, streetscapes, security, affordable housing, gateway designs and appropriate scope for new buildings. Look for an upcoming announcement on this public workshop soon.

EBBC and our allies attended the Oakland Planning Commission to voice support for the Lake Merritt BART Station Area Plan and the bike lanes it includes on Oak, Madison, Webster, Franklin, 8th and 9th (east of Harrison), 10th St and 7th St. We also voiced our concerns about the lack of better bike access through the core of Chinatown on 8th and 9th Streets, and the need to study better loading zones in the area and how bikes and trucks can better share the road.

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node_9077_user_51_map2.jpg

January 19, 2012 Update:
Caltrans is moving ahead with its Niles Canyon Roadway Safety Project, to provide 10' wide shoulders along SR 84 thru Niles Canyon. While this is great for bicyclists due to the shoulders and the fact that there is no shoulder along much of the canyon road, many groups are opposing this vast project, including the City of Fremont.

For bikes, Caltrans is also considering adding flashing beacons, in-road detectors and countdown signals at the entrances to the bridges in the canyon, to alert motorists to the presence of bicyclists on the bridges. The details are still being worked out on how to make this work effectively for many levels of different skilled cyclists. Caltrans is not going to lower the speed limits on the bridges, as has been requested by EBBC and Saves Niles Canyon groups, and they also will not place 'transverse' rumble strips in the vehicle lanes, to alert motorists as they approach the bridges, again as EBBC and Saves Niles Canyon groups have requested. EBBC will continue to push Caltrans on these two points as Caltrans moves toward doing a revised Environmental Impact Report on the Project. The timeline is to have the EIR out for public review in Sept-Oct, 2012 and have construction start in 2015.

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Caltrans Project Description

EBBC Letter to Caltrans regarding project