Gibbons/High/Fernside
Intersection &
Neighborhood Around
Gibbons Dr
City Council
November 18, 2025
Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming & Bikeways Project1
2 Staff Recommendation
• Approve and fund quick-build traffic calming in the neighborhood around Gibbons Drive, followed by long-term data collection and planning for the Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming & Bikeways Project
• Adopt resolution providing $200,000 in General Funds for quick- build traffic calming.
Project Background
3 Project History and Timeline
4 2023-2025
Fernside Project
Outreach and Design
March 2025
City Council Direction to
Conduct Traffic Study
Spring - Summer
2025
Traffic Study
Fall 2025
Community
Outreach
2026-2030+
Implementation
Fall/Winter 2025
City Council
Fernside Blvd Project
We are Here
Gibbons/High/Fernside considerations began with
the Fernside Project
5 Approved Fernside Blvd Traffic Calming & Bikeways Project Long-Term Design:
Pedestrian Median Islands with Two-Way Protected Bikeway The Long-Term Fernside Project Will Increase Safety
and Comfort
Benefit Design
Reduce speeds Narrower travel lanes, new median islands, curb extensions; separated bikeway prevents illegal passing in bike lane
Improve pedestrian
safety and comfort
Significantly shortened crossing distances, new marked crosswalks, flashing beacons
Improve bicyclist
safety and comfort
Low-stress, two-way separated bikeway seamlessly connected to CAT and Bay Farm Bike Bridge. Located on the north and east side to avoid 10 side street approaches and reduce cross-traffic.
Retain curbside
parking
Curbside parking on both sides of street. Two-way bikeway removes less parking and limits curbside changes to one side of the roadway.
Driveway access Two-way bikeway provides better sightlines due to a wider buffer strip 6 Gibbons/High/Fernside is a Collision Hotspot on
the Fernside Blvd High Injury Corridor
7 2017-2021: 22 collisions, 6 causing injury
2022-present: 8 collisions, 4 causing injury
City Council reviewed a long-term proposal with the
Fernside Project in March 2025
8 Removal of right-
turn slip lane to
manage conflicts
With Fernside Project –
Construction after 2030
Realign and
Restrict Gibbons
Drive to right-
turn only
City Council called for a traffic study evaluating
safety improvements in near and long term
9 Benefits of the proposal:
▪ Simpler intersection layout
▪ Shorter crosswalks
▪ Slower vehicle speeds
▪ Shorter signal wait times
Community concern:
▪ Northbound traffic re-routed onto
other, narrower neighborhood
streets
Restrict Gibbons
Drive to right-turn
only
Gibbons/High/Fernside
Intersection Traffic Study
by Parametrix
INTERSECTION SAFETY ISSUES
Long Crosswalks:
Over 70’ LongNo Signal Phase to
Protect Pedestrians:
Difficult to Cross
Gibbons Drive
High-Speed: Turns onto
Gibbons from High Street
have large radius,
encouraging speed
Confusing: Improper Left
Turns onto High Street
from Gibbons Drive
Complicated Layout: Many
Conflict Points, Including
Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings
of High-Speed Slip Lane
INTERSECTION OPERATIONS AND SIGNAL PHASING ISSUES
Future Design Must
Accommodate Two-
Way Separated
Bikeway
5-Leg Intersection
Creates Complex Signal
Operation
No pedestrian signal
Analysis 1.
Intersection Safety
and Operations
STUDY FINDING: ALT A IMPROVES SAFETY WITH MINIMAL TRAFFIC IMPACTS Safety: Improves
intersection safety
Operations: Less
congestion in short
term; minimal change
to existing condition in
long term
Alt A: Realign and Restrict Left Turn
ALSO STUDIED TWO ALTERNATIVES WITHOUT TURN RESTRICTIONS Alt B: Realign and Allow Left Turn
Safety: Improves safety
Operations: More congestion in short
term; severe congestion in long term
Alt C. Low-Cost Improvements
Safety: Addresses some issues
Operations: No change in short term; severe
congestion in long term
INSUFFICIENT RIGHT OF WAY FOR ROUNDABOUT
Roundabout analyzed but not
recommended:
• Insufficient room for Gibbons leg
• Lengthened paths of pedestrian
and bicycle travel
• Non-traditional lane configuration
• Right-of-way impacts
Analysis 2.
Neighborhood Traffic Circulation
with Alternative A
Traffic circulation for Alternatives B & C not studied because they don’t have a turn restriction
GIBBONS DRIVE EXISTING TRAFFIC
31 mph
85th percentile speed
>55%
Northbound vehicles
using Gibbons to cut
through
PROJECTED DAILY TRAFFIC VOLUMES WITH ALT. A – COMPARISON 150
160
200
450
550
600
980
1400
1500
1800
2200
8600
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
Bayo Vista Ave (before)
Cornell Dr (before)
Moreland Dr
Cornell Dr (after)
Pacific Ave
Bayo Vista Ave (after)
San Antonio Ave
Gibbons Drive (after)
Neighborhood Greenway Target
Clinton Ave
Gibbons Drive (before)
Fernside Blvd
Vehicles per Day
Traffic volumes on Bayo Vista and
Cornell would be higher than they are
now, but still on the low end for
Neighborhood Local streets in Alameda.
September 2025 Public Input
20 Sought input on a 3-stage implementation to balance safety needs with neighborhood traffic management
21 2028: Alternative A at SW Corner
with Neighborhood Traffic Calming
2030+: Alternative A at full
intersection with Long-Term
Fernside Project
2026: Quick-Build Updates +
assess adding speed humps on
Gibbons
*Without adding pedestrian signal across Gibbons
Received extensive public input
• Community open house – 120 participants
• Virtual workshop – 33 participants
• Online survey – 373 responses
• Postal mail notices – 1,256 addresses
22 Many people emphasized need to address safety
in the neighborhood
23 “Northwood Dr. intersection at
Southwood and Gibbons is
DANGEROUS! …ROUNDABOUT
NEEDED YESTERDAY!”
Many thought more study was needed
24 Residents on nearby streets had serious concerns
about spillover & safety with Alt. A
Most residents of nearby streets said Alt.
A would not improve intersection safety “Diverting traffic to smaller streets is not a safe solution.”
“2028 is laughable. This needs
to happen as soon as possible.”
More support and fewer concerns from
Gibbons Drive residents and those living
elsewhere in Alameda.
373 survey responses: 12% reported living on Gibbons Drive, 64% on nearby streets, 23% elsewhere in Alameda Current Recommendation
26 Recommendation Starts with Neighborhood Traffic
Calming
27 Phase I (2026-2027)
Quick-build traffic calming and
intersection improvements
Interim Safety Measure at Gibbons/High/Fernside
28 Quick-build bulb-out with 2026
near-term Fernside Project
Gibbons/Northwood/Southwood
29 Quick-build roundabout and
new pedestrian crossingsDemonstration project:
Quick-build roundabout and
new pedestrian crossings
Southwood/Bayo Vista/Fairview
30 Demonstration project:
Quick-build roundabout and
new pedestrian crossings
Examples of Quick-Build Materials
31 Temporary ADA Curb Ramps
Rubber Curb
Bollards & Paint
Decorative Paint
Plastic Paneling
Speed Humps
32 Current Recommendation Conducts Further Study
of Gibbons/High/Fernside After Traffic Calming
33 Phase II (2028-2030+)
• Collect data after traffic calming
• Conduct temporary pilot of a turn restriction at Gibbons/Fernside/High in 2028, and return to City Council with findings and next steps
• Conduct long-term planning for the Fernside Traffic Calming & Bikeways Project • Upgrade quick-build demonstration projects in the neighborhood to permanent materials
Temporary Turn Restriction Pilot Concept (~2028)
34 • Data collection and
evaluation to test impacts of
turn restriction
• Temporary materials & signs
• Neighborhood traffic calming
will already be in place,
reducing impacts
Final design/materials TBD
35 Staff Recommendation
• Approve quick-build traffic calming in the neighborhood around Gibbons Drive followed by long-term data collection and planning for the Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming & Bikeways Project • Adopt resolution providing $200,000 in General Funds for quick- build traffic calming.
EXTRA SLIDES
36 The General Plan first directed Gibbons Drive to
become a Local Street in 2009
2009 Adopted Street Classifications
Gibbons was a Transitional Collector, meaning it
functioned as a Collector but should transition to
a Local Street.
2023 Adopted Street Classifications
Gibbons is a Local Street. Current classifications
reflect target goals rather than current function
(no “transitional” classifications).
Street Classifications are an appendix to the
General Plan and adopted by City Council
after multiple public hearings
Recommendation is in addition to existing
project
Separate project with construction planned for 2025:
• Buena Vista/Northwood:
– High visibility yellow crosswalk on the southern leg
– School X-ing striping & signage recently installed
• Buena Vista/Versailles: No U-turn sign
• Lincoln Ave/Pearl: High visibility yellow crosswalks and advance stop bars 38 2012 Concepts
39 Roundabout Complicated, stop-controlled intersection