From: Gerry Beaudin
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Michele Pryor; Greg Boller; Tony Daysog; Tracy Jensen Cc: Lara Weisiger; Len Aslanian; Erin Smith; Scott Wikstrom Subject: Clement Avenue Truck Route
Date: Friday, September 11, 2026 10:57:08 AM
Attachments: image001.png
Hi, Mayor and Councilmembers –
I’m sharing an email from City Engineer, Scott Wikstrom (below), and want to let you know that the City Clerk has received a referral (to be considered on October 6) from Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft and Vice Mayor Pryor to consider/reconsider the location of the truck route.
Here’s the background:
Expanded Discussion: Several Councilmembers were briefed on the Clement Avenue Truck Route in May of this year. Since then, staff has conducted a public outreach meeting to the potentially affected neighbors on July 14, provided an informational item to the Transportation Commission on July 22, and met with the Marina Shores HOA Board. The July 22
nd Transportation Commission Agenda Item
provides background, discussion, and presentation for the item, along with public comments received prior to the meeting. The staff presentation and TC discussion can be seen at the 2:10:00 mark of the meeting video
, which covers the Clement
truck history from both a development and General Plan perspective, truck turning requirement for wider lanes, the results of the parking study, Muni Code authority for the parking removal delegated to the PW Director, and our communication plan. TC Commissioners were engaged and asked several questions about alternatives.
Approximately 15-20 members of the public spoke, with primary themes including quality of life, access to and use of the park, concerns about speed in wider lanes, and reliance on a 20-year-old plan given changed conditions. Nearly all would like the truck route to remain on Buena Vista, a couple thought a City-wide truck route evaluation was warranted.
Key Considerations:
1. The truck route presently exists on Clement Avenue between Grand Street and Sherman Street and has been in place since a General Plan Amendment in 2007 for the Northern Waterfront. See Item 9A, beginning on page 72, and reaffirmed with the 2009 update to the Transportation Element and the Alameda 2040 General Plan update in 2022. The truck route was removed from a portion of Buena Vista in 2003 and relocated to Clement east of Grand Street through a separate General Plan Amendment.
2. The planned action is to open Clement Avenue to traffic west of Grand Street now that the Skyline Development (former Pennzoil site) has completed construction of the roadway. Opening Clement to traffic ‘allows’ trucks to use the existing truck route. No additional environmental reviews or other legislative actions are necessary to open Clement Avenue to traffic.
3. The curvilinear alignment between Paru Street and Balsa Street requires wider lanes to account for the off-tracking of truck trailers and requires the removal of existing on-street parking. Municipal Code Section 8-7.1 delegates the authority to the Public Works Director to prohibit parking where necessary for “the safety or adequate flow of all modes of transportation”.
4. A General Plan Amendment
would be necessary to remove the current truck
route designation from Clement Avenue between Grand Street and Sherman Street and maintain the truck route on Buena Vista. Two of the five Transportation Commissioners were direct in suggesting Council hear the item and consider maintaining the truck route on Buena Vista. A third Commissioner echoed the sentiment, if not directly stating, Council should consider the truck routes. A CEQA review would be required, and all costs associated with a potential General Plan Amendment would be borne by the City. There is no nexus obligating Skyline Development to bear any costs.
5. Public outreach to date has been limited to those potentially impacted by the parking loss on Clement. Several Buena Vista residents attended the recent Transportation Open House event, including a few who were involved in 2003 and 2007 regarding this issue. They were adamant that trucks should not be allowed on Buena Vista citing safety concerns.
6. Staff’s recommendation that parking be removed along Clement Avenue between Paru Street and Balsa Street to facilitate the truck route on Clement when the roadway is opened traffic has not changed.
Other Considerations:
1. Staff has hired Parametrix Consultants to confirm Staff’s assumptions for design vehicle and required lane width within the curvilinear section of Clement. This study is ongoing and will be completed prior to October 6 th.
2. Parametrix will also recommend additional traffic calming measures, which could be implemented on Clement if parking were to be removed from Paru Street to Balsa Street
3. The existing bulb-out at Stanton represents a minor complication. Staff believes only a portion of the western bulb-out would need to be removed. The eastern bulb out, and location of the crosswalk with flashing beacon would remain. To accommodate the additional lane widths, staff plans to reduce the cycle track width near Stanton Street to meet or exceed the Caltrans minimum design guidelines. Exhibit 3
of the TC staff report illustrates these changes
conceptually.
4. Parametrix is also tasked to confirm the appropriate design vehicles and lane widths should the truck route remain on Buena Vista (even temporarily). Note that some modifications to Clement Avenue are anticipated even if the truck route is maintained on Buena Vista. These changes would likely include a slight narrowing of the cycle track between Paru Street and Balsa Street while continuing to meet or exceed Caltrans’ minimum design guidelines.
Options:
1. Allow staff to proceed with parking removals on Clement sometime after the October 6
th City Council meeting and open Clement Avenue to traffic. Note that nothing would prevent parking from being re-established later should Council consider/approve a General Plan Amendment at a future date.
2. Open Clement Avenue to traffic sometime after October 6 th and temporarily
maintain the truck route on Buena Vista while Council considers a General Plan Amendment. Note that some modifications would still be anticipated along Clement to accommodate buses and other box trucks expected to use Clement.
3. Keep Clement Avenue closed to traffic until a General Plan Amendment is considered/approved.
As it stands, the referral on this topic will be included on the Oct 6 th City Council
agenda for discussion and direction from Council.
Thank you,
Gerry Beaudin, ICMA-CM, AICP
City Manager
City of Alameda
Cell - 510.219.9861