Otis Drive To Be Cut From Four Lanes To Two

ALAMEDA, CA — The City of Alameda will begin construction on a mile-long stretch of Otis Drive this month to improve safety and accessibility, city officials announced.

Otis Drive is classified in the transportation element of the city's General Plan as an island arterial, meaning the street is intended to provide cross-island access. Because of its role as a thoroughfare, Otis Drive has additionally been identified as a bicycle priority street and as a primary transit street, with daily AC Transit services provided.

Otis Drive between Westline Drive and Willow Street has been flagged to the city as a high priority street for traffic safety improvements due to concerns including excessive speeding, challenging pedestrian crossings, and a lack of bicycle facilities.

Construction on the one-mile stretch will convert Otis Drive from a four-lane to a three-lane thoroughfare, with one lane in each direction and a center turn lane.

Bicycle paths and updated crosswalks will be added to the street, and several low-ridership bus stops will be removed.

Construction is scheduled to start November 30, and completion is estimated in early 2021.

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