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+ Ken Bukowski | 1 Aug 2006 14:33
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[ebbc-talk] Emeryville Resolution Opposing 4th Bore


 Memo from Emeryville Council Member Ken Bukowski

         (510) 547-2101   emery_dude@...

TO:   EBBC

RE:  TEXT COPY OF  EMERYVILLE RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE THE 4TH BORE

RESOLUTION NO. 06-147

 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EMERYVILLE 
OPPOSING THE CALTRANS PROJECT 4TH BORE EXPANSION OF THE
CALDECOTT TUNNEL WITHOUT THE PROVISION OF
BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN   ACCESS THROUGH THE TUNNEL   

WHEREAS, the Caldecott Tunnel is the only passage through the East
Bay hills, linking Alameda County to Contra Costa County and points
east via State Route 24; and

WHEREAS, the Caldecott Improvement Project proposes to alleviate
traffic congestion along Route 24 by constructing a fourth bore of the
Caldecott Tunnel; and

WHEREAS, the Route 24/Caldecott Tunnel Corridor Study was
mandated to evaluate a full range of transportation options, including
non-motorized travel; and

WHEREAS, the lack of direct access through East Bay hills represent a
major barrier to east-west pedestrian and bicycle travel; and
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Robert Raburn | 1 Aug 2006 18:29
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Re: [ebbc-talk] Emeryville Resolution Opposing 4th Bore

Dear Ken:
I'm sure the Caltrans mail room was busy receiving comments on the Caldecott proposal yesterday. The
EBBC's 15-pages of comments were sent last week in advance of the deadline. However, experience has shown
that unless a broad coalition exists that wants to see change from the status quo, substantial change is
unlikely. The strong resolution by the City of Emeryville opposing the tunnel project certainly adds to
the chorus of dissatisfaction. 

I believe that many united voices from Alameda County have made a strong case that the draft EIR is
inadequate and needs to withdrawn. The project needs to be redesigned to consider more cost-effective
ways to augment travel between Alameda and CoCoCo that is not focused on only moving automobiles.

Thanks again for the leadership displayed by Emeryville's elected officials.

 -Robert Raburn, Executive Director
********************************************
 East Bay Bicycle Coalition   www.ebbc.org
 PO Box 1736             tel:(510)530-3444
 Oakland, CA  94604      fax:(510)336-1604
       info msg:(510)433-RIDE (7433)
********************************************
"To promote bicycling as an everyday means
of transportation and recreation"

> -----Original Message-----
> From: + Ken Bukowski [mailto:bukowski@...] 
> Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 5:34 AM
> To: Robert Raburn; EBBC
> Subject: Emeryville Resolution Opposing 4th Bore
> 
>
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Lee Amosslee | 1 Aug 2006 19:23

[ebbc-talk] Emeryville routing cars along bike route and through Berkeley park

Greetings,

For those of you connected to Emeryville, you might ask your elected 
officials to stop sending excess traffic onto bike routes and into 
parks. Here's the skinny:

Emeryville thinks that since the Powell Street/I 80-580 interchange is 
so crowded, it can direct cars along the bike route on Shellmound Street 
and up through Berkeley's Aquatic Park. Signs in Emeryville for I-80 
East and I-580 West (remember, these are the same freeway) direct 
traffic away from Powell Street and up to Berkeley's Aquatic Park.

This starts all the way down at 40th and San Pablo!!! (Hopefully, when 
the W. MacArthur freeway entrance opens, at least the East Baybridge 
shopping center traffic will be directed to it.)

Traffic is directed west on 40th, then north on Shellmound (in front of 
that omnipresent Ikea). Then, when traffic gets to Powell, SF and 
Oakland traffic is directed along Powell, but 
Berkeley/Richmond/Sacramento traffic is directed north on Shellmound all 
the way to the Bay Street and Berkeley's Aquatic Park. This road is the 
divider between two of Aquatic Park's lagoons, and is in horrible shape. 
The high volumes of traffic from Emeryville is likely having a large 
impact on the condition of this road--it's not in good shape already, 
and worn out roads age quicker than newly paved roads.

So, for example, someone from Richmond, Vallejo, San Rafael, etc. who 
takes the freeway to Ikea, and has no idea about local roads, looks at 
the sign coming out of Ikea and drives on city streets almost a mile out 
of their way (along a bike route) to enter the freeway through Aquatic
(Continue reading)

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Alan Forkosh | 2 Aug 2006 04:08
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Re: [ebbc-talk] Emeryville routing cars along bike route and through Berkeley park

Lee,

I agree with sentiments in your letter. However, the recommended  
access route adds no distance to trip. Indeed, because there is no  
way to directly access Powell Street from the south, using the  
Aquatic Park onramp is, in fact, the quickest way to access I-80  
northbound from anywhere from East Baybridge north. To use Powell  
Street, one must make 2 left turns and then a right turn at a very  
congested intersection (Christie-Powell) before getting to the on-ramp.

Furthermore, the problem is not just the Emeryville commercial  
centers but the overall congestion on I-80 north of the MacArthur  
maze. At most hours of most days, I-80 north is quite congested from  
the MacArthur maze until Ashby, with the congestion backing up on  
I-580 to the onramps from CA-24. Thus, even if the Powell Street ramp  
were more accessible, it would not be the preferred alternative for  
many drivers. When I need to drive from my home in the GrandLake area  
of Oakland to Marin (where several of my family members live),if I  
see congestion ahead, I usually exit I-580 at the West Av. ramp,  
proceeding on the frontage road to Peralta. I then continue north on  
Peralta-Emery to 4Oth and then take 40th and Shellmound to Aquatic  
Park rejoining I-80 there.

By the way, given the congestion on I-80 and the one-way section of  
Christie at Shellmound, Powell Plaza is almost inaccessible by car  
from the south. Formerly, one could access the center via the Marriot  
Courtyard Parking lot, but recently, a chain has been put across the  
driveway connecting them. There is a driveway entrance and exit   
directly to Shellmound, but the curb at the driveway entrance is too  
high to pass over quickly without risking auto damage (and one tends
(Continue reading)

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Rob Hawks | 2 Aug 2006 05:04
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Re: [ebbc-talk] Emeryville routing cars along bike route and through Berkeley park

I have ridden this section of road on a daily basis for over 10 years.
When I started, the street from Aquatic Park south was called Bay Street,
Shellmound was the street that ran east and west and was one block
long, what is now Shellmound wasn't a real street through the parking
lot by Borders Books, and what is now Shellmound didn't connect over
to 40th and beyond. I really can't say that this street, now known as
Shellmound,
is any busier than it was so long ago. With the bike lanes, the only real
problem now is that cars ignore the lane running north on shellmound
at 65th. Even with that, it's not a bad road to ride.

rob

On 8/1/06, Alan Forkosh <aforkosh@...> wrote:
> Lee,
>
> I agree with sentiments in your letter. However, the recommended
> access route adds no distance to trip. Indeed, because there is no
> way to directly access Powell Street from the south, using the
> Aquatic Park onramp is, in fact, the quickest way to access I-80
> northbound from anywhere from East Baybridge north. To use Powell
> Street, one must make 2 left turns and then a right turn at a very
> congested intersection (Christie-Powell) before getting to the on-ramp.
>
> Furthermore, the problem is not just the Emeryville commercial
> centers but the overall congestion on I-80 north of the MacArthur
> maze. At most hours of most days, I-80 north is quite congested from
> the MacArthur maze until Ashby, with the congestion backing up on
> I-580 to the onramps from CA-24. Thus, even if the Powell Street ramp
> were more accessible, it would not be the preferred alternative for
(Continue reading)

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Lee Amosslee | 2 Aug 2006 05:17

Re: [ebbc-talk] Emeryville routing cars along bike route and through Berkeley park

Alan Forkosh wrote:
> Lee,
>
> I agree with sentiments in your letter. However, the recommended 
> access route adds no distance to trip. 
Well, it converts 0.8 miles from a freeway (where we want cars) to a 
bike route (where we don't want cars).

There are also many cars that end up at Aquatic Park thinking they are 
heading towards the freeway and wanting to go *south*. Once they get to 
the freeway entrance between the two lagoons, they realize they are in 
the wrong place, make a U-turn, and start asking anyone who happens to 
be hanging out weeding or enjoying birds how to get on the freeway to 
SF/Oakland.
> Indeed, because there is no way to directly access Powell Street from 
> the south, using the Aquatic Park onramp is, in fact, the quickest way 
> to access I-80 northbound from anywhere from East Baybridge north. To 
> use Powell Street, one must make 2 left turns and then a right turn at 
> a very congested intersection (Christie-Powell) before getting to the 
> on-ramp.
There *was* a way. If one was south of Powell, one used to be able to 
turn onto Christie Ave northbound from Shellmound Street, then turn left 
(west) onto Powell and to either freeway entrance (north or southbound). 
Emeryville *changed* this street configuration, with full knowledge that 
their new signs would force cars to go up through Berkeley, or (if they 
ignore the signs) join the traffic southbound on Christie from 
Shellmound \Way\ (those heading to Oakland/SF are now directed this way).

> Furthermore, the problem is not just the Emeryville commercial centers 
> but the overall congestion on I-80 north of the MacArthur maze. At
(Continue reading)

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skullyflower | 2 Aug 2006 05:57
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Re: [ebbc-talk] Emeryville routing cars along bike route and through Berkeley park

I agree that this is not a bad road to ride even when the cars are  
lined up for the freeway.

My major complaint in Emeryville is about all the intersections along  
the bike route where there is no way to trip the light without a car.  
I'm forced to either brake the law, wait for a car to come along or  
get up on the sidewalk and push a walk light button in order to get  
across the street. What's up with that? I've even tried biking right  
on the sensors and everything and I can't get them to sense me.  
That's so lame.

On Aug 1, 2006, at 8:04 PM, Rob Hawks wrote:

> I have ridden this section of road on a daily basis for over 10 years.
> When I started, the street from Aquatic Park south was called Bay  
> Street,
> Shellmound was the street that ran east and west and was one block
> long, what is now Shellmound wasn't a real street through the parking
> lot by Borders Books, and what is now Shellmound didn't connect over
> to 40th and beyond. I really can't say that this street, now known as
> Shellmound,
> is any busier than it was so long ago. With the bike lanes, the  
> only real
> problem now is that cars ignore the lane running north on shellmound
> at 65th. Even with that, it's not a bad road to ride.
>
> rob
>
> On 8/1/06, Alan Forkosh <aforkosh@...> wrote:
>> Lee,
(Continue reading)

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Michael Graff | 2 Aug 2006 06:16
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Re: [ebbc-talk] Emeryville routing cars along bike route and through Berkeley park

On 8/1/06, Lee Amosslee <lee@...> wrote:

> Alan Forkosh wrote:

> > I agree with sentiments in your letter. However, the recommended
> > access route adds no distance to trip.

> Well, it converts 0.8 miles from a freeway (where we want cars) to a
> bike route (where we don't want cars).

Kinda sorta.  Most freeways don't allow bikes.  All roadways do allow cars.

There's nothing terribly special about a Class III bike route compared
to an undesignated road.  There's no particular feature required to
turn an ordinary road into a bike route, other than the little green
signs every now and then.

Bike routes aren't generally designed to discourage car usage,
compared to (for example) a bike boulevard.  Even then, cars are
allowed to use bike boulevards, though they're typically unable to use
them as through routes.

If you really don't want cars, that's a Class I multi-use path.
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http://lists.ebbc.org/listinfo.cgi/ebbc-talk-ebbc.org
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David Coolidge | 2 Aug 2006 06:19
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Re: [ebbc-talk] Emeryville routing cars along bike routeand through Berkeley par

Find the cut in the pavement where the sensor was put in - usually a 
rectangle about 3.5ft x 2.5 ft, with each corner mitred off at 45 degrees, 
located just before the crosswalk stripe in the middle of the lane - put 
your wheel exactly on either of the short sides of the rectangle, i.e. the 
sides which  align with the direction of the street.  That will almost 
always do it.  You have to stay put in that position until the light changes 
or else it cancels out on the assumption that you were a car turning right 
on the red - so don't "lead off" or move around.   If it still doesn't work, 
I think there's some obscure provision in the law that allows you to go 
through the red after a reasonable wait if traffic conditions permit - 
essentially, treat it like a "stop" sign.

David Coolidge
dacoolidge@...

>From: skullyflower@...
>To: EBBC <ebbc-talk@...>
>Subject: Re: [ebbc-talk] Emeryville routing cars along bike 
>routeand	through Berkeley park
>Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 20:57:05 -0700
>
>I agree that this is not a bad road to ride even when the cars are
>lined up for the freeway.
>
>My major complaint in Emeryville is about all the intersections along
>the bike route where there is no way to trip the light without a car.
>I'm forced to either brake the law, wait for a car to come along or
>get up on the sidewalk and push a walk light button in order to get
>across the street. What's up with that? I've even tried biking right
>on the sensors and everything and I can't get them to sense me.
(Continue reading)

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Michael Graff | 2 Aug 2006 06:26
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Re: [ebbc-talk] Emeryville routing cars along bike routeand through Berkeley par

"21800.  (d) (1) The driver of any vehicle approaching an intersection
which has official traffic control signals that are inoperative shall
stop at the intersection, and may proceed with caution when it is safe
to do so."

On 8/1/06, David Coolidge <dacoolidge@...> wrote:

> Find the cut in the pavement where the sensor was put in - usually a
> rectangle about 3.5ft x 2.5 ft, with each corner mitred off at 45 degrees,
> located just before the crosswalk stripe in the middle of the lane - put
> your wheel exactly on either of the short sides of the rectangle, i.e. the
> sides which  align with the direction of the street.  That will almost
> always do it.  You have to stay put in that position until the light changes
> or else it cancels out on the assumption that you were a car turning right
> on the red - so don't "lead off" or move around.

> If it still doesn't work,
> I think there's some obscure provision in the law that allows you to go
> through the red after a reasonable wait if traffic conditions permit -
> essentially, treat it like a "stop" sign.
>
> David Coolidge
> dacoolidge@...
>
>
>
>
> >From: skullyflower@...
> >To: EBBC <ebbc-talk@...>
> >Subject: Re: [ebbc-talk] Emeryville routing cars along bike
(Continue reading)

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