73rd Avenue is a one-mile corridor between MacArthur Boulevard and International Boulevard in East Oakland. There are standard bike lanes (without a buffer) on most of the street. Over 50 years ago, 73rd Avenue and the connecting Hegenberger Road were envisioned as an expressway connecting I-880 and I-580. In the 1970s, the City of Oakland displaced dozens of residents to rebuild and widen the street. Today, the corridor is over 100 feet and as many as six lanes wide.

All of 73rd Avenue is on Oakland’s 2024 High Injury Network, or the 8% of streets responsible for 60% of severe and fatal crashes in Oakland. Pedestrians and bicyclists are especially vulnerable. From 2019 to 2023, there were 161 injury crashes on 73rd Avenue, including 10 that resulted in a death or serious injury. Unsafe driving speeds were a primary factor in 27% of injury crashes, more than any other factor. (Source: SWITRS)

Community members also told OakDOT that speeding and aggressive driving is a major issue. The speed limit on 73rd Avenue is 30 mph. * In winter 2026, a speed camera at Krause Ave captured 320 drivers a day speeding an average of 13.2 mph above the speed limit.

There are many transit options on 73rd Avenue, including the Eastmont Transit Center, AC Transit Tempo at International Boulevard, the Coliseum BART Station, and the Coliseum Amtrak Station. The Eastmont Transit Center serves 13 AC Transit bus lines, including Lines 73, 657, and 805 which travel on 73rd Avenue. People walking or biking may access the Coliseum BART and Amtrak stations through existing Bike Routes on 69th and 71st Avenues.

2019 “Let’s Bike Oakland” Bicycle Plan

The 2019 Oakland Bike Plan update recommended upgrading the standard bike lanes on 73rd Avenue to buffered bike lanes. Community members and OakDOT staff have since determined that additional biking and walking infrastructure is necessary.

2021 East Oakland Neighborhoods Initiative

Participants in the 2021 East Oakland Neighborhoods Initiative highlighted speeding, aggressive driving, and a need for narrower, slower traffic lanes. They also asked for improved and more comfortable access to community resources, like transit, schools, and the nearby shoreline. While they recognized the community’s reliance on active transportation, many were concerned that bike lanes were a signal of gentrification or displacement.

2022 East Oakland Mobility Action Plan

73rd Avenue was one of the top priority projects for the East Oakland Mobility Action Plan (EOMAP). As part of developing the EOMAP, East Oaklanders shared their safety and accessibility concerns about the street. Concerns included speeding, reckless driving behavior, and difficulty crossing the street. These issues discouraged residents from accessing local bus stops and regional transit hubs. 

As of Spring 2026, OakDOT is applying for funding through the California Transportation Commission Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 8 to implement the 73rd Avenue Active Routes to Transit project with a median path design selected by community members in 2024. Construction for this project is tentatively estimated to cost $40 million.

In 2024-2025, OakDOT applied to but was not awarded ATP Cycle 7 grant funds. Although the project received a high score of 94, limited funds in Cycle 7 meant that only applications with a score of 95 or higher were awarded funding.

OakDOT also applied to but was not awarded ATP Cycle 6 grant funds with a previous buffered bike lane design.

In March 2024, 680 community members participated in an online survey comparing three design options for 73rd Avenue. Over half of community members supported a median path design and said it would significantly benefit people walking or biking, and somewhat benefit bus riders or drivers.

Read more about the online survey results in the May 2024 Design Selection Presentation.

As of Spring 2026, OakDOT is applying for funding through the California Transportation Commission Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 8 to implement the 73rd Avenue Active Routes to Transit project with a median path design selected by community members in 2024. Construction for this project is tentatively estimated to cost $40 million.

In 2024-2025, OakDOT applied to but was not awarded ATP Cycle 7 grant funds. Although the project received a high score of 94, limited funds in Cycle 7 meant that only applications with a score of 95 or higher were awarded funding.