Oakland lowers the speed limit outside Garfield Elementary School

OAKLAND >> Oakland has installed its first 15 mph school speed limit signs outside of Garfield Elementary School, part of the citywide Safe Oakland Streets initiative's efforts to prevent fatal traffic crashes on the city's streets.

On Thursday, city leaders, school officials and community members gathered to celebrate the installation of the speed signs, which have been installed on Foothill Boulevard, 22nd Avenue and 23rd Avenue. All three streets are on the city's High Injury Network, a record of streets that account for more than 60% of severe crashes in Oakland.

“No Oakland family should feel unsafe while traveling to and from school,” said Mayor Libby Schaaf at the event. “Because of dangerous drivers, we have suffered too many tragedies in our streets.”

The area around Garfield Elementary has seen several traffic tragedies in the past few years. In 2019, a collision killed a woman and injured a 4-year-old girl at the Foothill and 22nd Avenue crosswalk. Earlier this month, a 73-year-old woman died in a hit-andrun crash just a few blocks away on 16th Avenue in East Oakland.

“The pedestrian safety has been a longtime issue here at Garfield. There have been many complaints about traffic safety among parents and teachers,” said David Kakishiba, executive director of East Bay Asian Youth Center.

Kakishiba's organization has been working with the school administration for several years to make improvements, including organizing parents to do volunteer safety patrols.

Garfield Elementary is one of the 20 schools identified by the Oakland Department of Transportation for 15 mph speed limit reductions this year.

Department director Ryan Russo said the department gave highest priority to schools on the High Injury Network and those in historically underserved communities that may experience inequities.

Nine more schools will receive new or updated signs by the end of this summer before the new academic year begins. Signs at the other 10 schools on the list will be installed by the end of 2022.

Under California law, 15 mph zones can be established on streets with no more than two lanes within 500 feet of a school. The city's transportation department expects to place around 35 speed limit signs near some Oakland schools.

The idea of having more crossing guards on school roads was also discussed at the sign installation.

“I can have all the signs in the world, but somebody needs to enforce the speed limit,” said City Council member Noel Gallo.

Oakland struggles to recruit enough crossing guards to help stop reckless driving and guide pedestrians at intersections. Crossing guards work part time in two shifts a day: in the early morning and then in the afternoon when students leave school.

Grey Gardner, a member of Oakland's Bicyclist and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, wants the city to build more actual infrastructure, such as posts and corners, to make it harder for people to drive fast and recklessly on the street. Attending the event with his almost 1-year-old daughter, he said he often gets shocked when people even don't stop for the stroller at crosswalks.

“I'm just hoping … we can walk her to school without worrying,” Gardner said. “There's a lot that still needs to be done.”

Installation of 15 mph speed signs will continue through 2023 at eligible locations at the remaining Oakland Unified elementary schools.