Published on March 12, 2026

Dear Embarcadero West Community Members,

Thank you for your ongoing interest in Embarcadero West Rail Safety and Access Improvements (Embarcadero West Project). The project team would like to provide an update on the project and expected timeline.

The Embarcadero West Project proposes to improve safety, access to the waterfront, and train reliability for people and goods movement. In recent years, the City of Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) has been awarded over $300 million in grants to fund community engagement, design, and construction of this project and a suite of connected projects by 2029.

Since March 2024, OakDOT has led the design and approval process for transportation improvements along Embarcadero West, collaborating with the Port of Oakland (Port), Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), and the California Public Utilities Commission.

OakDOT has engaged the community and developed early designs. However, some proposed improvements face delays due to complex negotiations. These improvements are near currently unused train tracks  embedded in the eastbound vehicle lane of Embarcadero West between Clay Street and Webster Street. UPRR is hesitant to release  their rights to activate this set of “third tracks.” However, designing Embarcadero West to accommodate exclusive use of the third tracks for train operations would eliminate access in the public right of way, compromise adjacent tenant operations, and fail to meet Oakland Fire Department requirements for emergency access through Jack London Square. All of these outcomes are unacceptable to the Port and City of Oakland.  The City, Port, and UPRR team remains committed to transformative safety improvements along Embarcadero West between Clay Street and Webster Street. However, negotiations over third track removal require additional time and continued collaboration.

The purpose of the Embarcadero West Project remains to minimize injuries to community members and railroad operators, improve railroad operational efficiencies, eliminate heavy container permitted trucks traversing residential neighborhoods, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

To advance as many of these project goals and deliver improvements within grant timelines, OakDOT is focusing on implementing a set of improvements over the next three years. They are described in more detail below. The improvements described are strongly supported by the City, Port, and UPRR.

Upcoming Improvements – 2026

Later this year, OakDOT will be delivering safety improvements to the project area. These critical, non-capital safety improvements are being delivered ahead of larger capital project work. These improvements will include replacing faded markings, replacing missing regulatory signs, and installing new stop signs in the project area. This work is expected to be delivered in 2026.

Phase 1 Capital Improvements – Expected Construction Start in 2027

As of March 2026, these proposed improvements are prioritized for delivery in 2027-2029:


Upgrade an overweight vehicle railroad crossing to heavyweight standards between Middle Harbor Road to Market Street to safely accommodate permitted overweight truck access to the Port. This will eliminate the current overweight vehicle reroute on 7th Street through West Oakland. This upgrade will provide an overweight route sooner than an earthquake-resistant replacement for the Adeline Street Bridge can be studied, designed, and built.
Modernize two at-grade crossing gates on Embarcadero West at Market Street and at Oak Street, including new railroad crossing arms and equipment installed closer to the railroad tracks. Other upgrades to the at-grade crossings include high-visibility crosswalks, sidewalk improvements, pavement delineation, intersection safety lighting, and directional signage to increase safety and protect freight and passenger rail operations.
Install a new traffic signal with rail preemption (as required by UPRR) at Embarcadero West at Oak Street, which means red stoplights for drivers will be timed to match approaching trains.
Construct protected bike lanes on Embarcadero West between Alice Street and Oak Street and on Oak Street between Embarcadero West and 3rd Street to connect Jack London Square and the waterfront to planned protected bike lanes in Downtown Oakland.


Install comprehensive wayfinding signage in the project area to provide walking, biking, and driving directions to transportation hubs, local landmarks, and parking facilities.

The project team has developed a site plan for Phase 1 improvements. View the Phase 1 site plan here >

OakDOT will be incorporating community feedback gathered through engagement into the project elements moving forward.

Phase 2 Potential Future Project Work

Delivery of the following project elements previously shared in 2024 are subject to ongoing coordination regarding access and operational needs along the Embarcadero West corridor, and are unlikely to be completed with current funding by 2029:


Upgrade six at-grade crossing gates on Embarcadero West between MLK Jr Way and Webster Street, including new railroad and pedestrian crossing arms and equipment installed closer to the railroad tracks. Other improvements to the at-grade crossings could include directional signage, pavement delineation, high-visibility crosswalks, sidewalk bulb-outs, and intersection safety lighting to increase safety and protect freight and passenger rail operations.
Implement recommendations of 2011 Quiet Zone Study to reduce the required use of train horns. To establish a quiet zone, railroad safety infrastructure must be installed. In a quiet zone, train horns may still be used in emergency situations or to comply with other Federal regulations or railroad operating rules.
Convert the westbound lane (lane closer to downtown) of Embarcadero West to a shared street. A shared street, similar to Water Street, would be designed to reduce the number of vehicles, slow speeding, and be shared by people walking, biking, and driving. Right turns would be required at every intersection in the westbound direction to minimize incidents of vehicles on tracks when trains are approaching.
Convert the eastbound lane (lane closer to the waterfront) to a bicycle and pedestrian space on Embarcadero West between Clay Street and Webster Street. This side of the street would be designed  to accommodate emergency vehicles and authorized service vehicles but would be closed for general purpose vehicles. Closing this road to vehicles would also eliminate left turns across the railroad tracks, which reduces the risk of vehicle-train collisions.
Construct protected bike lanes on Clay Street between Embarcadero West and 2nd Street and on 2nd Street between Clay Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way.


Explore opportunities for public art within available funding constraints.

The City, Port and UPRR team will restart design development with the goal to complete design of transformative safety improvements along Embarcadero West between Clay Street and Webster Street and to partner to seek additional grant funds to implement these improvements.  For more information on updates to the project scope as of March 2026, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for more details.

What’s Next?

OakDOT will continue to work collaboratively with the Port and UPRR on additional near-term and long-term improvements to Embarcadero West between Market Street and Oak Street, recognizing the need to enhance freight movement, safety, and economic development on the corridor. Additional project information is expected in Summer 2026.

OakDOT is also working closely with the Port and our state grantor to identify alternative enhancements that can be delivered using currently secured grant funds.  OakDOT and the Port will redirect any Embarcadero West project savings toward advancing high-priority capital projects already in our project development pipeline, ensuring these grant resources still deliver maximum public benefit.

Additional project information and updates will be available at www.oaklandca.gov/EmbarcaderoWest. For more information, please email MPD@oaklandca.gov.

Sincerely,

The Embarcadero West Project Team