The existing bike path on the eastern span of the Bay Bridge meets an abrupt dead end, though it will be extended to Yerba Buena Island next summer. Plans are underway to extend the path to San Francisco, but it won't be cheap.
"Bay Bridge officials are looking for a cheaper way to build a two-mile trail along the western span after a study estimated the project would cost a whopping $400 million to $500 million," writes Dennis Cuff of the Contra Costa Times. Arup North America, Ltd won the $10 million contract for the engineering study to develop a less costly design for the bicycle-pedestrian path.
Up to four alternatives will be examined in detail for a 12-foot-wide steel deck path separated from auto traffic lanes along the 2-mile-long west span between San Francisco and Yerba Buena Island.
Two days earlier, Cuff wrote that the "Bay Area Toll Authority, the regional agency that collects toll money to operate the Bay Bridge and six other state-owned spans," indicated that the current estimate was "too much."
"It's just not fundable within our current constraints," said John Goodwin, a spokesman for the toll authority. "The plan is to look at alternatives to shrink that estimate and come up with something that is buildable and fundable.
The new $6.4 billion eastern span, from Oakland to Yerba Buena Island, opened in September, 2013. The bike path could not extend fully to Yerba Buena Island "until workers demolish a portion of the old bridge," wrote Justin Berton of the San Francisco Chronicle shortly before the new span opened.
"Renee Rivera, executive director of Bike East Bay [formerly the East Bay Bicycle Coalition], said the study was 'a crucial next step to get to a fundable plan for a west span path' and was confident the price can be pared down," writes Michael Cabanatuan of the San Francisco Chronicle.
[Hat tip to MTC-ABAG Library's News Headlines]
FULL STORY: Bay Bridge officials approve $10 million study on adding path to west span
Dreaming of a Bike Path on the Western Span of the Bay Bridge
Arup released some very exciting renderings of a proposed pedestrian and bike path on one of the most picturesque and heavily-trafficked spans on the West Coast.
Planning Underway for New Bay Bridge Bike Path, and a Second Transbay BART Tube
In a distant and expensive future, there are two new ways to get across the San Francisco Bay without a car. One will have a much better view.
Bay Bridge Construction Woes Raise Earthquake Safety Concerns
One of the reasons for the $6.4 billion investment in the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge was to ensure the safety of the bridge in the even of a large earthquake.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars
Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)