Thank you for your request to improve the safety and efficiency of Alameda’s transportation system. It has been received as #17-01-0003. Requests for many transportation issues, including stop signs, curb painting, and traffic calming measures, typically require 8-12 weeks to complete before staff can develop a recommendation. These requests involve review of current plans and policies, compilation of accident and/or other history, coordinating with Alameda Police and other stakeholders, outreach to residents or others who may be affected by the proposed change, on-site data collection and analysis, and sometimes consultation with outside experts. We will follow up with you about your request when your request is at the top of the queue. Unfortunately, due to limited funding, there is a backlog of these requests and they are being handled in the order of receipt. Due to that backlog, some requests may take six months to a year to complete the analysis and recommendation. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

I agree and was about to submit a similar request for a stop sign or red light at this intersection. Thank you for requesting this.

Thank you leekemp2! Let's get other neighbors to add their comments and votes too!

Just today, while trying to get into our parked car, we had to leap out of the way on Eagle and up against our car as two cars - both going fast in opposite directions - veered to avoid a head-on and so close that one driver would have taken our door off had it not been for our good reflexes. Thank you to Lynn and Lee for adding your two cents. With the brand new firehouse and all of its traffic turmoil, this problem is likely to worsen if the city slow-tracks these needed stop signs. Although the city would certainly share culpability the risk is no less horrible. I don't know about other posters but the response to my original post was something like 'we'll get to it in the order received'. Not acceptable, imho.

This is a huge problem. I am a local resident who has seen one too many "close calls" and I fear what could result when the new fire station is up and running. Imagine the injuries and expenses if someone got hurt in the midst of an emergency response!

I saw a biker in danger as I was turning right into Eagle behind them. A driver made a very wide turn onto Eagle from Hibbard, entering the other lane, where the biker was. While I feared for the biker and their safety (and mine, as I frequently bike this way to go home), I understand the difficulty in making that right turn. It is hard to see beyond the parked cars. There is also a visibility problem here.

The turn is even more difficult to complete safely if the driver is going beyond the speed limit. But while I do think stop signs and speed bumps could help the speeding problem, I also think the current stop sign on Eagle at Hibbard is too far back, causing motorists to pull up farther than the sign just to see over the parked cars.

The Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FASS) walk their dogs in this area, as well. Unfortunately, no one is kept safe in this situation. The possibilities of an accident are high for everyone involved in a head on collision between two cars (or a bicyclist), pedestrians crossing the street or entering their vehicles, etc.

Help keep my community safe!

Thank you Bethany for your exquisitely written response!!

Thank you to all who organized this! I live two doors down from the fire station on Hibbard and this is a serious problem. People whip around that corner like it's a NASCAR track. We called the police weeks ago when one driver was going so fast around the corner he skidded into the chain link fence surrounding the fire station and dragged it halfway down the street. We have two children and I tell them to treat what should be a quiet street like it's a highway, because that's what drivers seem to think it is. Once that fire station opens the danger is magnified for the entire community. Come down around 4-6:30 p.m. on a weekday. You'll see what we mean.

Thank you Peter! Sorry you have to work so hard to protect your kids!

Come on City of Alameda, step it up and help us out or the first emergency response will be right across from the fire station!!

I live in the house that Eagle dead ends to - my window look out onto this intersection and I've SEEN accidents before. As a driver who comes home on Buena Vista and turns left onto Hibbard and slows to turn left into my driveway I'm sometimes afraid of being rear-ended by drivers tailgating me who want to turn right onto Eagle. A stop sign or speed bumps would help tremendously!

I echo everything my neighbors have written so far. I live on Hibbard close to the new fire station and I have been nearly rear-ended several times as I've pulled into my own driveway. I also witnessed what my husband described when two cars came speeding onto Hibbard from Buena Vista in a high-speed chase, dragging part of the fencing from the construction zone with them after they crashed into it. I am terrified every day that my kids or one of my neighbors will be hit by a reckless driver, and I also worry about the many dogs that our neighbors and shelter volunteers walk in the area. Please, please help us make this a safe area in our beloved Alameda.

Agreed. I recently posted a complaint about speeding on Buena Vista and the need for better stops in the area as many speed and use Buena Vista as a causeway to go East/West as quickly as possible. I didn't know that some are using Hubbard to already avoid one traffic signal. This is extremely unsafe.

lkell, kelly, George: Thanks for chiming in! I hope that we can get this problem solved!

There used to be stop signs at Eagle and Hibbard after the new street was put in back when the housing development was completed. The signs lasted about two months and then they were taken out. Why remove a stop sign? Probably because City trucks of various sorts also like to use Hibbard/Eagle as a short-cut to the City yard which is behind AMP.

Two comments: 1) If stop signs were in place on the corners of Eagle and HIbbard years ago, the city has a history it can refer to and should be able to work around the need for a traffic study and re-install those signs. 2) Now that we have a new bus route (19) on Buena Vista (a narrow, overused two-lane street) we are seeing an exponential increase in the cut-throughs that were already out of hand. Drivers, on their daily commutes, are following each other and making the Eagle/Hibbard cut through part of their daily routine. They are literally non-stop throughout the day and not just from 4:00-6:30.It will be a madhouse when the fire station opens. If the city has a safety plan in mind, they need to get on this message board and inform us. It's hard to believe the city planners could be unaware that the addition of a fire station and bus route on a two lane congested street wouldn't generate the need for a traffic solution to protect residents.

Left hand turns onto Hibbard should be made illegal. Build a lane divider. As a pedestrian, attempting to cross Hibbard while walking Buena Vista is extremely dangerous. I've almost been struck a couple of time.

Related, what is the construction in that vicinity? A new fire station? They've taken that sidewalk for more than two years now, which is unacceptable. Pedestrian safety in that area is already compromised.

In general, increased traffic enforcement during the afternoon rush hour commute all along Buena Vista, and also on Pacific where smart guys speed and blow stop signs thinking that they are avoiding the traffic on Buena Vista.

I agree with all the comments above. In addition, people are using the turning lane when headed East on Buena Vista to get to Hibbard for a block or more. Buena Vista was dangerous on a bike before. Now I won't go near it.

I live down the street on Washoe Court and bicycle commute to and from work through this intersection, which is extremely unfriendly to cyclists to begin with as it is quite narrow and there are many parked cars. Add to this a high volume of traffic cutting through to Clement/Buena Vista, as others have noted, and the high driving speeds and you've got a dangerous mix. Volume and speed must be reduced, especially with the new fire station set to open soon on Buena Vista and Grand, the increase in users as a result of the new Lenar community, and the high use of this intersection by pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-vehicle users of all ages and abilities (including pets). There are many so called "traffic calming" measures that might be implemented here such as a stop sign, speed bumps or humps, and making the eastbound left turn from Buena Vista to Hibbard illegal. All these and other measures should be considered, including those that encourage use of active and public transportation options rather than personal vehicle transportation. I urge the city to expedite these changes as this intersection is indeed a ticking time bomb as is.

Thank you for your request to help make Alameda’s transportation system as safe and efficient as possible. Public Works, Alameda Police, and the City’s Transportation Planning Unit are developing a list of locations for traffic calming measures for inclusion in Alameda’s 2017-2019 budget. Given tight budget constraints, the list is being generated and prioritized based on a location’s history of reported collisions, police citations, its relationship with existing transportation plans and improvements, and suggestions from members of the public. Your suggestion, along with the 100+ we received from other members of the public, will be evaluated for inclusion in the final list, which will be posted in June 2017 at the following link under FY 2016-17 & 2017-2018 Budget. https://alamedaca.gov/finance/budgets/2012-13

Thank you for submitting this request (#17-01-0003). It has been addressed and is now closed.

Thank you for the response and explanation of the process here Alan.

Is there an open forum where these grievances or the budget is reviewed? I know it has been previously mentioned that because of budget cuts, traffic enforcement has gone down recently, but based on the number of "Alameda - Slow Down in Town" signs I see around: traffic control is an item that is very important to residents of the island and this may not reflect in recent budget discussions. Where/how can residents help reprioritize the budget for modern concerns?

To Alan from Public Works who closed this case:

It is ridiculous that we won't even hear back about this issue until June!!! Are there temporary stop signs the city can put up? There is a SERIOUS hazard here and if you want to talk $$ think carefully about the amount the city could be sued when more accidents occurs here, because they are going to happen given all the crazy cut through traffic on our street. We are trying to prevent a tragedy from occurring at this location.

Please see previous post about how these types of concerns will be evaluated in the future. We will review your concerns and comments when it is time to compile the list of locations. We are closing this case for now. Thank you.

George, I'm looking into answers for your questions. I'll post the answers when I get them. Thanks.

Thank you, I don't think I am the only one concerned here and I think this will help the neighborhood understand your difficulties. Thank you for working with us.

I agree with George. Closing this issue is just a prayer that there won't be a tragedy here. I don't think the city is really understanding the extent of this issue. Even a temporary fix of temporary stop signs or slow down signs is needed here. It is hard to understand how the city is willing to risk this liability....

Thank you George!

Hi everyone,

My family has been living on Eagle Ave. for over 10 years now and we completely agree with this thread. The ongoing traffic in our residential area has been a nightmare.

Just two weeks ago (12/27/16), my sisters PARKED car, sitting right in front of our house, was hit by a speeding car. We were unable to get the license plate in time but our next door neighbor saw that it was a ~1980-1990 silver toyota camry that sped by. The driver made a reckless wide, right turn down Hibbard Ave onto Eagle ave and slammed into our cars left front wheel and made their escape by turning onto Grand and drove off Clement ave. If you happen to know any information or see a silver toyota camry with damage in their front right light area, please contact us. Thankfully, it was only a car that can be replaced but I can't imagine if it was an actual person.

I believe we need to instate speed bumps, stop signs, or even install a street light if it means keeping residents in our area safe. And fast.

Fiona thank you for your comment and for the specific and recent EVIDENCE that this area is a ticking time bomb. Perhaps you can post the police report # so that the city can verify that this is a REAL issue.

City of Alameda: Yes we are worried for our safety, BUT we are also putting the City of Alameda on NOTICE: without a fix, this situation is certainly going to come back to haunt you if citizens decide to sue the city for damages due to negligence

Agreed with Lk. I'm not a litigious person, but you can be sure that I will talk to every neighbor in the old neighborhood, the new Lewis developments and with all the residents on the houseboats about this if something is not done. We are already doing this on NextDoor to raise awareness.

Perhaps the neighbors affected can all get signs saying "slow down, pedestrians & kids in the area" while they pressure local officials. Absent a violation of your federal civil rights, it's nearly impossible to sue the government.

George, Can you post a comment to help others use NextDoor? What is the link? Thanks!

Nextdoor is a bit like Facebook meets Craigslist but locally based, so I don't know if multiple people can use a referral link, but I've included a link below that should place you in the Central Alameda neighborhood.

Note that Nextdoor asks you to provide your home address so if you are uncomfortable with that all, I would not recommend it.

I will say that I have not received any spam or solicitations because of it that I can tell and it has been good to keep up with what neighbors think/want to help each other.

Join Nextdoor, the private social network for neighborhoods, and start connecting with your neighbors. nextdoor.com/!K8GHF5

Lk,

Thank you for your suggestion. Here is the police report number: 16-6952 on 12/27/2016.

On behalf of my family, we're incredibly thankful for this thread. Not only does it show that we live in a neighborhood that is outspoken and pro-active about keeping our residents safe, but it shows that there is a real sense of community here and we are proud to be a part of that.

Hi George, in response to your questions from 1/9/2017, our capital and operating budgets are all posted on the City Council, Transportation Commission, and Planning Board agendas in the months of March through June. Public speakers are always welcome on those items.

so - about an hour ago I'm sitting here at my desk and I hear someone out in the street yelling and I look out my front window to see some guy sitting in a rather expensive looking black Mercedes two-door just sitting in the middle of the street . . . he then proceeds to make a somewhat erratic move with the vehicle and then ZOOMS down the street, barking the tires in the process, at 4 in the afternoon! Could easily been another event like yesterday on Park Street had another car come along on Eagle to make the turn on Hibbard. What will it take?

I agree George! And ironically enough, at the new housing project 1/2 block away down by the yacht club where all the big new houses went in, the City JUST added a bike lane and a newTHREE-WAY STOP with Three new STOP SIGNS! How hard would it have been to put on ONE MORE MEASLY STOP SIGN to make it a THREE-WAY STOP at Hibbard and EAGLE?.. the stop Sign crew was right around the corner putting up the other STOP signs.... ALAMEDA! What will it take??

I think one of those flashing crosswalk things at Eagle and Grand would be a better solution.

Great idea John! Anything would help!

Hi, I'm a resident on Eagle Ave. I agree with others that the lack of traffic controls on Eagle Ave and Hibbard St constitutes a safety hazard. Another safety hazard is the both Washoe Ct (already mentioned by another user) on the west side of Hibbard St and Ellen Craig Ave on the east side of Hibbard St which is almost directly across from Washoe Ct; both streets are just north of the Eagle Ave and are also affected by the current traffic safety problems.

Currently, Ellen Craig Ave is a block length alley behind Eagle Ave that is used by pedestrians, families, bicyclists, animal shelter volunteers and residents walking dogs and other non-vehicle use. Garbage trucks run through the alley to pick up local resident garbage and other city maintenance vehicles use this alley. I've even seen a hook and ladder fire truck use the alley to get onto Hibbard St in the past! Of course, Eagle Ave residents whose garages open onto the alley have to use the alley to leave their residences. Other vehicles are starting to use this alley as a shortcut to the main artery Grand St.

There is a safety traffic hazard at the intersection of Hibbard St and Ellen Craig Ave. There is a blind intersection where you cannot see traffic heading south on Hibbard St when you look to the right (north) unless you go into the intersection. The property on the north that has solid fencing that juts out onto Hibbard St belongs to Pennzoil and you cannot see through the fencing. If a vehicles park on Hibbard St just south of Washoe Ct, Hibbard St becomes just a one-way street, making a dangerous hazard even more dangerous.

What really concerned me was the Alameda Running Festival Half Marathon that occurred on Sunday morning of 9/17/17 where they had coned over Ellen Craig Ave and Hibbard St for the runners. There was a volunteer directing traffic at Ellen Craig Ave and Grand St, but no one at Ellen Craig Ave and Hibbard St at the blind intersection. Fortunately, by the time I saw 2 policemen(?) on Clement St, the cones were removed from the alley. I found out later there were no incidents at this location.

The blind intersection at Ellen Craig Ave needs an immediate solution, such as a traffic convex mirror, speed bumps, flashing warning signs, anything! The entire stretch of Hibbard St between Clement St and Buena Vista Ave needs Traffic Calming!

Issue still not resolved

Issue still not resolved

This issue is still not resolved. I do not understand why it is so hard to put up one measly STOP sign!!

Maybe emails to the City Manager, Jill Keimach?

Here's her email address: jkeimach@alamedaca.gov

This issue is far from resolved; it just gets worse every day! A stop sign would be an easy fix

Since by now it’s pretty clear the neighborhood is being ignored by the City with their form letter responses I suggest it get escalated to a signed petition that gets presented to the city counsel. Squeaky wheels . . .

Hi George, This is a great idea. We are willing to help make this happen. Might you be able to meet up for a half hour or so some time this week to get this rolling?

My suggestion would be to make it an online petition to start. I also suggest emails to the city manager jkeimach@alamedaca.gov - that Limebike that was at the bottom of the basin for the better part of a week was gone the next day once I made mail to her.

I can't believe this hasn't been resolved yet. This whole area is a mess, we walk around a lot, and besides fearing for our own safety we have seen so many crazy close calls here.

Thanks Kashed for adding to this conversation. Now there are even more cars using our neighborhood as a cut through. I continue to see many close calls every day, but fear the city will only act after a great tragedy occurs....

I think a Lighted Crosswalk Lighting System installed at the corner of Eagle and Grand would go a long way toward slowing down traffic and increasing pedestrian safety. A house just got hit be a speeding car at that intersection. Furthermore, there should be a three way stop at Clement and Grand to further calm traffic.

I've been thinking for years there should be a 3-way stop at Grand and Clement. It can be difficult and dangerous to make a left turn from Clement onto Grand due to cars speeding by on Grand, most but all of which turn from Grand onto Clement. Also a stop sign there probably would have prevented that car from getting up to a high enough speed to drive down the boat launch ramp causing the driver to drown several years ago.

Yes, city of Alameda, it has been 421 days since we opened this.... can we please get some action??

Wanted to add my input on this issue because today I was driving back home on Eagle ave. going towards Hibbard st where I live. As I approached the stop sign a car coming from the back end of Clement/Hibbard makes an extreme left turn at high speed into Eagle almost hitting me head on!!! And this is not the first time I've experienced this. I've included photos I took today to show how bad this issue is. It happens every day!!! Now I don't know what it will take THE CITY OF ALAMEDA to do about this! PLEASE HELP PREVENT A HEAD ON COLLISION FROM HAPPENING. SOMEONE WILL GET SERIOUSLY HURT.

Thank you DD for continuing this vital discussion. Hopefully there will action BEFORE the fatality happens!

Dear city of Alameda,

FIX THIS!!!

Seems like all responses to citizens' concerns reference the lack of funds and deferred maintenance.
How many of these problems could have been resolved if the city did not pay out a million dollars or so for the City Manager fiasco? Why is there so much deferred maintenance? The answer is we have members in our city government, some elected and some appointed, that are in it for the money, and I'm not talking about the compensation they receive from the city, which is peanuts.
Please research candidates and think long and hard before our next election.

Still leaving issue open because there is no solution happening

It's an election year. And even tho the Public Works aren't elected the mayor and city counsel are and they will be eager to at least Look like they care about what's important to us. Remember and ACT!

While I appreciate getting messages about this post saying things like "This has been outstanding for 601 days," I think that message should be bouncing back to the city.... Hey City of Alameda, this issue has been recorded here for 601 days!! Isn't it time to do something? How hard is it to get a STOP sign?? Seems like it should be SO EASY! ..... I still fear that this will only be resolved when there is some sort of horrible accident.... how tragic!!!!!

It does seem at the rate it is going a major injury/fatal collision and resulting lawsuit will be required to get this intersection turned into a 3-way stop sign intersection.

Anybody know how to get a petition together? - not my skill set but I would certainly sign it. I think it's going to take at least a petition drive and with the election coming up maybe some pointed questions directed at the politicos as to why it seems to take monumental effort on the part of the public to get what should be a relatively trivial effort on the part of Public Works to keep us safe. Keep in mind that when they wave that tax increase at us as a way to expedite the situation they're all making in the six figures, quite nicely.

@alamedaageo: We can do an online petition through change.org..... what do you think?

Hi all! Please sign this petition to the City of Alameda and see if your friends and neighbors will sign too! https://chn.ge/2x8TVZl

This issue is still a ticking time bomb!

Hey Folks - Holiday time is a good time to let your neighbors know that there is a petition to get the STOP signs put back at the intersection of Hibbard and Eagle. Speeders taking a short-cut to Clement continue to risk a head-on or worse yet hitting a pedestrian. Let's get this done!

Almost got hit by a car two days ago, so I see no reason to close this issue. No stop signs Have been put up and This intersection remains a hazard to pedestrians and all of those cars trying to avoid the daily traffic jams in Alameda during rush hours

Continues to be a persistent hazard. Not going anywhere until traffic changes

this is related to my pooh-poohed request to make grand and clement a three-way stop. People are so leery they now use these nearby streets to avoid getting t-boned here.

The biggest problem we have is many people working for the city of Alameda do not liver here! I see that as a HUGE conflict of interest.

I recently spoke with Public Works about this and other issues - their response: get a bunch of us up in front of the City Council andspeak to the problemt, make a scene and wave a petition with Many signatures to get their attention. Otherwise, snooozers.

Thank you for your request to improve roadway, pedestrian and bike safety in Alameda.  We appreciate your feedback and value your input.  At the direction of City Council, the City is working to address safety for all modes of travel around the City in accordance with its Vision Zero Action Plan and Active Transportation Plan. Please visit the following link to learn more about how we are Building Safer Streets: https://www.alamedaca.gov/Departments/Public-Works/Building-Safer-Streets.

This location has undergone recent improvements to address safety concerns. If you continue to feel unsafe in this area, the City has created a new SeeClickFix category specifically for identifying safety issues - “Street Safety Concern.” Concerns will be used to identify safety trends citywide, which will inform the development of safety projects and initiatives to address these trends. Per City Council direction, prioritization of resources and work is to be guided by Vision Zero and the defined high injury network corridors and intersections. Locations that are not on the high injury network will still be considered for safety and solutions will be integrated into future Capital Improvements Programs.

Click here to report your Street Safety Concern: https://seeclickfix.com/web_portal/Gvn1p3WRLo52iziy7HaYwdUc/report/category/33342/location

Again, thank you for your feedback and patience with this matter. We look forward to implementing the appropriate measures to help address the concerns you have brought our attention.