Transportation
Climate Action and Resiliency Plan
Introduction
Transportation is our #1 source of local emissions – 70 percent of the total. Of those emissions, a large majority is from passenger vehicles. Unfortunately, this has been the slowest sector to reduce its greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Taking climate action locally means transforming how we get around and what fuels we use to power the vehicles we use.
The City of Alameda is making significant progress in creating more sustainable mobility options for those who live, work, and play here: safety improvements, new bike lanes, increased bus frequency, a new ferry terminal, and more. For these improvements to make an impact in our GHG emissions, thousands of Alamedans must change their behavior to choose to drive less and get around more by biking, walking and taking transit. We all need to do more – City, residents, and businesses – if we are to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change and become a sustainable and resilient city.
While many Alamedans use carpool, public transportation or biked/walked to work in 2016, the majority still drove alone. To meet our climate goals, we need to provide options for many more workers to choose alternate ways of commuting to work, more workers to work remotely, and for those who do drive to choose electric vehicles. The good news is that both AC Transit and ferry ridership have increased in recent years.
AC Transit Ridership
Ferry Ridership
Alameda encourages transit ridership by issuing AC Transit discounted EasyPasses to eligible residents. CARP's goal is 10,000 new EasyPasses distributed to residents by 2030.
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per person in 2020
The map to the right shows VMT per person by neighborhood in Alameda in 2020. CARP's goal is to reduce VMT by 12 million miles in 2030. To get there, we need more residents to choose walking, biking, and transit for the daily commutes and errands. Click on the map to view an interactive map viewer.
Vision Zero
Alameda is also making sure that getting around the island is safer, no matter how you choose to do it. In November 2019, the Alameda City Council adopted a resolution establishing Vision Zero as the City’s guiding principle for transportation planning, design, and maintenance. In spring 2021, the City of Alameda will complete a Vision Zero Action Plan that includes specific actions and policy changes to increase street safety in Alameda. Vision Zero is an international movement that provides a framework for reducing traffic deaths and life-changing injuries to zero, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. It addresses all collisions, whether people travel by truck, car, motorcycle, bike, wheelchair, or foot. Alameda is developing a Vision Zero Action Plan with measurable actions to increase street safety. Learn more and get involved.
Alameda has an extensive pedestrian and biking network that is constantly being improved. Learn more about ongoing projects and plans to improve Alameda's transportation network.
Click on the maps to zoom in.
Bikeways
As of May, Alameda added 1.2 mile of bikeway along Otis Drive in 2021 for a total of 49.9 miles of bikeways across the city.
Electric Vehicles
Alamedans continue to purchase electric vehicles (EV) at an increasing rate. Between 2017 and 2020 the City's Permit Center issued 251 EV charger permits:
2017: 15 residential
2018: 72 residential and 2 commercial
2019: 96 residential and 5 commercial
2020: 61 residential and 0 commercial
The table to the left shows that since 2011, 1,421 reabtes have been issued to Alameda residents for clean vehicle purch
Source: https://cleanvehiclerebate.org/eng/rebate-statistics Data last updated December 28, 2020.
BEV: All-battery electric vehicle; PHEV: Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (electricity and gasoline); FCEV: Fuel-cell electric vehicle
To support electric vehicle drivers, Alameda needs to expand its network of public chargers. The map above shows existing public charging stations in Alameda.
What You Can Do
One of the best things you can do for the climate is to drive less. If it’s accessible to you, walk and bike. If not, take public transit – bus, ferry, BART. For trips where you are taking a car, find ways to minimize the number of trips: carpool, combine errands, decide that maybe you don’t need to take that trip after all. If your workplace allows it, telecommuting one or more days a week is one of the best ways to take a big chunk out of your transportation emissions. If your workplace doesn’t allow it but there’s work that could be physically done remotely, consider asking them to change their policies.
For trip planning: AC Transit and ferry maps