West Oakland STEP

Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP) Implementation Grant

City of Oakland Department of Transportation | West Oakland STEP

February 2023 – March 2026

Project Details

Through four projects, West Oakland STEP aims to bring West Oakland sustainable transportation while reducing the community’s disproportionate exposure to air pollution. Implementation of strategies from the West Oakland Truck Management Plan will reduce diesel truck emissions in residential neighborhoods by educating operators, upgrading truck route signs, training enforcement staff, and identifying truck traffic calming design treatments. The Pedestrian Improvements and Urban Greening project will repair sidewalks, plant hundreds of trees and shrubs as part of several showcase projects, and create an urban greening stewardship model. The Bike Resource Hub will provide free monthly workshops, Earn-A-Bike programming for youth to refurbish donated bikes, bike repair services, and fix-it stations at key destinations throughout West Oakland. Finally, the West Oakland Transit Access Improvements will upgrade transit stops and pilot a low-cost institutional transit pass program.

A map of West Oakland and a solid line represents the project area. — Project Area Map, West Oakland, CA in Alameda County

Funding Details

Grant Amount: $7,665,372

Resource Contributions: $2,893,955

Project Total: $10,559,327

By the Numbers

Services, Vehicles & Equipment Funded

10 truck signs installations
2.3 miles of sidewalk gaps to be closed by repairs and upgrades
1,500 trees and shrubs
300 free refurbished bikes for youth Earn-a-Bike participants
8 bike fix-it stations
18 bike fix-it station trainings
36 bike repair workshops
36 community bike rides
36 youth bike education events

Estimated Quantifiable Benefits

GHG emission reductions: 244 MTCO2e
NO_x reductions: 53 lbs
PM_2.5 reductions: 33 lbs
ROG reductions: 9 lbs
Passenger VMT reductions: 966,260 miles
Travel cost savings: $117,866
Transportation fossil fuel reductions: 21,218 gallons
Direct Jobs: 36
Indirect Jobs: 15
Induced Jobs: 25

Community Details

West Oakland is a neighborhood with strong Black roots; about 40% of residents are Black. It is predominantly low-income, with a median household income of $48,000 and approximately 26% of households living below the federal poverty level. Land use and transportation decisions placing highways and industry near residential neighborhoods have subjected West Oaklanders to among the highest levels of diesel particulate matter in the Bay Area, along with higher rates of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Transportation options are limited: 28% of households do not own motor vehicles, and sidewalks in West Oakland are in poor condition, with 5% of sidewalks missing entirely. The strategies chosen for West Oakland STEP come directly from the 2019 West Oakland Community Action Plan, a collaborative planning effort by the community and public agencies to identify strategies to reduce air pollution.

Demographics of Community Served by Project

37% Black or African American, 28% White, 14% Asian, 16% Hispanic/Latino, and 5% Other
Median Household Income: $64,245

Community Benefits

West Oakland STEP will improve access to safe and sustainable transportation and create a healthier environment for the community by reducing air pollution exposure. Urban greening and sidewalk repairs will make it safer and more comfortable for West Oaklanders to walk by expanding ADA-compliant sidewalks with shade and reduced particulates due to the filtering effect of trees and shrubs. Implementation of the West Oakland Truck Management Plan will reduce diesel particulate matter exposure in residential neighborhoods by educating truckers, improving enforcement of existing truck routes, and identifying solutions to calm truck traffic in residential areas. The bicycle education workshops, community rides, and youth Earn-a-Bike programming will address community-identified barriers to biking, including difficulty obtaining and maintaining a bike. Bus stop improvements and mobility wallets will make transit and new mobility options more accessible and affordable for West Oaklanders.

Outreach & Engagement Strategies

Advisory group meetings
Community events/meetings
Trucking industry meeting presentations
Targeted educational materials for truckers
Electronic newsletters and listserv
Community bike rides

Target Populations

Low-income residents
Low-income youth
Long-term Black residents
Residents without access to a vehicle

Partnership Structure

Grantee

The City of Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) envisions, plans, builds, operates, and maintains the transportation system for the City of Oakland and assures safe, equitable, and sustainable access and mobility for residents, businesses, and visitors. OakDOT will lead the implementation of the projects.

Subgrantees

Community Partners

Contact

Cathy DeLuca | (510) 519-1605 | OakDOT