Background
The MLK Jr. Way Streetscape Improvements aim to improve safety for all road users and promote equity. The project will help to improve connections between 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
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Project Scope
The MLK Jr. Way Streetscape Improvements will be constructed on MLK Jr. Way between 2nd Street and 14th Street. This street overlaps with the City's Green Loop. The project improvements include:
- Pedestrian improvements including new lighting, seating, upgraded sidewalk, crosswalks, curb ramps, and bulb-outs.
- A new two-way cycle track on MLK Jr. Way between 2nd Street and 14th Street to provide a safe and comfortable bike route for all ages. The cycle track between 2nd Street and 11th Street will be sidewalk level.
- New street trees to regulate extreme temperatures, sequestering carbon, and mitigate air pollution.
- Fiber cable connectivity to improve signal coordination and enable the expansion of OAK WiFi.
- Upgraded traffic signals, protected left turns, bike signals, and pedestrian countdown heads.
This project is currently in the final design phase.
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Past Engagement and Outcomes
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). 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) 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. Click here to learn more about the Community Streetscape Project Open House. You can also watch a video of the event by clicking here.
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.
Page last updated: April 25, 2025
