Chinatown Complete Streets Plan

The Chinatown Complete Streets Plan proposes community-requested Complete Streets projects with a focus on safety on 9th Street, Webster Street, and Harrison Street in Oakland Chinatown. Proposed changes include widened sidewalks, new pedestrian scrambles, improved street lighting, and more. 

Download the Chinatown Complete Streets Plan(PDF, 35MB) 下載華埠完整街道計劃(PDF, 34MB) Appendix(PDF, 20MB) 

Chinatown  

Chinatown is a central neighborhood in Downtown Oakland bordered by Broadway, 14th Street, Fallon Street, and Interstate 880. It is a vibrant, bustling neighborhood that is a centerpiece of Oakland's cultural identity. Half of Chinatown Streets are on Oakland’s 2024 High Injury Network, which have the highest density of severe crashes. Unfortunately, Chinatown is also home to the highest concentration of pedestrian and bicycle collisions in the city. 

Chinatown is also one of the most transit-dependent neighborhoods in Oakland. Compared to Oaklanders citywide, Chinatown residents in the project are more likely to walk, bike, or take public transit than drive a car. According to the 2019-2023 American Community Survey, nearly two in five Chinatown households do not have access to a vehicle, compared to a citywide average of 15%. Chinatown is a dense area with a high concentration of retail and commercial activity. One-way road patterns create wide, fast streets that are imposing for those walking or biking. Double parking and loading in the street are the norm, which creates issues with pedestrian visibility and conflicts with people biking.  

What is a "Complete Street"? 

The Chinatown Complete Streets Plan includes the goal to create safe streets for all Chinatown community members. Oakland’s City Council adopted a Complete Streets Policy in 2013 (City Council Resolution No. 84204). Complete Streets are designed and operated so that people of all ages and abilities can travel safely, regardless of the mode of transportation they are using. In particular, the Plan recognizes and responds to the vulnerability of families, people with disabilities, seniors, and transit users in Chinatown. Plan Goals 

The Chinatown Complete Streets Plan was written in partnership with the Chinatown community, who identified three main goals. OakDOT commits to work towards these community-driven goals in the CCSP. 

• Create safe, accessible, and vibrant streets for all users.  
• Support local businesses, events, and everyday activities.  
• Prioritize families, disability accessibility, the elderly, transit users, and patrons.  

Key Corridors

 Through community engagement, communities in Chinatown identified specific needs for improved safety and accessibility that are reflected in conceptual designs for three streets.   The following corridors were identified as a priority for the plan: 

• 9th Street (Martin Luther King Jr. Way to Fallon Street) 
• Webster Street (6th Street to 14th Street) 
• Harrison Street (6th Street to 14th Street) 

Engagement 

 OakDOT worked with East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) to engage residents and stakeholders for the Chinatown Complete Streets Plan. EBALDC developed an engagement plan honoring past planning processes to minimize engagement fatigue in Chinatown. 

Engagement efforts for the Plan reached 660 community members, 8 different community organizations, 61 Chinatown merchants, and 307 survey-takers over more than two years. Types of engagement included:  

• Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) 
• 2 Public Surveys 
• Public Sitewalk 
• Presenting at Community Meetings 
• Tabling at Community Events 
• Tactical Urbanism Demonstration 
• Hands on Visions Activities 
• Focus Groups 
• Door-to-door Business Canvassing 
• Open House 
• Social Media and Newsletter Campaign