Description
Maitland Drive from Island to Harbor Bay Parkways is so dangerous. AC Transit buses, cars, commercial trucks barrel through this street at least 40 plus miles per hour if not more. The long blocks encourage drivers to drive faster. I am requesting that the City of Alameda install speed lumps and proper bike lanes like on Bayview in Alameda to physically slow down traffic. They have marked bike lanes, cross walks, and speed lumps. Let this street serve as a great example for other Alamedians. Let Alameda serve as a great example for the rest of the community and to other neighboring cities for the safety of their streets.
I lived on this street for many years and have seen traffic increase on this street with more people moving here and commuting via Bart or Ferry. I have gone to City Hall in Alameda -7 years ago in fact- regarding speed to no avail. They conducted their 2-week study only to find that this did not warrant any safety measures on this street. That it was okay for people to travel 15-25 miles over the speed limit and the other 20% for them to travel 35 miles over the speed limit.
I've seen kids playing, school children walking, a family of bikers, seniors walking, and dog walkers and vehicles do not slow down. Every time I put the recycle bins and garbage out or attempt to get into my car, a speeding car comes inches from me without even slowing down. Typically they are not people who live on this street but people passing through in a hurry like a freeway. Think of a freeway and then think of Maitland Drive. There are no proper marked bike lanes, one pedestrian cross walk, no 25mph sign anywhere along Maitland except on the far end, no digital feedback machines like on Fernside, the roads are old and crusty, and of course no speed lumps. Police rarely enforce the speed on Maitland and in fact, I rarely see them on Maitland. The animal control officer that I spoke to a few times here couldn't believe how fast cars were speeding down this street. She told me to contact the traffic patrol officer but no one called me back from that department.
I've lost 10 pets due to the vehicles hitting them and also seen car accidents due to speed. I am afraid that one day it will take a loss of a human life for the City of Alameda to do anything to make our street safer. It's unfortunate but sometimes this is the only way to install any safety measures.
Every day I see AC Transit buses, trucks, and vehicles speed through because nothing is stopping them. So frustrating. I contact Public works almost daily to have something done but this is probably not the best place to start so I will start on this website.
a aussi demandé...
A. General Traffic Calming
43 Commentaires
City of Alameda (Membre officiel vérifié)
Anonymous (Utilisateur inscrit)
Tori S. (Utilisateur inscrit)
I cannot express how serious this issue is anymore. As a neighbor on Maitland/Mecartney/Melrose intersection with small children I BEG of the city to do SOMETHING! Posting an officer at 8pm on an evening at the corner is not nearly enough. This is an all day issue but peaks from 7-9am and 3-7pm. Too many pets gone, too many close calls with children... When is enough enough????
I vote for the exact speed bumps mentioned above. We have at least 25 neighbors in agreement and I'd be happy to petition.
Reconnu Public Works Transportation Alan (Membre officiel vérifié)
Requests for many transportation issues, including stop signs, curb painting, and traffic calming measures, typically require 8-12 weeks to complete before staff can develop a recommendation. These requests involve review of current plans and policies, compilation of accident and/or other history, coordinating with Alameda Police and other stakeholders, outreach to residents or others who may be affected by the proposed change, on-site data collection and analysis, and sometimes consultation with outside experts.
I will follow up with you about your request when your request is at the top of the queue. Unfortunately, due to limited funding, there is a backlog of these requests and they are being handled in the order of receipt. Due to that backlog, some requests may take six months to a year to complete the analysis and recommendation.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Tori S. (Utilisateur inscrit)
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
Anonymous (Utilisateur inscrit)
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
Tori S. (Utilisateur inscrit)
This evening was a disaster at Maitland and Mecartney. AC Transit must have been behind schedule because from about 6-7:30pm buses were FLYING. One bus was going at least 45mph down Maitland- I was 5' from my front door and by the time I made it to my porch to write the plate down the bus was already at Maitland Market.
Out of control!
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
JM (Utilisateur inscrit)
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
K T (Utilisateur inscrit)
I don't live on Bay Farm, but I know traffic has increased greatly all over Alameda in the last 7 years. I vote for a new traffic study of this area, to see if speed limit signs, stop signs, blinking pedestrian crossings, speed bumps or some combination should be installed for the safety of the residents.
You may also want to make a public records request on SCF for all documents regarding traffic complaints to the city (Public Works and and Police), and traffic studies on such and such street of Maitland for the last 10 years, and any documents relating to the criteria used by Alameda PW to decide if traffic calming measures are warranted for a particular street. You might ask for the same for that other street you mentioned did get speed bumps, and compare. Then at least you will be fully informed as to why Alameda has denied traffic calming measures to this point.
Christina O. (Utilisateur inscrit)
Amen and amen! Maitland speeding traffic is scary and out of control. We are potential renters on that street with one sweet little toddler and another baby on the way. I literally felt scared crossing the street to view the rental property and then very tenuous backing out of the driveway onto the street due to the large vehicles speeding down the street. Let’s rally this, neighbors! What’s the fastest mode of action we need to take to get this job of making Maitland Dr a safe street for all? Signs are good, police monitoring is temporary, but speed bumps are the best and we deserve the best— especially for our precious children.
Do we need to petition and collect signatures? Make an appointment at city hall and meet in a large group? What’s the alameda speed bump process protocol? No more waiting around, Alan, or other officials involved. Time to stop procrastinating and do something. Graffiti can wait— let’s do what’s right and most important— preserve little lives. Doesn’t this matter to people? Your silence or action will speak for itself.
Christina O. (Utilisateur inscrit)
Vicky, KT, JM and Tori,
Here’s my proactive idea: we divide and conquer! The city of Alameda has a petition printout and each of us could take on a designated portion of the Maitland strip that needs speedbumps. We could go door to door until we get a signature or a refusal to sign from each house. We need 2/3 of the neighborhood to sign. This could be a very doable task especially if we work together. I am willing to participate whether I become a renter on the street or not.
By the way, did anyone ever make contact with media?
Let’s do this!
Christina
Christina O. (Utilisateur inscrit)
My ideas of best traffic calming solutions would be (minimally) speed bumps from Melrose down to Harbor Bay Parkway along Maitland, and also stop signs on maitland at the Fitchburg intersection.
Comments? Further suggestions?
Christina
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
K T (Utilisateur inscrit)
Christina and all:
I don't live on Bay Farm, and actually have never been on Maitland. Also, I have several other fights going with the city, so I have no extra bandwidth to help with this street. I do have a couple of suggestions that might get you quick partial action:
1. Stop the speeding buses immediately by calling and writing a strongly worded letter to AC transit. Emphasize that the people who will be hurt are the most vulnerable: children, elders, and disabled persons. State the speed limit and demand that the buses go not one mile an hour over that limit. You might especially have luck by calling and asking for the disability coordinator, as speeding buses are a huge problem for mobility-impaired people like me.
2. Actually get on the buses and talk to the drivers about how speeding is scaring the neighbors, and the neighbors have complained to AC Transit, and the Alameda police and AC transit will likely be monitoring bus speeds on Maitland. Ask the drivers what kind of problems that could cause for them. Ask them why they are speeding; are they being pressured to do their routes faster than is safe? You would have to do this in a low-key, get-the-drivers-on-your-side-rather-than-blaming-them way, which takes a certain skill and attitude, otherwise it will backfire.
3. Go ask the Alameda police what it would take to get more patrols here. Alameda police are actually pretty good about targeted traffic enforcement for the safety of pedestrians. I see them on Park St. all the time. The email of every Alameda police officer is on the APD web site. Look for the officer in charge of your section of the city, and the officer in charge of traffic. Those two officers are the ones who can dedicate more police resources to your street (until public works can address the issue.) I have found the Alameda police will tell you straight out if they don't have enough resources to do something. They won't fob you off saying they will do something and then not do it. if they say they don't have the manpower or money to do it, ask them how much money or manpower they need, and tell them you would like to ask the city council to dedicate those resources. Before you go to the city council members, go speak to the police chief to make sure he with you on the request.
4. Contact the City Council members and the mayor by email. Their emails are on the website. I just got an issue resolved by contacting the city council and mayor by email. I did then have to hurry then along by writing a letter to the editor of the newspaper, but I think it was the email that made it easy for them to send a request to the appropriate city employees to get the problem solved. Multiple people contacting the city council by email and asking for the same thing would be most effective. You might ask for: Alameda complaint to AC Transit re: speeding buses; Alameda police enforcement on the street (at particular times?) and for the police to be given the resources necessary to do this, emphasizing that this is a temporary solution; and for the Public Works traffic studies to be triaged, not just take in order of request.
Sorry I can't help more. I hope you can get some help with this dangerous street.
Tori S. (Utilisateur inscrit)
Tori S. (Utilisateur inscrit)
In the last 15 minutes I have heard and seen two cars speed down Maitland and blow through the stop signs at Maitland/Melrose/Mecartney. One of them burned rubber for a good 5 seconds before flying down Maitland over 50mph.
This is ongoing, as reported. Mornings and afternoon/evenings it peaks.
This is out of control!
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
Anonymous (Utilisateur inscrit)
Tori S. (Utilisateur inscrit)
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
Anonymous (Utilisateur inscrit)
Hi Tori and Vicky. I would suggest that we send emails to all of the following individuals one by one as oppose to a group email (copy and paste each email would be the easiest). In the email, we need state that we are residents. We need to state the problem (ie. speeding, repeating accidents, public safety). We need to cite the ongoing complaints and state that nothing has been done for years and we only get an automatic response from Public Works (See below for a list of SeeClickFix complaints for Maitland). Finally, we need to propose a solution (ie. speed bumps, stop signs, traffic signals, etc.). We also need to ask for a formal response. I don't know the emails of other nearby neighbors but we should encourage everyone in the area to do the same. We need to gather up the crowd.
Emails should go to:
Madam Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer tspencer@alamedaca.gov
Madam Vice Mayor Malia Vella mvella@alamedaca.gov
Councilmember Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft mezzyashcraft@alamedaca.gov
Councilmember Frank Matarrese fmatarrese@alamedaca.gov
Councilmember Jim Oddie joddie@alamedaca.gov
SeeClickFix Complaints to quote:
3687029 Traffic Calming Suggest
4632958 Roadway Markings and Traffic Striping
4612175 AC Transit or paratransit
4611219 City Council - Agendas and Minutes
3448031 Pedestrian or Bicycle Access Issues
3448330 Pedestrian or Bicycle Access Issues
4611260 City Manager - Contact/Question
4611207 Police Patrol Operations
4492820 City Manager - Contact/Question
4453234 Traffic Calming Suggestion
4475023 Maitland Dr Accident again
3859757 Traffic Calming Suggestion
4454324 Traffic Calming Suggestion
3429288 Street Signs
2497037 Police Patrol Operations
spankymc (Utilisateur inscrit)
spankymc (Utilisateur inscrit)
Anonymous (Utilisateur inscrit)
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
Patrick (Utilisateur inscrit)
Tori S. (Utilisateur inscrit)
City of Alameda, as you can see this issue has been brought you your attention a number of times by a number of people. We need to come up with a solution ASAP. This evening at approx 5:45pm I was nearly clipped by a driver flying down Maitland heading towards Harbor Bay Pkwy looking down at her cellphone not paying attention. The problem is she was already going too fast and had to hit the brakes and swerve to the right side to avoid hitting me pushing my NEWBORN BABY in his stroller. Fortunately I saw this coming and ran to push myself and baby to safety.
Had there been speed bumps preventing speeding this would have been avoided. When you have Island Drive at 35mph and Harbor Bay Pkwy at 45mph flanking our street... you’re just inviting cars to speed and not adjust to the 25mph speed limit down Maitland. This is a family neighborhood and I cringe thinking about the horrible things that can (and have) happen. We installed a low fence around our front yard because this has gotten out of control and with young children and pets we are fearful for their safety.
Please, please consider handling this issue. Whether speed bumps or closing off Maitland to through traffic, we beg you to handle this.
Vicky (Utilisateur inscrit)
Jaimie O (Utilisateur inscrit)
Anonymouse (Utilisateur inscrit)
It has now been 17 months since Alameda Official acknowledged this problem, and the speeding problem on Maitland has only gotten worse.
Any plan for action from Alameda Department of Transportation? I feel like I'm going die everytime I back out of my driveway or get into my car that is parked by the curb.
Public Works Transportation Alan (Membre officiel vérifié)
Thank you for your request to help make Alameda’s transportation infrastructure as safe and efficient as possible. Your suggestion will be included in the annual review of locations where traffic calming measures may be implemented. Public Works, Alameda Police, and the City’s Transportation Planning Unit prioritize improvements based a location’s history of collisions, police citations, its relationship with existing transportation plans and improvements, cost of the improvement given budget constraints, and suggestions from members of the public, such as yours. Please find more information about the locations and improvements occurring in 2020 here:
https://www.alamedaca.gov/Departments/Public-Works/20192020-Traffic-Safety-Incidents-and-Response
and more about traffic safety and calming generally here:
https://www.alamedaca.gov/Departments/Public-Works/Traffic-Safety-and-Calming
In the meantime, we are reassigning this case to PD for enforcement.
Public Works Transportation Alan (Membre officiel vérifié)
Alameda, CA (Membre officiel vérifié)