Caltrans says the case for lifting the ban is about relieving pollution on I-880. But its own modeling shows keeping the I-580 ban in place would result in lower diesel pollution overall by 2035.
880 is a commercial corridor mostly populated by businesses whereas 580 is a residential and park corridor mostly populated by Parks and homes. Why would we move trucks from a commercial corridor to a residential corridor? It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
This article is built around the impact of diesel pollution, especially along the I-880 corridor. Spreading the pollution, and probably increased pollution, to other neighborhoods is not a viable solution.
A far better long-term solution, and consistent with State goals, would be electrification of the trucking fleets. Cal Trucking Association has deep ties to old school carbon powered vehicles and represents only equity big businesses, not Californians nor especially Oakland. For Cal-Trans, Oakland in an impediment to get through, not a city to be served equally.
I was under the impression that the original footprint of Mills College was impacted when 580 was built, and the concession was that no trucks would be allowed on that stretch of the freeway.
Hi Katy, thank you for your comment. The freeway was indeed built next to the northern border of the Mills College campus, but we found no source indicating that campus acreage was taken or built over. However, we did find this contemporary 1962 article about the MacArthur Freeway project during its construction, from the journal, "California Highways and Public Works" (Vol. 41, Nos. 7–8, July–August 1962, pp. 2-7), which describes the massive scale of the project and includes several photos that show the scope of property displacement where it cut through already-developed areas: https://docs.oaklandreport.news/california-highway-and-public-works-vol-41-nos-7-8-1962.pdf
As if it isn’t enough that the City of Oakland can’t get its act together, we now also have to contend with the possibility of big rigs taking over 580. As Josh Bersin noted, this section of 580 runs through residential areas. Only residential areas. 880 section is predominantly industrial. Oakland isn’t a large city and it puzzles my mind that ANY effort and money is being poured into lifting this truck ban! What other small cities have 2 freeways running through them, full of trucks?
Quality of life, safety of other drivers, more gridlock, pollution all over the city, AND OUR PROPERTY VALUES ARE AT STAKE! Please people, the truck ban must stay in place.
This article is very detailed. Thank you. But the health impacts are only measured by cancer cases. There are many more health impacts besides cancer, with asthma topping the list. Are there any figures on the broader health impacts of truck traffic on 880 beyond projected cancer diagnoses?
As someone who has lived in the flatlands my entire time in Oakland, it's really offensive to hear that the argument that nobody lives in the 880 corridor. The most dense parts of Oakland, including WEST Oakland, Chinatown, fruitvale, and the international boulevard corridor are full of Oakland residents. For all the arguments about why there's no reason to change, there's no discussion about why the truck ban was instituted in the first place...to direct trucks to where people of color the poorest of us live. To argue for keeping the ban in my place is to perpetuate and keep in place a system of redlining and racism. I agree that trucks need to get cleaner...and they are. But,that is not an argument for continuing a system rooted in racism. Its reminiscent of arguments made in favor of keeping Jim Crowe in place...if everyone gets to drink from a drinking fountain, what's the harm in keeping them separate?
880 is a commercial corridor mostly populated by businesses whereas 580 is a residential and park corridor mostly populated by Parks and homes. Why would we move trucks from a commercial corridor to a residential corridor? It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Precisely!
This article is built around the impact of diesel pollution, especially along the I-880 corridor. Spreading the pollution, and probably increased pollution, to other neighborhoods is not a viable solution.
A far better long-term solution, and consistent with State goals, would be electrification of the trucking fleets. Cal Trucking Association has deep ties to old school carbon powered vehicles and represents only equity big businesses, not Californians nor especially Oakland. For Cal-Trans, Oakland in an impediment to get through, not a city to be served equally.
The "Clean Ports" project looks towards electrifying the port - and it is community led. More information here https://www.portofoakland.com/cleanports and from the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, one of the community partners here https://woeip.org/featured-work/clean-ports/
I was under the impression that the original footprint of Mills College was impacted when 580 was built, and the concession was that no trucks would be allowed on that stretch of the freeway.
Hi Katy, thank you for your comment. The freeway was indeed built next to the northern border of the Mills College campus, but we found no source indicating that campus acreage was taken or built over. However, we did find this contemporary 1962 article about the MacArthur Freeway project during its construction, from the journal, "California Highways and Public Works" (Vol. 41, Nos. 7–8, July–August 1962, pp. 2-7), which describes the massive scale of the project and includes several photos that show the scope of property displacement where it cut through already-developed areas: https://docs.oaklandreport.news/california-highway-and-public-works-vol-41-nos-7-8-1962.pdf
As if it isn’t enough that the City of Oakland can’t get its act together, we now also have to contend with the possibility of big rigs taking over 580. As Josh Bersin noted, this section of 580 runs through residential areas. Only residential areas. 880 section is predominantly industrial. Oakland isn’t a large city and it puzzles my mind that ANY effort and money is being poured into lifting this truck ban! What other small cities have 2 freeways running through them, full of trucks?
Quality of life, safety of other drivers, more gridlock, pollution all over the city, AND OUR PROPERTY VALUES ARE AT STAKE! Please people, the truck ban must stay in place.
This article is very detailed. Thank you. But the health impacts are only measured by cancer cases. There are many more health impacts besides cancer, with asthma topping the list. Are there any figures on the broader health impacts of truck traffic on 880 beyond projected cancer diagnoses?
As someone who has lived in the flatlands my entire time in Oakland, it's really offensive to hear that the argument that nobody lives in the 880 corridor. The most dense parts of Oakland, including WEST Oakland, Chinatown, fruitvale, and the international boulevard corridor are full of Oakland residents. For all the arguments about why there's no reason to change, there's no discussion about why the truck ban was instituted in the first place...to direct trucks to where people of color the poorest of us live. To argue for keeping the ban in my place is to perpetuate and keep in place a system of redlining and racism. I agree that trucks need to get cleaner...and they are. But,that is not an argument for continuing a system rooted in racism. Its reminiscent of arguments made in favor of keeping Jim Crowe in place...if everyone gets to drink from a drinking fountain, what's the harm in keeping them separate?