CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. _____
SUPPORTING THE CALTRANS INTERSTATE 580 TRUCK ACCESS STUDY
AND STATE LEGISLATION TO ENABLE FAIR USE OF EAST BAY FREEWAYS
WHEREAS, Interstate 580 in the Oakland and San Leandro hills is the only portion of the entire Interstate Highway System in California that bans semi trucks, by State law.
WHEREAS, as a result, all regional truck traffic must utilize Interstate 880 in the flat lands of East Oakland and alongside Alameda.
WHEREAS, in 2021 a class of sixth grade students at Life Academy of Health and Bioscience in East Oakland asked why their neighborhoods and families are impacted by comparatively increased amounts of air pollution, noise, and related impacts, while State law shields other residential neighborhoods from the impacts of truck traffic.
WHEREAS, as a result of media coverage of the students’ advocacy and measurements, as well as attention from elected officials, Caltrans District 4 staff and consultants are currently conducting the Interstate 580 Truck Access Study (“Study”) to perform traffic studies, a racial equity assessment, and health assessments including noise and air quality.
WHEREAS, City of Alameda residents, workers, and visitors are also exposed to the environmental and health impacts of the Interstate 880 corridor.
WHEREAS, the Study includes portions of the City of Alameda within its study area.
WHEREAS, City of Alameda staff will serve on the Study’s Technical Advisory Committee.
WHEREAS, the Study will produce reports that at the conclusion of the study process may be used to inform State-level legislation.
WHEREAS, the City of Alameda supports equitable governance processes, outcomes, and regional collaboration.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Alameda acknowledges and thanks the students and teachers of Life Academy of Health and Bioscience in Oakland for calling attention to the fairness of freeways access policies in the East Bay; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the City Council and the City of Alameda that:
1. The City Council directs the City Manager to support the Caltrans Interstate 580 Truck Access Study with all relevant City resources.
2. The City Council directs City staff, at City staff’s discretion, to request through the Technical Advisory Committee that Caltrans increase the study area boundaries to include additional relevant areas of the City.
3. The City Council directs City staff to transmit this resolution to the leadership of Caltrans District 4, the Interstate 580 Truck Access Study project team, and any other body with interstate freeway decision-making authority;
4. The City Council directs City staff to add the Interstate 580 truck ban to the City’s legislative agenda, with the goal of supporting State-level legislation overturning the ban.