Project Overview

The Fruitvale Alive Project, funded by an Environmental Justice Grant, was a collaboration between the City of Oakland and two community organizations: the Spanish-Speaking Unity Council and the Dimond Neighborhood Improvement Association. The study identified traffic, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit improvements, with a focus on livability and safety. The study area comprises Fruitvale Avenue from the Dimond District (north of MacArthur Boulevard) to the City of Alameda border, Coolidge Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard.

CHS Role

CHS Consulting Group was the lead consultant responsible for the technical analysis and community outreach process. CHS analyzed key traffic circulation issues, traffic and pedestrian accidents along the corridor, transit needs, and bicycle enhancement opportunities, and proposed traffic and pedestrian safety improvements to remedy existing deficiencies. CHS created a traffic simulation model (SIM TRAFFIC) to test potential changes in signal timing to improve traffic flow in the area. Final recommendations include intersection geometric changes to improve traffic circulation and calm traffic, AC Transit bus stop changes to increase bus speed and access, signal timing changes, and streetscape improvements.

Several CHS recommendations were implemented in the Dimond District, including painted crosswalks and a transit center at the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Fruitvale Avenue. The ribbon-cutting celebration for these improvements was May 23, 2013.