Global opportunities at Port of Oakland awarded $187 million
Staff Writer |
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) announced the award of $187.4 million in 2018 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program Grants funded by Senate Bill 1 to construct two projects of the Global Opportunities at the Port of Oakland (GoPort) Program: 7th Street Grade Separation (East) and Freight Intelligent Transportation System.
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$175 million will support the 7th Street Grade Separation Project (East), which will replace an existing railroad underpass between I-880 and Maritime Street to increase clearance for trucks, alleviating a major chokepoint for intercontinental rail and drayage trucks, and improve a shared pedestrian/bicycle pathway.
A second grant of $12.4 million will fund the Freight Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) to implement technology to manage truck arrivals, improve incident response and connect to regional smart corridor systems.
The ITS project will include backbone communications infrastructure and systems integration and lays the technological foundation to support future developments in truck and connected vehicle technologies.
Together, these projects will improve freight efficiencies, maintain and expand the Port’s market and operational competitiveness, and support local, regional, state and national economic development and Port growth potential.
The GoPort projects will improve the efficiency, safety and reliability of truck and rail access and circulation within and near the Port.
These improvements will reduce impacts on local communities by accommodating anticipated truck and rail on Port property rather than spillover on local streets, and the overall Port circulation efficiencies expected from the projects will help to reduce emissions in West Oakland.
The project also includes improved bike and pedestrian safety with a modernized trail that will connect to Middle Harbor Shoreline Park and the Bay Trail. ■