Give feedback to improve Ohlone Greenway safety

City of Berkeley sent this bulletin at 02/21/2023 06:09 PM PST

February 21, 2023

SERVICES. RESOURCES. COMMUNITY.

News from the City of Berkeley

Give feedback to improve Ohlone Greenway safety

Attend Feb. 22 virtual meeting or complete survey by March 1 to weigh in on Ohlone Greenway project as it seeks to widen pathway, improve crossings, signage, lighting, landscaping.

Take a survey or attend a virtual meeting to help improve the safety and experience for pedestrians and bicyclists on the Ohlone Greenway in North Berkeley.

The survey will ask about how you use the section from Santa Fe Avenue to Virginia Gardens, your experiences at different locations, and what you think about different design concepts and options.

Feedback from the survey and the community meeting will be used by transportation engineering staff to help define upgrades to the existing multi-use pathway to accommodate all types of travelers, especially at intersections and after sunset.

The design process is expected to be completed by spring 2024, with construction anticipated to start mid-2024. This effort is continue building on the recommendation from the 2017 Bicycle Plan to build a continuous and connected system of “low-stress” bikeways that provide safe and comfortable travel that link all users to key destinations in Berkeley.

Take the survey by March 1, 2023, share it with other bicyclists or walkers and attend the Feb. 22 virtual meeting.

Learn, ask questions at Virtual Meeting

City staff will provide an overview of the project, explain the initial design concepts, and respond to questions. Share your experiences and comment on initial design concepts. Your input will help refine the design concepts and prioritize improvements.

Ohlone Greenway Safety Improvements Project Meeting
February 22, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Zoom
Phone: (669) 900-9128, Meeting ID: 884 9432 8261

Please share widely among any who bike, scooter, walk, or run on the greenways in our community. The more involved you are, the broader the experiences we'll capture.

History and conditions of the Ohlone Greenway

This project focuses on a half mile long section of the Ohlone Greenway pathway, from its intersection with Virginia Gardens (right before Cedar-Rose Park) to its intersection with Santa Fe Ave.

The Ohlone Greenway is heavily used by pedestrians and bicyclists traveling to tennis and pickleball courts, Cedar-Rose Park, North Berkeley BART station, schools, work, and other destinations. Lights illuminate the pathway during non-daylight hours. The asphalt concrete paved pathway ranges from 7.5 to 12 feet wide.

Upgrades will be focused on the following:

Improving the safety of pathway/roadway intersections, including more clear sightlines, at seven intersections – Virginia Gardens, Cedar St, Rose St, Hopkins St, Peralta Ave, Gilman St, and Santa Fe Ave
Widening the pathway to a minimum of 12 feet where feasible to better separate users of different speeds (e.g., pedestrians and bikes)
Improved connection at the pathway gap on Peralta Ave, including signage and features to slow down traffic
Enhanced pathway lighting to improve the safety and security of pathway users at intersection approaches, benches, and other locations
Landscaping work to clean up vegetation to increase visibility and security

Come and ask questions on February 22, take our survey by March 1. You can also stay informed about this project by visiting the project webpage, or emailing us with questions or comments.

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Low-income residents can apply for E-bike lottery

Low income Berkeley residents – such as a family of four making less than $106,000 annually or an individual making less than $74,200 – can apply for a lottery to get an electric bike for long-term use as part of a city-funded program.

The 50 selected households – who can also qualify if they participate in SNAP, PG&E CARE, or Medicaid – would pay a $100 refundable deposit and get an electric bike, helmet, bicycle locks, lights, and training on safe riding.

Those households will also receive free check-ups and maintenance for at least a year from Waterside Workshops, a nonprofit partner with GRID Alternatives and the City of Berkeley as part of the Berkeley E-Bike Equity Project.

Anyone in Berkeley can use electric bikes at a lower cost through shared bike and scooter companies. These tools also allow residents to tie into the city’s bike boulevards, a network of lower-traffic, calmed roads designed to enhance safety and convenience for those on scooters and bikes.

Eligible residents can apply online by March 8 to enter the e-bike lottery.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

Federal grants, loans available to those affected by January storms

Berkeley homeowners, renters, and businesses can apply for federal funding to help pay for essential repairs or serious disaster-related needs resulting from the January storms that were not covered by insurance. Apply by phone, online, using an app, or in person. Serious disaster-related needs include medical and dental expenses, transportation, childcare, and moving and storage expenses.

These FEMA grants apply to those eligible Berkeleyans who had storm-related property damage between Dec. 31, 2022 to Jan. 30, 2023. Those who apply will be considered for two types of grants:

up to $37,900 for property damages to a primary residence.
up to $37,900 for other needs, such as a hotel stay while displaced, funds to replace damaged items, and increases to childcare or medical expenses during the disaster.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

Artists, festivals, arts organizations invited to apply for grants by March 2023

Artists, festivals, and arts organizations can apply for one-time grants of up to $4,000, $7,000, and $10,000, respectively, and use one of our webinars to help answer any questions.

The grants support individual artists creating new work, festivals creating an event that’s open to the public and has a free component, or arts organizations needing support for ongoing programming.

The separate webinars for each type of grant will cover guidelines, eligibility, and how to apply on the Submittable site, which requires you to create an account. You can also learn more about the grants on the artist, festival, or arts organization application portals.

Coordinated by our Civic Arts Program, these grants support a culturally vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem within the City of Berkeley by funding artists, festivals, and arts organizations.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.