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AC Transit outlines Park Street transit‑signal priority upgrades for Alameda
Summary
AC Transit presented a Park Street transit signal‑priority project that will add transit signal priority (TSP), extend wireless interconnect, and replace aging equipment on San Jose Avenue. Construction is slated for spring–summer 2026; staff said closures will be short and community outreach will continue.
AC Transit and consultant Kimley Horn on Wednesday presented a multi‑element plan to deploy transit signal priority and optimize signals along Park Street in Alameda.
The presentation, led by Maria Henderson of AC Transit and consultant Ryan Dole of Kimley Horn, described three core elements: installing TSP along the corridor between Alameda Avenue and Otis Drive, extending the city’s wireless interconnect system, and replacing the aging controller cabinet at San Jose Avenue so the new TSP and wireless equipment can function. "This project focuses on improving transit operations along the Park Street corridor between Blanding Avenue and Otis Drive," Maria Henderson said, describing the work funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Bus Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery (BusAID) program.
Why it matters: AC Transit and city staff said the upgrades will reduce bus delays and improve reliability for lines 30 and 31, encouraging more transit use and reducing vehicle congestion. Ryan Dole explained how TSP requests are evaluated by the traffic signal controller and emphasized that extensions are only granted "if there's time in the cycle" to avoid undue disruption to cross traffic.
Schedule and impacts: Staff said design is expected to wrap in February and that construction could begin in spring 2026 with completion in summer 2026, followed by signal fine‑tuning. Expected construction impacts include short, half‑day lane or sidewalk closures while rooftop bucket trucks install radios and poles; staff said work will avoid morning and evening commute peaks and nighttime closures are not permitted. Bus stop relocations and temporary parking restrictions are possible, but AC Transit said relocations would last less than a day and that riders can sign up for alerts at actransit.org.
Public concerns and responses: Residents raised questions about outreach, scheduling and whether buses could run early or late during transition. Christine Cannon of Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda asked whether buses could "come early and pass me by because the schedule hasn't been updated." Will Buller, AC Transit traffic engineer, said the agency monitors before‑and‑after data and that agency and city staff will coordinate schedule and rider communications to minimize disruptions.
Next steps: AC Transit staff said they will continue outreach, provide updates to the City of Alameda interagency liaison committee and the city council as the project advances, and publish details and FAQs on the project page at actransit.org/park-street-project.
