The Mobility Action Team's activities are now concluded

From November 2020 through early Summer 2021, the Mobility Action Team worked through a number of topics, hearing from expert presenters, reviewing relevant content from the Oakland 2025 Master Plan and Existing Conditions Report, and identifying issues and opportunities. The final meeting of the Mobility Action Team occurred on Thursday, October 21st, where the group reviewed public comments on draft strategies presented at various events throughout Oakland during the month of September. Changes to strategies as a result of these comments were also reviewed and discussed.

You can review the video from the last meeting here, and the presentation materials can be found in the right hand column under "Action Team Presentations".

The Steering Committee will work with staff to pull together and further refine the draft materials from all four action teams in order to release a draft plan and related Zoning Code amendments in early 2022.

Archived: Draft Ideas from the Mobility Action Team

Hundreds of comments from Action Team discussions were organized into an initial draft list of ideas to develop into specific strategies through public engagements and research over the summer of 2021. These initial ideas have been archived below. They are organized under the draft goals for each topic as they existed at that time.

Mobility goal and strategy language is being refined and will be updated on the main Mobility page. The content on this page will not be updated so that it can serve as an archive.

Traffic Calming and Safety

A. Traffic Calming and Safety

DRAFT GOAL A1. Zero deaths from crashes (pedestrian, bicycle, or vehicle). Implement strategies to eliminate deaths from crashes. Identify appropriate traffic calming measures for roadway segments that have high vehicle speeds, crash rates, or feel unsafe. Develop an action plan for community-based safety compliance. Provide input for a future citywide “Vision Zero” policy.

DRAFT GOAL A2. Zero deaths from traffic-related police enforcement. Recognize that this is a serious concern in the community and across the country. Equity and addressing racial basis must be at the front of any citywide strategy for eliminating traffic-related police enforcement deaths. Provide input to DOMI and other city departments as to how to develop a strategy that is cognizant of inequities in enforcement.

DRAFT GOAL A3. Enforcement does not disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) populations. Acknowledge that enforcement is not always distributed or carried out equally across populations or neighborhoods. Provide input to DOMI and other city departments as to how to develop a strategy that is cognizant of inequities in enforcement.

DRAFT GOAL A4. Implement improvements to reduce crashes (all modes). Identify high crash locations and prioritize improvements. Consider how to reduce the likelihood of crashes with street design in all road and development projects.

DRAFT GOAL A5. Ensure multimodal connectivity in the network to and through the neighborhood. Identify complete networks and any existing gaps for all modes of travel. Prioritize gaps for intervention. Ensure network design provides equitable access.

DRAFT GOAL A6. Identify priority corridors for Complete Streets enhancements. Consistent with identified multimodal networks, determine which modes should receive dedicated space on which corridors.

DRAFT GOAL A7. Slow vehicular movements. Identify traffic calming treatments for roadway segments that have high vehicle speeds and, in some cases, where neighborhood streets are being used as cut-through streets.

DRAFT GOAL A8. Enhance the pedestrian environment and design for pedestrian scale. Identify priority sidewalks for improvements and ensure investment is equitable. Ensure that pedestrian corridors are well lit. Identify opportunities to add street trees and other amenities that improve sidewalk comfort and safety. Eliminate sidewalk and other illegal parking.

DRAFT GOAL A9. Identify strategies to ensure that deliveries do not diminish safety or access for other modes. Identify areas where loading is taking place on sidewalks and in bike or vehicle travel lanes. Establish alternate times and / or locations for deliveries to take place.


    Comments

    What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
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    Active Transportation and Micromobility

    B. Active Transportation and Micromobility

    DRAFT GOAL B1. Ensure a safe, connected, and accessible network for all users of the sidewalk. Assess sidewalk conditions throughout the neighborhood; identify key pedestrian corridors and prioritize sidewalk segments for improvement. Identify critical locations for new or improved crosswalks and ensure equitable investment. Consider programs to involve property owners.

    DRAFT GOAL B2. Ensure a safe, connected, and accessible network for all bike(+) users. Support implementation of the city’s Bike(+) Plan. Ensure planned network improvements equitably support Oakland residents and visitors. Prioritize bike(+) investments to support connectivity.

    DRAFT GOAL B3. Ensure ample lighting for high frequency pedestrian and bicycle corridors. Identify key corridors for people who walk and cycle, and pursue lighting improvements where appropriate. Ensure equitable investment.

    DRAFT GOAL B4. Work with the community to identify high priority ADA-compliant sidewalk and crossing needs. Direct investment in new or improved crossings based on community and equity priorities.

    DRAFT GOAL B5. Reduce curb cuts in order to minimize conflicts with users of the sidewalk. Curb cuts invite conflicts between people who walk and people who drive by allowing motor vehicles to cross sidewalks; reducing them will increase safety and comfort for sidewalk users.

    DRAFT GOAL B6. Sidewalks remain clear of vehicles and other obstacles (temporary and / or movable). Use design and enforcement strategies to eliminate parking on sidewalks. Identify potential opportunities to remove or relocate other sidewalk obstacles, such as magazine kiosks.

    DRAFT GOAL B7. High volume pedestrian crossings include leading pedestrian intervals. Leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) give pedestrians a head start at signalized intersections. Identify priority crossings for equitable investment.

    DRAFT GOAL B8. Work with the community and other partners to appropriately site Healthy Ride stations and other mobility hubs. Recognize that trips by time of day, purpose, or user type can influence ones travel decisions. Install bike and other mobility options in locations that support the varying needs and preferences of different users.


    Research and Engagement Techniques

    These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

    Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

    Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

    Consult, Involve

    This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

    Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

    Collaborate, Empower

    Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

    There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

    1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
    2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

    Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

    Consult, Involve

    When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

    If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

    Inform, Consult

    Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

    Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

    Consult, Involve

    An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

    This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

    Inform, Consult

    Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

    Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

    Inform, Consult

    Comments

    What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
    Loading Conversation

    Access to Transit

    C. Access to Transit

    DRAFT GOAL C1. All people in Oakland are within 10 minutes of rapid transit service. Design transit routes to balance speed and reliability with proximity. Ensure sidewalk and other active transportation infrastructure is safe, connected, and accessible to facilitate access to transit. Ensure equitable access to transit.

    DRAFT GOAL C2. All people in Oakland are within a 5 minute walk of local transit service. Design transit routes to balance speed and reliability with proximity. Ensure sidewalk and other active transportation infrastructure is safe, connected, and accessible to facilitate access to transit. Ensure equitable access to transit.

    DRAFT GOAL C3. All bus stops meet PAAC design guidelines for safety and accessibility. Ensure all bus stops have a five-foot wide and eight-foot deep area that is firm, stable, and slip resistant and connected to the pedestrian path to allow for the boarding and alighting of wheelchair users. Allow adequate space for waiting and a clear curb for boarding and alighting. Consider how public space will accommodate both riders and passing sidewalk users.

    DRAFT GOAL C4. Ensure well-used bus stops have appropriate amenities for riders. Provide amenities that will improve rider comfort and convenience at well-used bus stops. All stops must include a sign, accessible boarding area, and sidewalk; depending on the level of ridership, additional amenities may include benches, trash cans, shelter, lighting, bike rack(s), route information, system information, ticket vending, and / or real-time information.

    DRAFT GOAL C5. Institutional shuttle services are coordinated with public transit to reduce redundancy of service, congestion, emissions, and operating costs and maximize community benefit. Institutions collectively examine existing shuttle services and redesign them to focus on filling access gaps in the community. Resources resulting from efficiencies gained through this process are reinvested in supporting transit, active transportation, and / or single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) reduction goals.

    DRAFT GOAL C6. Ensure access to fare options to facilitate ridership for students, employees, residents, and visitors. Maintain university pass programs (free transit for students, faculty, and staff) and expand when possible. Institutions, employers, and destinations provide ready information regarding how and where to purchase transit fares; they offer transit options alongside parking leases, vouchers, or validation. Opportunities for additional fare vending locations (retail or machines) are explored. Ensure equitable access to transit fares.


    Research and Engagement Techniques

    These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

    Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

    Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

    Consult, Involve

    This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

    Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

    Collaborate, Empower

    Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

    There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

    1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
    2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

    Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

    Consult, Involve

    When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

    If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

    Inform, Consult

    Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

    Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

    Consult, Involve

    An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

    This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

    Inform, Consult

    Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

    Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

    Inform, Consult

    Comments

    What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
    Loading Conversation

    Commuters and Transportation Demand Management

    D. Commuters and Transportation Demand Management

    DRAFT GOAL D1. Reduce SOV trips to Oakland. Implement policies and programs to reduce the number of people driving alone when traveling to Oakland. Use incentives for choosing other modes and disincentives for driving as means to shift behavior.

    DRAFT GOAL D2. All employers (over X employees) have a transportation demand management (TDM) plan; all large employers have dedicated staff to implement TDM. Employers take responsibility for the impact that their employee’s commutes have on the Oakland neighborhood, Pittsburgh region, and climate, by developing a plan for the management of that travel, including reductions in SOV trips. To ensure plans are adequately and appropriately implemented, employers hire dedicated staff to oversee the daily management of TDM policies and programs. Ensure TDM programs increase equitable access.

    DRAFT GOAL D3. No parking on sidewalks. Use design and enforcement strategies to eliminate parking on sidewalks.

    DRAFT GOAL D4. Reduce parking demand (residential, visitor, and commuter) to achieve 85% occupancy (industry standard). Use incentives for choosing other modes and disincentives for driving as means to shift behavior. Price parking relative to demand in order to achieve the desired occupancy. Reduce demand to create availability for residents and short-term visitors alike.

    DRAFT GOAL D5. Work with ADA community to ensure that designated on-street parking is appropriately sited. Conduct outreach to understand how parking management and designated spaces can best serve people with disabilities.


    Research and Engagement Techniques

    These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

    Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

    Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

    Consult, Involve

    This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

    Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

    Collaborate, Empower

    Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

    There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

    1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
    2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

    Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

    Consult, Involve

    When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

    If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

    Inform, Consult

    Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

    Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

    Consult, Involve

    An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

    This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

    Inform, Consult

    Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

    Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

    Inform, Consult

    Comments

    What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
    Loading Conversation

    Cross-cutting Themes

    Note: The ideas below are copied and pasted from the topics on the other tabs. These are not new ideas but a different way to think of them that aligns more with the work to develop specific strategies. We understand there are quiet a few for Mobility and that improvements and enhancements have ripple affects that may be experienced by different users in different ways.

    1. Zero deaths from crashes (pedestrian, bicycle, or vehicle). (Traffic calming and safety / active transportation and micromobility).
    2. Implement improvements to reduce crashes (all modes). (Traffic calming and safety / active transportation and micromobility).
    3. Ensure multimodal connectivity in the network to and through the neighborhood. (Traffic calming and safety / active transportation and micromobility).
    4. Identify priority corridors for Complete Streets enhancements. (Traffic calming and safety / active transportation and micromobility / access to transit).
    5. Slow vehicular movements. (Traffic calming and safety / active transportation and micromobility).
    6. Enhance the pedestrian environment and design for pedestrian scale. (Traffic calming and safety / active transportation and micromobility / access to transit).
    7. Identify strategies to ensure that deliveries do not diminish safety or access for other modes. (Traffic calming and safety / active transportation and micromobility / access to transit).
    8. Ensure a safe, connected, and accessible network for all users of the sidewalk. (Active transportation and micromobility / access to transit / commuters and TDM).
    9. Ensure a safe, connected, and accessible network for all bike(+) users. (Active transportation and micromobility / access to transit / commuters and TDM).
    10. Ensure ample lighting for high frequency pedestrian and bicycle corridors. (Active transportation and micromobility / access to transit / commuters and TDM).
    11. Work with the community to identify high priority ADA-compliant sidewalk and crossing needs. (Active transportation and micromobility / access to transit).
    12. High volume pedestrian crossings include leading pedestrian intervals. (Traffic calming and safety / active transportation and mircomobility).
    13. All people in Oakland are within 10 minutes of rapid transit service. (Active transportation and micromobility / access to transit / commuters and TDM).
    14. All people in Oakland are within a 5 minute walk of local transit service. (Active transportation and micromobility / access to transit / commuters and TDM).
    15. All bus stops meet PAAC design guidelines for safety and accessibility. (Active transportation and micromobility / access to transit).
    16. Reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips to Oakland. (Active transportation and micromobility / access to transit / commuters and TDM).
    17. No parking on sidewalks. (Traffic calming and safety / active transportation and micromobility / access to transit / commuters and TDM).

    Research and Engagement Techniques

    These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

    Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

    Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

    Consult, Involve

    This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

    Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

    Collaborate, Empower

    Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

    There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

    1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
    2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

    Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

    Consult, Involve

    When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

    If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

    Inform, Consult

    Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

    Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

    Consult, Involve

    An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

    This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

    Inform, Consult

    Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

    Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

    Inform, Consult

    Comments

    What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
    Loading Conversation

    Archive of Action Team Conversations

    Topic 1

    Topic 1: Traffic Calming and Safety


    Projects, Programs, and Policy Development


    Issues

    What's happening today? Projects, places, organizations, efforts. What’s not working or could be going better?
    Loading Conversation

    Opportunities

    What are the opportunities for the future of Oakland related to this topic? Think about what you've seen elsewhere or dreamed could happen. This can be both specific ideas or bigger visionary ideas.
    Loading Conversation

    What information do we need to know?

    What information do we need to know in order to develop strategies to adequately address these issues and opportunities? Are there organizations or people who already have this? Do we need to develop our own data? Do we need to gather it through public engagement? If the latter, what ideas do you have for getting that information?
    Loading Conversation
    Stop

    This is the end of this topic. Please do not continue on to the next topic until directed.

    Topic 2

    Topic 2: Active Transportation and Micromobility


    Projects, Programs, and Policy Development



    Issues

    What's happening today? Projects, places, organizations, efforts. What’s not working or could be going better?
    Loading Conversation

    Opportunities

    What are the opportunities for the future of Oakland related to this topic? Think about what you've seen elsewhere or dreamed could happen. This can be both specific ideas or bigger visionary ideas.
    Loading Conversation

    What information do we need to know?

    What information do we need to know in order to develop strategies to adequately address these issues and opportunities? Are there organizations or people who already have this? Do we need to develop our own data? Do we need to gather it through public engagement? If the latter, what ideas do you have for getting that information?
    Loading Conversation
    Stop

    This is the end of this topic. Please do not continue on to the next topic until directed.

    Topic 3

    Topic 3: Access to Transit


    Projects, Programs, and Policy Development



    Issues

    What's happening today? Projects, places, organizations, efforts. What’s not working or could be going better?
    Loading Conversation

    Opportunities

    What are the opportunities for the future of Oakland related to this topic? Think about what you've seen elsewhere or dreamed could happen. This can be both specific ideas or bigger visionary ideas.
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    What information do we need to know?

    What information do we need to know in order to develop strategies to adequately address these issues and opportunities? Are there organizations or people who already have this? Do we need to develop our own data? Do we need to gather it through public engagement? If the latter, what ideas do you have for getting that information?
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    Stop

    This is the end of this topic. Please do not continue on to the next topic until directed.

    Topic 4

    Topic 4: Commuters and Transportation Demand Management (TDM)


    Projects, Programs, and Policy Development


    Issues

    What's happening today? Projects, places, organizations, efforts. What’s not working or could be going better?
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    Opportunities

    What are the opportunities for the future of Oakland related to this topic? Think about what you've seen elsewhere or dreamed could happen. This can be both specific ideas or bigger visionary ideas.
    Loading Conversation

    What information do we need to know?

    What information do we need to know in order to develop strategies to adequately address these issues and opportunities? Are there organizations or people who already have this? Do we need to develop our own data? Do we need to gather it through public engagement? If the latter, what ideas do you have for getting that information?
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