We monitor a wide variety of issues that impact maritime and industrial interests in and around the Port of Oakland. Here are the things we’re focused on right now:
After several years, the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan (DOSP) process has come to an end, with many of our stakeholders providing input during the process. Designed to ensure continued growth and revitalization to benefit both downtown residents and the larger community, the Plan will provide policy guidance on development, linking land use, transportation, economic development, housing, public spaces, cultural arts, and social equity. Initially drafted in 2019, the DOSP has gone through many iterations and public hearings prior to its final passage in July 2024.
O-MAST worked with City and Port officials to amend the DOSP in accordance with the needs of Oakland’s working waterfront, and most of our coalition’s asks were incorporated in the final Plan. Thanks to the support and work of the Planning Commission, City Council, and staff, a number of amendments we proposed were adopted throughout the course of the DOSP process to make access to the Port of Oakland safer and more reliable for trucks, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
We look forward to the implementation stage of the DOSP process and to continuing our work with the City of Oakland to put this plan into action in ways that maintain and support port-related jobs, provide a safe and reliable transportation network for Port and City stakeholders, and keep the Port of Oakland competitive and thriving.
The proposed project involves widening the existing turning basins at the Oakland seaport. This will allow vessels to turn around more efficiently and safely upon entering and exiting the Oakland Harbor. The Port released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) in October 2023, and The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is evaluating comments received during the DEIR comment period. The release of the Final EIR and certification is anticipated in Fall 2024.
The Port of Oakland has made important progress on the Turning Basin Expansion project, an important and crucial infrastructure investment. O-MAST has worked with Port and City of Oakland officials to usher the process along, and the Port hopes to receive authorization to begin the design phase by the end of 2024. While we await the Chief of the US Army Corps of Engineers’ recommendation to Congress, expected in May or June, we have turned our focus to the passage of the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA), a federal infrastructure spending bill. It is paramount that the Turning Basin Expansion be included in the WRDA, and we urge our coalition members to express their support for this critical project to congressional representatives. You can learn more about the status of the project here.
O-MAST is working hard to ensure continued safe and reliable truck access to Frontage Road. In 2023, the Port of Oakland presented to the City Council a proposed Frontage Road route update that included changes to signage and parking.
The Port continues to engage in meaningful dialogue with its neighbors and the surrounding community, proposing improvements to address concerns and securing grant funding to support upgrades, and is working with Councilmember Fife and her fellow councilmembers to move the item forward. When the time comes, we will communicate with O-MAST members to indicate their support to Oakland City Council for maintaining the Frontage Road as a primary trucking route.
The Port of Oakland has several major developments planned in the coming years, including the redevelopment of Howard Terminal. In March 2024, we distributed our “Advancing the Industrial Waterfront: A Collaborative Process” survey to solicit feedback from O-MAST coalition members and seaport stakeholders about maritime-compatible development in and around Oakland’s working waterfront and at Howard Terminal. We received over 60 responses from across the maritime, transportation, logistics, and labor industries, which will inform our ongoing efforts to collaborate with industry, Port and City of Oakland leadership.
Here’s a summary of respondents’ top priorities for the Port’s future:
While the Port has made significant progress in reducing carbon emissions and integrating green technology, there is still more to do. Luckily, Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Barbara Lee secured $1.2 billion for California ports to invest in cleaner technology. We are excited to collaborate with Port leadership and City of Oakland and State of California officials on how to reach our collective goal of creating a carbon-free Port of Oakland.
We’re also tracking several infrastructure and transportation improvement efforts that are important to you:
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