Overview

The Kains and Adams Bikeway Pilot Project is intended to provide a safer north-south route parallel to San Pablo Avenue and improve cycling access to destinations along San Pablo Avenue.

Pilot Project Evaluation

The pilot is scheduled for discussion at the May 20, 2024 City Council meeting. The Council will be discussing feedback from the pilot and considering future changes to Kains and Adams based upon the pilot project evaluation.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the meeting and address the City Councilon this matter. Persons interested in submitting written correspondence on an item listed on the agenda are requested to submit the correspondence to citycouncil@albanyca.org in advance of the meeting. Please note that communications to the Council are public record and are available for public viewing.    

The agenda for this meeting and related documentation for this project will be available 3 to 5 days before the meeting online at www.albanyca.org/meetings.  

Background

Bicycling on San Pablo Avenue is challenging as this major arterial is a bus and truck route with high traffic volumes and fast vehicular speeds. These conditions present a safety challenge for experienced cyclists and discourage less-experienced riders or school children from cycling.  

To encourage cycling in Albany, the concept of installing alternative bikeways to San Pablo Avenue along Kains Avenue and Adams Street was recommended in the Albany Active Transportation (ATP) Plan in 2012. A feasibility study was conducted with Measure B funding from the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Measure B is the Alameda County half cent sales tax dedicated to transportation projects passed by Alameda County voters in 2000). The feasibility study and planning process led to the development of several alternatives. In 2017, the City Council asked that a two-way shared street / bicycle boulevard concept for Kains Avenue and Adams Street be brought back to Council as a pilot project. In 2019, the City Council directed staff to incorporate a one year pilot project in the Capital Improvement Plan and revised the Active Transportation Plan to reflect the approved design.

Design

The approved design includes two-way vehicle and bicycle traffic permitted on both Kains and Adams, with motor vehicle entry restricted at the intersection to maintain the existing one-way direction for motor vehicle through traffic (Kains Avenue restricted entry to only the southbound direction and Adams Street restricted entry to only the northbound direction). Signage and traffic posts placed at the north end of each block of Adams Street and the south end of each block of Kains Avenue will notify drivers of the circulation. Additional striping includes crosswalks, lane edge lines to delineate the parking area, and sharrows.

New Vehicle Circulation

Download Project Plans (4.3MB PDF)

Download Project Study (7.7MB PDF)

Parking

The California Vehicle Code requires vehicles to be parked with the right wheels to the curb on a two-way street. While the predominant vehicle traffic will continue to be in the existing one-way direction, the pilot project creates internal two-way streets on each block. After the project has been installed, the Albany Police Department will provide a warning period for a minimum of 30 days as drivers adjust to the new parking requirement. Following the warning period, vehicles parked in the wrong direction may be cited. We understand this change in parking may take time to get adjusted to, and will aim to focus on helping residents throughout the adjustment period. 

Evaluation

After the design is installed for one year, the Transportation Commission and City Council will be presented with an evaluation of the pilot, including data on traffic counts and speeds, observation of intersection behavior and compliance, bicycle and pedestrian counts, survey and public feedback, and collision data as available.

Project milestones: 

• Council Award of Contract - June 2022 (Resolution No. 2022-56)
• Council Authorization to Bid - April 2022 (Resolution No. 2022-27)
• CIP Adoption - November 2020 (Resolution No. 2020-108)
• ATP Amendment & Project Adoption - September 2019 (Resolution No. 2019-77)
• Transportation Commission Recommendation - December 2018
• Design Contract Award - May 2018 (Resolution No. 2018-54)
• Bikeway Study - December 2017

For additional information or to provide feedback on the pilot project, contact Justin Fried 1 + (510) 528-5759 or at jfried@albanyca.org.

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