2026 Initiatives

Oakland is, at its core, a port city—and the Port of Oakland is the foundation of our shared prosperity. As the nation’s ninth-busiest container port, it supports 98,000 jobs and fuels $174 billion in annual economic activity. O-MAST’s 2026 policy priorities are intentionally crafted to build on this strength by advancing policies that drive economic development while positioning the Port for sustainable, long-term growth, well-paying jobs and opportunities, and global leadership.

Goods Movement Policy

O-MAST supports the development and implementation of a citywide goods movement policy to better coordinate how goods move throughout Oakland, while protecting access to—and preventing encroachment on—the industrial buffer zone surrounding the Port. By reinforming the port’s critical role in Oakland’s economy, such a policy can help sustain and grow the 98,000 jobs that depend on its activity and serve as the backbone for future City planning efforts. We look forward to working closely with the Port of Oakland and the City of Oakland this year to bring this policy to life.

Oakland General Plan

The City of Oakland is currently in Phase 2 of its General Plan Update, with the release of the Draft Land Use framework expected in Spring of 2026. O-MAST is engaging with the City of Oakland to incorporate industrial-compatible land uses into the final plan and ensure that the industrial buffer zone is protected along with long-standing truck, rail, and shipping access to the Port.

Adeline Street Bridge

The Adeline Street Bridge, one of the only designated routes to move overweight cargo in and out of the Port, has been deemed seismically unsound, and its failure would significantly restrict the ingress and egress of trucks to and from the Port of Oakland.
It is imperative that a temporary retrofit of the bridge moves forward expeditiously to allow trucks to move heavyweight cargo safely and efficiently, and that planning and funding for a permanent bridge replacement occurs as soon as possible. O-MAST will advocate in partnership with the Port of Oakland and the City of Oakland to secure city, state, and federal funding for these projects, monitor progress of the planned retrofit and long-term replacement, and ensure that disruptions to truck and railroad activity in and out of the Port are minimized as much as possible.

Oakland Harbor Turning Basins Widening Project

Vessels routinely calling Oakland today are larger and longer than those that called on the Port when the Oakland Harbor turning basins were last improved in 2009. Vessels calling Oakland with lengths greater than 1,139-feet have transit restrictions, resulting in potential safety hazards, inefficiencies, and negative economic impacts.
In July 2025, the Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the Oakland Harbor Turning Basins Widening Project, scoring a huge victory for O-MAST and the maritime community at large. This transformative infrastructure investment will enhance safety, boost operational efficiency, and secure the Port of Oakland’s position as a vital hub for global trade.
Project construction is anticipated to begin in mid-2027. We remain committed to partnering with local, state, and federal agencies to advance this effort and are excited about the far-reaching benefits it will deliver at full build-out.

Howard Terminal

The Port of Oakland issued a request for proposals in late 2024 to redevelop the 55-acre Howard Terminal site and announced in January that it is pursuing an exploratory agreement with Industrial Realty Group (IRG) and the Oakland Roots. O-MAST has advocated—and will continue to advocate—for any future development at Howard Terminal to remain compatible with existing maritime and industrial operations, protect truck, rail, and vessel access, and to ensure that all property designated for Port Priority Use retains that designation.

Protection & Safety for Established Trucking Corridors

The City of Oakland has long-established trucking corridors that are critical to the safe and efficient movement of goods while keeping heavy trucks out of residential neighborhoods. Updating and codifying these routes through legislation—expected to be heard by the City Council this year—will further clarify where truck traffic belongs and strengthen the separation between heavy trucks, bicyclists, and pedestrians, improving safety for all road users. O-MAST is particularly focused on the redevelopment of the Overweight Corridor, which would restore direct access for overweight trucks and eliminate the current reroute on 7th Street through West Oakland—providing businesses with more efficient freight movement and residents with fewer overweight vehicles in their neighborhoods.

Zero-Emissions Initiatives

The Port of Oakland has set ambitious goals for achieving zero-emissions operations, requiring significant buy-in from businesses operating at the Port to commit to substantial investment in new equipment, power generation, and other improved processes. In 2024, a record 86% of the electricity the Port provided to tenants and facilities came from renewable and zero-carbon sources, a testament to the work already underway. Additionally, terminal operator TraPac just welcomed two new ship-to-shore cranes to Oakland, both maximizing efficiency and moving the Port toward the green future it envisions. O-MAST members continue to work with the Port to strategize how zero-emissions terminal equipment, drayage trucks, and policies can be deployed in a timeline that allows businesses to make these investments feasible.

Community Engagement

O-MAST looks forward to collaborating with City of Oakland leadership on an outreach campaign that helps Oakland residents better understand the Port of Oakland’s vital role in supporting local jobs, small businesses, and neighborhood prosperity, as well as how everyday goods move from ship to shelf. We also look forward to sharing updates about opportunities for the public to engage directly with the Port and the businesses that power it.