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Oakland, CA — City of Oakland has announced a coordinated set of community safety and operations improvements on Friday and Saturday nights along Telegraph Avenue and Broadway, helping to ensure that residents and visitors can fully experience Oakland’s Arts and Entertainment District in a safe, fun and inclusive way.
Starting Friday, March 6, the City’s enhanced plan will include a layered approach to managing community safety, including:
- Stricter parking enforcement, citations and towing. No parking will be allowed between 15th St and Grand Ave on both Broadway and Telegraph Ave between 4 pm and 4am on both Friday and Saturday night
- Additional community ambassadors, public safety coordinators, and Oakland Police officers throughout the evening and late night
- Expanded pedestrian safety measures and traffic control (i.e. road barriers) to minimize illegal vehicular activity
- Clear emergency response and communications protocols
- Clearly marked street signage and informed community ambassadors to help with wayfinding
- Ongoing collaboration across City departments and with event organizers, local businesses, and community partners
“Oakland's Arts and Entertainment District is a celebration of our artists, our small businesses, and the soul of this community. It belongs to the people, and these enhancements are about making sure every Oaklander and every visitor can experience that magic safely and fully. Oakland is on the move – and we are committed to safe, thriving, joy-filled events as proof,” said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee.
“We listened to the community, who expressed their goal of experiencing Oakland’s artistic and cultural diversity while feeling safe and comfortable. We quickly responded with these enhanced measures to promote safe and culturally immersive pedestrian traffic flow,” said Assistant City Administrator Chuck Baker.
By strengthening infrastructure and public safety operations while preserving the spirit of community, the City is reaffirming its commitment to making Oakland's Arts and Entertainment District a safe, inclusive, and thriving showcase of culture and small business community.
The City will continue to monitor conditions and adjust staffing, traffic management, and safety resources as needed. Feedback from community members, businesses, and event partners will also help guide future improvements.
The City encourages event attendees to plan ahead, follow posted signs and staff directions, and look out for one another. BART, AC Transit, or rideshare are recommended; public parking is available at the Telegraph Plaza (entrance on Telegraph Ave at 21st) and Franklin Plaza (entrance on 19th St at Franklin) garages.
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