Description
The traffic along Independence Drive has been increasing over the years. It is used as alternative route to Atlantic by commuters and commercial interests as well, probably because there are no signal lights at intersections. We often now see many more semi trucks along Independence than we used to. Along with the number of cars, trucks speeding along Independence, the noise has increased. The opening of Clement will make the situation worse.
There are only two crosswalks on Independence Drive -- one at Triumph and one at Marina Village Parkway. There are five Courts that exit on to Independence Drive between Triumph and Marina Village Parkway. Each Court has between 22 and 42 homes (a total of 160 homes plus the 22 Independence homes with driveways along Independence Drive). With the increased traffic and speed, it is getting harder to leave our homes safely.
This is a residential area and we would like to know the steps that we need to take to have our concerns addressed. The amount of traffic, the speed, and the lack of crosswalks along Independence Dr. makes it hazardous for residents walking their dogs or just going for a stroll. One of the advantages of Marina Village HOA community is its proximity to shops allowing many of us to walk to get a quart of milk, something at CVS, go to the bank, etc. Walking our neighborhood needs to be made safer with some form of traffic calming or traffic restriction. Please let us know what the City can do to help our community.
also asked...
A. Speeding
2 Comments
Alameda, CA (Verified Official)
Acknowledged Transportation Planning (Verified Official)
Thank you for reporting your concerns about street safety in Alameda. Per our Vision Zero policy, the City uses crash data to prioritize traffic safety improvements where they are needed most, as you can see in the maps of the high injury corridors and high crash intersections at www.alamedaca.gov/VisionZero#section-4. Independence Drive is not a high injury corridor according to ten years of crash data.
Along with the City’s ambitious slate of corridor improvements (see the 2022 Capital Improvements map at www.AlamedaCA.gov/saferstreets), we are systematically improving street safety as part of our pavement resurfacing program. The next time Independence Drive is resurfaced, we will:
• Add daylighting (red curbs) at any intersections that do not meet the City’s current safety standards, to improve visibility.
• Consider adding new marked crosswalks and/or paint and post bulbouts per the City’s 2020 street safety design policy on www.AlamedaCA.gov/VisionZero#section-6
• Consider other striping changes to slow vehicles, especially since Independence is an existing bicycle route.
You can monitor street resurfacing schedules here: www.AlamedaCA.gov/SaferStreets#section-5
This year the City is updating our truck route map, and will plan new truck route signage as part of that project. We have passed this report along to that project manager and to the Police Department.
Your report will help inform the City of Alameda’s work to achieve our Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries. We will use street safety reports, including yours, in combination with crash data and equity indicators to prioritize and design street safety investments. This evaluation will generally happen on an annual basis, with some exceptions for clear and pressing trends. Issues that the City deems to be immediate safety concerns will be elevated for quick action.
For more information and a list of current and planned transportation projects, see www.AlamedaCA.gov/SaferStreets