S
eptember 1, 2022
Terri Fashing
City of Oakland
250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Ste 4314
Oakland, CA 94612
Dear Terri:
In light of the comments from commercial mariners using the Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal in the recent August 16, 2022 meeting, the East Bay Regional Park District (Park District) recommends no t pursuing a waterfront San Francisco Bay Trail (Bay Trail) undercrossing of the High St. Bridge at this time. It is clear that the proposed Tidal Canal narrowing, resulting from the trail connection and new fender system, will be met with severe opposition and has the potential to increase navigational challenges for commercial mariners and undue safety risks.
For those reasons, we recommend that the City cease its design efforts and efforts to obtain approval from the US Coast Guard to extend the Bay Trail underneath High Street while the Park District pursues an alternative Bay Trail connection from the Tidewater Boating Center along the Tidal Canal to High St.
The Park District supports the City’s efforts to extend the trail from Union Point Park south to the Park Street Bridge, including the proposed undercrossing of the Park St Bridge. The proposed undercrossing of the Park St Bridge is crucial as there are no obvious street connections given the challenging configuration in this area. This undercrossing appears to present less safety issues for the navi gable waterway to commercial mariners given the orientation of the bridge and greater width of the canal in this area.
The Park District will continue to partner with the City of Oakland and hopes to leverage our combined energies and resources to provide additional Bay Trail links along the Oakland Waterfront. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Sean Dougan
Attachment C