Oakland’s transportation agency wants to get junk cars off the streets faster, and more fairly.
Author Archives: Jose Fermoso
Jose Fermoso is a 2021 Knight-Wallace Fellow reporting on traffic and road safety for The Oaklandside. His work covering tech and culture has appeared in publications including The Guardian, The New York Times, and One Zero. Born and raised in Oakland, Jose has also worked on the bestselling unauthorized biography of Apple's Jony Ive and led all content initiatives at App Academy, the top U.S. coding boot camp. He is the host and creator of the El Progreso podcast, a new show featuring in-depth narrative stories and interviews about and from the perspective of the Latinx community.
Posted inHealth & Environment
In Eastmont Hills, mixed reactions to plans for new neighborhood stairways
Some fear the pathways will increase crime and violence nearby. Others support connecting neighbors and building community.
Posted inHealth & Environment
No more free parking at Lake Merritt?
The city could install meters with “flex” pricing to deal with crowding and other impacts.
Posted inRoad Safety
Bancroft Avenue in East Oakland could get a bike and pedestrian greenway
Oakland seeks millions in state funds for new paths and protective boulders on one of our most dangerous streets.
Posted inRoad Safety
Why is it so hard to fix Oakland streets in an emergency?
Potholes and other damage make Oakland’s roads unsafe. Not everyone thinks the city’s repair system works as well as it should.
Posted inRoad Safety
Oakland’s 14th Street is in line for a total makeover
The project would reduce vehicle lanes from 4 to 2 and add protected bicycle lanes. There’s still time for public input.
Posted inArts & Community
Downloaded the wrong Wordle? You helped give $50,000 to an Oakland tutoring center
Thinking it was the hit word puzzle, millions paid for an older game called “Wordle!” Its creator is paying it forward.
Posted inRoad Safety
Oakland is testing what happens when you give people $300 to ride the bus
It’s called “universal basic mobility,” and 500 low-income Oaklanders are in the pilot program.
Posted inRoad Safety
San Pablo Avenue’s massive redesign is entering a new phase. Here’s where it stands
New bike and bus lanes in Oakland and Emeryville, and upgraded bus stops in Berkeley, are among the new features being planned for the thoroughfare in Alameda County.
Posted inRoad Safety
Oakland Transportation Department Director Ryan Russo stepping down
Russo submitted his resignation last week but will remain on the job until the summer to allow a smooth transition.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Broken elevator at Oakland Main Library probably won’t be fixed until summer
People who rely on the lift haven’t been able to easily access the 2nd floor for 3 months. Global supply chain issues and the cost of repairs are to blame.
Posted inRoad Safety
Lower speed limits on some Oakland streets, coming this year
Five business districts will be selected to see reduced speeds in 2022, based on crash data and equity considerations.
Posted inRoad Safety
‘Slow Streets’ to wind down in coming weeks, says OakDOT
Oakland’s pandemic-era program to reduce vehicle traffic in residential neighborhoods will likely end soon. But not everyone thinks it should.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Having problems ordering your free rapid COVID-19 tests from USPS?
Roommates, large families, and live-work residents have encountered some challenges accessing tests from the federal government.
Posted inRoad Safety
What is Oakland doing to enforce traffic laws? You asked, so we explored
Oakland’s roadways are dangerous, and many residents we surveyed believe a lack of enforcement is partly to blame. Others are skeptical that policing can reduce collisions.
Posted inRoad Safety
The big transportation and road safety stories in Oakland this year
2021 saw massive federal infrastructure bills passed along with new state laws that could help Oakland make its streets safer.
Posted inArts & Community
A winter transit tradition: AC Transit’s holiday bus runs for its 58th year
Since 1963 the Oakland-based transit agency has run the ‘Candy Cane Express’ and other holiday-themed buses to bring season’s greetings and free fares to riders.
Posted inRoad Safety
Heavy rain brings a flood-watch warning for Oakland
The National Weather Service issued the warning for much of the Bay Area, starting Monday at 4 p.m.
Posted inRoad Safety
Oakland has a shortage of school crossing guards
Oakland’s Department of Transportation has struggled this year to hire new guards, who play a key role in keeping elementary students safe around their schools.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Fixing Oakland’s roads: A conversation with transportation director Ryan Russo
OakDOT was created in 2016 with money and a mandate to make the city’s roadways safer. We sat down with the agency’s director to better understand its current priorities and challenges.