Oakland Seeks Plan To Minimize Impact Of Port Trucks

OAKLAND, CA — Port of Oakland and city officials are circulating a draft plan to reduce the impact of transport trucks on local streets.

The proposal is called the West Oakland Truck Management Plan and its goal is to improve the quality of life for the area's residents.

Among the plan's objectives are reducing disruption for residents and businesses in West Oakland from truck traffic and truck parking, increasing safety near designated truck routes and having truck drivers know preferred routes to reach their destinations and know the city's parking
restrictions.

"When the plan is implemented, the community should experience fewer trucks driving or parking in residential areas," city planner Patricia McGowan said in a statement.

Port and city officials said the plan's truck management strategies concentrate on West Oakland because that residential neighborhood is closest to the Port.

They said big-rigs stream into the Port daily to pick up or drop off cargo containers and as the city develops adjacent property at the former Oakland Army Base additional trucks will be driving into the area.

The truck management plan addresses trucks that drive on streets that aren't designated as truck routes and also looks at trucks parking in residential areas.

The plan would steer trucks away from residential areas with the help of new, more prominent signs for truck routes and preferred delivery routes for truck-oriented businesses in West Oakland.

Safety measures at street intersections near the Port could include high-visibility crosswalks, improved signage and pedestrian safety zones.

The plan would also propose changes in parking regulations.

City staff would be responsible for enforcing truck regulations and there would be refresher courses in how to write parking citations for trucks and trailers.

The city could also consider increasing fines for truck parking violations.

The Port and the city conducted four workshops as part of their public outreach to help craft the 38-page plan.

The plan is available for review at Port and city offices as well as some libraries and public comments on it are being accepted through Jan. 4.

Port environmental planner Andrea Gardner said, "We've listened intently to community concerns about truck traffic in Oakland. And the community has helped us develop a plan that will make life measurably better for our residential neighbors."

The plan's authors said implementation of the truck management strategies would begin immediately after the plan is adopted and the complete rollout is expected to take five years.

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— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock