Presenters: Tony Bruzzone, ARUP and David Trachtenberg, Trachtenberg Architects

Join us to discuss opportunities to reconnect Berkeley with its waterfront. BDA has a long history of interest in improving access to what is a world-class waterfront.  Unfortunately, that experience – both the access to the waterfront and the enjoyment of the waterfront – is impacted by the Union Pacific Railroad and Interstate 80.

If these transportation corridors were built today, neither would be designed in the same way.  In the past, we accepted the freeway and railroad as a given.  However, starting about five years ago (and recognizing that the last four years resulted in stagnant transportation policy and initiatives), a groundswell across the country has begun to question freeway design and those impacts on communities, neighborhoods and community assets (such as waterfronts). In some places, as freeways reach the end of their useful lives and need significant upgrades, some have been removed or mitigated to improve the urban environment.

Mr. Bruzzone will briefly discuss the history of the Interstate program and how we got to where we are now, look at recent initiatives to change freeway routings along with new directions and opportunities.   Among these opportunities is the Biden Administration’s proposal to create a new $20 billion program to reconnect neighborhoods cut off by historic investments and ensure new projects increase opportunity, advance racial equity and environmental justice, and promote affordable access.

Mr. Trachtenberg will provide an overview of the waterfront opportunities and discuss design options and constraints on the opportunities provided by both changes in thinking around transportation infrastructure, and the potential funding availability.