More than 40 residents attended a meeting last week to see two preliminary design concepts for a long-term road improvement project that would increase the safety on MacArthur Boulevard between Seminary Avenue and High Street.

The project known as LAMMPS - Laurel Access to Mills, Maxwell Park and Seminary - has been a community-driven process five years in the making, said Claire Antonetti, a member of the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council.

Residents asked numerous questions last Wednesday evening, aired their concerns about the plans and applauded in a show of appreciation for the effort to make what many consider a dangerous four-lane highway into a more pleasant and safe road for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists.

Consultant Kimley-Horn and Associates has put forth two designs for the project. In both designs, one of the goals is to improve the flow and safety of all modes of transportation through the corridor to connect people with their homes, schools and local businesses. 

The designs differ in part by how much parking is eliminated on MacArthur, the location of the bike paths and bike lanes and the amount of green space planted along the road adjacent to Mills College.

Under both alternatives, parking would be eliminated north of Green Acre to High Street on the east side of MacArthur and new traffic signals would be constructed at the off ramp to I-580 at Buell Street, as well as on MacArthur at Pierson Street.

In addition, the number of vehicle lanes would be reduced from four to two south of the traffic signal at the entrance to Mills College. North of I-580, traffic lanes would be reduced from three to two.

Alternative 1, known as the “formal tree-lined MacArthur Boulevard,” would include planted street medians, “formal” tree plantings on both sides of MacArthur, bicycle lanes on both sides of the street, sidewalks on both sides of MacArthur north and south of Interstate 580 and parking on the residential side of MacArthur south of 580. Parking would be eliminated on the east side of MacArthur south of I-580 to Seminary.

In Alternative 2, known as “MacArthur Boulevard at the rustic edge,” “formal” tree plantings would occur on the commercial/residential side of MacArthur north of I-580 and on the residential side of MacArthur south of 580. A random tree pattern would be planted on the Mills College and freeway side of MacArthur.

Bike lanes would be located on the commercial/residential side of MacArthur north of I-580 and on the residential side of MacArthur south of I-580. A shared bicycle-pedestrian path would be located on the freeway side of MacArthur north of I-580 and on the Mills side of MacArthur south of I-580.

There would be parking north of I-580 on the commercial/residential side of MacArthur south of Green Acre, with parking eliminated on MacArthur south of I-580.

Kimley-Horn also put two plans forward for the I-580 underpass: either a dog park or a small park containing a “light sculpture.” A couple residents said they liked the dog park idea, though others said they worried about the area being taken over by homeless if the area isn't maintained.

In the end, residents were asked to submit their comments on yellow cards. One of the concepts will be more fully developed and then brought back to the community for approval.

The city is working with consultant Surlene Grant and has secured a $257,000 grant from Caltrans and $60,000 from Councilwoman Jean Quan’s office, to fund the completion of detailed design drawings for the project. Additional money will have to be found to do the actual construction.

In the meantime, a paving project planned for MacArthur next spring will integrate some of the final design features, said Iris Starr, who is managing the LAAMPS project for Oakland.

The next LAAMPS community meeting will be held Oct. 7.