Oakland Wins $10M for Transportation Improvements in East Oakland
Published on July 03, 2025
The City of Oakland received a $10,033,000 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) Housing Incentive Pool (HIP) program, which will provide funding for the Laurel Access to Mills, Maxwell Park, and Seminary (LAMMPS) Phase 2 and 3 Project. This Project will install a separated, off-street shared-use path and streetscape improvements around the Northeastern University Oakland campus (formerly Mills College) on MacArthur Boulevard from Richards Road to Seminary Avenue, and on Seminary Avenue from Camden Street to Sunnymere Avenue.
"Oakland received this grant thanks to the close collaboration between our Department of Transportation (OakDOT) and Housing and Community Development Department (HCD). I'm grateful to our incredible staff and to MTC for this funding," said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. "Public safety and housing are among my top priorities, and this $10M grant helps deliver on both fronts."
The funded improvements will enhance traffic safety on the City’s High Injury Network (the 8% of streets in Oakland responsible for 60% of the City’s severe and fatal injury collisions) and will help Oakland residents reach key destinations in East Oakland without needing to use an automobile. The LAMMPS Phase 2 and 3 Project is also linked to a $44 million grant from the State’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, which is funding the Liberation Park development that includes 119 units of affordable housing near the Eastmont Mall.
“Investments like this reflect the future we’re building in East Oakland - one where families can safely walk, bike, and commute through their neighborhoods, and where affordable housing is connected to real infrastructure improvements," said Oakland Council President Kevin Jenkins. "This grant is a testament to what’s possible when we align our transportation and housing goals.”
"We know that 60% of severe and fatal collisions occur on just 8% of Oakland's streets," said OakDOT Director Josh Rowan. "That's why the team at OakDOT is focused on improving traffic safety on the High Injury Corridor. This grant funding will make our streets safer near affordable housing, making it easier, safer and more affordable for East Oakland residents to get around."
“The Housing Incentive Program grant will further holistic community development in East Oakland,” said Emily Weinstein, Director of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department. “Both affordable housing and safe transportation options are critical for Oakland residents, and we are excited to support this work.”
About the Housing Incentive Pool Program
MTC’s HIP program was established in October 2018 and includes $76 million in funding for transportation projects. This program is intended to deliver transportation projects near affordable housing developments and transit hubs for Bay Area jurisdictions that produced and preserved the most affordable housing in Priority Development Areas and Transit Priority Areas. HIP award amounts were determined by MTC based on a per-unit basis to the 15 jurisdictions that issued certificates of occupancy for the greatest number of eligible affordable housing units over the five calendar years 2018 through 2022. The City of Oakland was allocated the second largest HIP grant in the Bay Area.
By prioritizing both affordable housing and transportation, the City successfully secured additional funding to deliver significant safety, accessibility, and connectivity improvements in East Oakland which would not otherwise be possible to deliver without grant funding.
The City of Oakland leverages funds from the State and Federal governments to maximize the impact of local dollars whenever possible. Through the HIP program, the City has been rewarded for delivering on its promises to build and preserve housing. In 2024, the City of Oakland supported 1,542 units of affordable housing under construction, of which 55% (829) were for people exiting homelessness. Looking to the future, the City found in its 2023-2031 Housing Element Update that it has 336 development projects currently in its pipeline (going through the approvals process) which will yield 12,593 new housing units. 21.5% of these units will be affordable housing for lower-income households.
About Oakland’s Department of Transportation (OakDOT)
OakDOT is responsible for envisioning, planning, building, operating and maintaining a transportation system for the City of Oakland and assure safe, equitable, and sustainable access and mobility for residents, businesses and visitors. OakDOT’s Strategic Plan guides the department’s work, and is structured around 4 pillars: Equity, Safety, Sound Infrastructure, and Responsible Governance. The LAMMPS Phase 2 and 3 project is just one of many community-developed projects in OakDOT’s portfolio, and staff look forward to coordinating more projects with HCD that meet the City’s transportation and housing goals.
About Oakland's Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department
Homelessness and housing affordability are top priorities for Oakland residents. To address these challenges, the City is carrying out a multi-pronged approach. The Housing and Community Development Department is addressing housing affordability issues through its “3P” framework: Protect Oaklanders from displacement; Preserve the existing affordable housing stock; and Produce new, deeply affordable housing units. Oakland HCD also aims to prevent homelessness for vulnerable residents through partnerships with and grants to community service organizations. Read more about Oakland HCD and its current priorities in the 2023-2027 Strategic Action Plan.
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