Hopkins needs to be repaved. Digging once and making much-needed safety improvements simultaneously is fiscally responsible.
The switch to one-way protected bike lanes is an improvement over the earlier two-way concept, as it will be even safer and more intuitive.
The proposal moves us closer to creating a citywide low-stress bicycle network. It provides several important bicycle connections, including to the Ohlone Greenway, Martin Luther King Middle School and the track, park, and pool, Hopkins businesses, and Gilman Street.
Protected bike lanes and traffic calming features will slow cars down and improve safety for everyone, supporting Berkeley’s Vision Zero commitment.
Hopkins is currently dangerous for people riding bikes, especially kids. Rebalancing the street to include protected bike lanes creates a much-needed safe route to the schools along the corridor.
The proposed traffic calming measures will reduce dangerous vehicle speeding, making the street safer for families walking to local schools and parks.
The proposal will improve transit reliability by reducing the need for buses to merge back into traffic at stops.
Repaving Hopkins with safety improvementswill help protect seniors, families with strollers, and people with disabilities who rely on safe, predictable paths of travel.
By making walking, biking, and transit safer and more appealing, this plan encourages residents to leave their cars at home, directly reducing local greenhouse gas emissions.
Streets designed for people—with slower traffic and safer pedestrian and bike access—create more vibrant commercial corridors. The proposed improvements will make cherished businesses on Hopkins even more desirable destinations.
The proposal is consistent with Berkeley’s many transportation plans and policies - including the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan, Climate Plan, Pedestrian Plan, Bicycle Plan, Transit-First Implementation Plan, and Complete Streets Policy.
Adding metered car parking near the Hopkins businesses will encourage more parking turnover, offsetting some of the parking loss.
Hopkins has been debated endlessly. It’s time to make a decision - no more studies - no more process.
The current proposal does not do enough to connect West Berkeleyans to the schools and shops on Hopkins. Extending the protected bike lanes west to Stannage would connect to San Pablo Ave’s parallel bike route and create a more complete safe route for students to get to school.
The stretch from The Alameda to Sutter is wide enough to accommodate protected bike lanes, but the current proposal does not include them.