Martin Luther King, Jr. Way Streetscape Improvements

The project area touches West Oakland, Old Oakland, and the Jack London district. The project area is also near two parks, historical buildings, and the African American Museum and Library. The project team conducted a Racial Equity Impact Analysis (REIA) on the MLK Jr. Way project. This REIA outlines how history has shaped the project area communities. The REIA describes the existing disparities and how the project addresses these disparities.

Click here to read the MLK Jr. Way Racial Equity Impact Analysis(PDF, 3MB)

Several prior planning efforts have called for improvements on Martin Luther King Jr. Way. As part of these plans, engagement activities included meetings, workshops, surveys, and more. A summary of this previous engagement can be found in the MLK Jr. Way Community Engagement Summary (2015-2022)(PDF, 1MB). These plans include:

• 2017 Pedestrian Plan
• 2019 Bike Plan
• Downtown Oakland Specific Plan
• West Oakland Community Action Plan, and the
• Capital Improvement Program. 

Building on past engagement, the project team conducted additional engagement in Summer 2023. The goal was to ensure that the project scope was in line with current stakeholder needs and to inform the conceptual plans the Martin Luther King Jr. Way Streetscape Engagement Summary (Summer 2023)(PDF, 18MB) to learn more.

During Fall and Winter 2023, the project team conducted additional engagement to refine the project designs. This engagement included presentations, meetings, and an open house event. Learn more about the Community Streetscape Project Open House(PDF, 1MB) or watch a video of the event.

In early 2024, the project team re-engaged stakeholders to learn about preferences for urban design elements. A summary of this engagement can be found here(PDF, 1MB).

Funding agencies include the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC), the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).

The main source of funding is from state and local grants. These grant funds must be spent on major capital transportation improvements as originally scoped in the grant application, and they do not allow us to spend this money on our maintenance and operations, or any non-transportation related work. These funds can only be spent on the projects that were awarded.

The project scope was developed using recommendations from community engagement for plans and projects that cover the project area including the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan, 2019 Oakland Bike Plan, 2017 Pedestrian Plan, and outreach conducted for the MLK Jr. Way Road Diet Project. The project team applied for grant funding to design and construct improvements as part of the MLK Jr. Way Streetscape Improvements.

Yes, this project will add pedestrian lighting in the I-880 underpass to increase visibility, pedestrian safety, and create a more enjoyable walking and rolling experience. Additional improvements will be added as part of the Undercrossing Improvements. 

The project team conducted community engagement to seek input on the project between Summer 2023 and Spring 2024. The project team finalized designs in 2025. Construction is expected to start in Spring 2026. Check back here for updates or sign up for email updates. 

The parking changes are shown in the 100% Designs(PDF, 11MB)  posted on this webpage. Here are some of the major parking impacts expected as of September 2025:

• Parking will be removed on the west side of MLK Jr. Way between 2nd St and 3rd St.
• The east side of MLK Jr. Way between 2nd St and 3rd St will be a commercial loading zone (yellow curb). 
• Parking will be removed on the west side of MLK Jr. Way between 4th St and 9th St.
• Parking will be removed on the east side of MLK Jr. Way between 5th St and 6th St.
• Some parking will be removed throughout the project area for daylighting. 
• Accessible parking spaces (blue curb) will be added throughout the project area in accordance with local policy.
• Parking spaces will be added on 8th St and 9th St between MLK Jr. Way and Jefferson St. It will be added by converting parallel parking to diagonal parking on one side of the street.

The MLK Jr. Way Road Diet Project is focused on quick and effective improvements to install a buffered bike lane and reduce travel lanes from two to one in each direction on Martin Luther King Jr. Way between 7th Street and San Pablo Avenue. This project is funded by a grant from California's Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program in conjunction with new affordable housing for seniors at 3268 San Pablo Avenue. The MLK Jr. Way Road Diet construction has completed. The MLK Jr. Way Streetscape Improvements would implement improvements from 2nd to 14th Streets in addition to what is being built by the project funded by AHSC.

OakDOT works within and across City departments to help inform details of the project design. Through this collaborative approach, durable materials that can be most easily and readily maintained by City crews are selected. OakDOT continues to explore strategies, funding, and partnerships, to support the investments in street improvement projects through the near and long term.