Mayor Barbara Lee announced significant plans for improving accessibility in Oakland’s streets and sidewalks for people with mobility issues, following a recent settlement agreement.
The agreement, still pending judicial approval with a hearing set for early December, outlines a commitment to enhance the city’s infrastructure over the next 25 years.
This settlement arises from a lawsuit initiated in May 2023 by Oakland residents Michael Curran and Nicole Brown-Booker, both of whom use wheelchairs.
The lawsuit claimed that Oakland did not adequately maintain accessible pedestrian rights of way, including sidewalks and curb ramps, violating provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Over the past two years, Oakland has engaged in mediation to reach a settlement aimed at ensuring long-term improvement in accessibility.
According to the agreement, the city will build or retrofit approximately 11,000 curb ramps within the next 15 years and repair damaged sidewalks in 78,000 identified locations within 25 years.
City officials are committed to prioritizing curb ramp and sidewalk repair requests specifically from individuals with disabilities, ensuring that enhancements benefit underserved populations in the community.
Mayor Lee emphasized the city’s dedication to inclusive accessibility, stating, “Oakland is strengthening our efforts to ensure people with disabilities, seniors, and parents with strollers have equal access to our transportation network.”
She acknowledged that while the improvements will take time, the city is firmly dedicated to making sidewalks more accessible for all residents.
In a proactive approach, Oakland has already begun implementing measures to fulfill the agreement.
The City Council has recently approved an expansion of the Sidewalk Assistance Program, which provides financial aid to low-income property owners needing to repair adjacent sidewalks.
Moreover, the budget granted by the council includes increased funding for constructing and maintaining curb ramps and sidewalks as well as provisions for staff to monitor the progress of the construction efforts.
The mayor’s office also indicated that major enhancements to the Buy-Sell-Repair program are underway.
This program mandates that necessary sidewalk repairs be made when properties are sold or undergo significant renovation.
As part of these investments, Oakland will improve its enforcement database and may introduce fines for non-compliance with sidewalk repair notices.
To maintain transparency with the public, the city will publish annual reports detailing construction progress.
City spokesperson Sean Maher informed The Oaklandside that while the 25-year funding plan isn’t fully established, some financial support will likely come through the Capital Improvement Plan budgeting process.
Additionally, the City Council has passed a resolution granting the city administrator the authority to award contracts for sidewalk and curb ramp projects up to $7.5 million without needing further council approval, aiming to expedite the contract award process.
Josh Rowan, the director of Oakland’s Department of Transportation, expressed that maintaining pedestrian walkways is crucial for everyone and stated his department is eager to fulfill its commitments to residents with mobility challenges and all who utilize Oakland’s sidewalks.
image source from：oaklandside
