Interstate 580 Truck Access Study

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Map Interstate 580 Truck Access Study Project in Alameda County.
^{Download or view Interstate 580 Truck Access Study Map}

What is the Interstate 580 Truck Access Study?

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), District 4 is conducting the Interstate (I) 580 Truck Access Study (TAS) to answer the following question: How would removing the truck weight restriction (aka truck ban) on I-580 affect safety, efficiency, reliability, and traffic speed along the I-880 and I-580 corridors, and how would this change impact public health equity for nearby communities?

Answering this question will create an opportunity to reevaluate the purpose of the truck ban, find common ground for its potential repeal, address existing issues of inefficient traffic flows for the impacted communities and logistics industry, and alleviate disproportionate health impacts for underserved communities of color within the study area.

Project Study Area

The I-580 corridor in Alameda County begins at the I-205/I-580 Interchange and runs west through the cities of Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, San Leandro, Oakland, Emeryville, Albany, and Berkeley as well as unincorporated Alameda County communities of Castro Valley, Ashland, and Cherryland.

The I-880 corridor in Alameda County begins in the City of Oakland and runs south through the cities of San Leandro, Hayward, Union City, Newark, and Fremont as well as the unincorporated Alameda County community of San Lorenzo.

The I-580 truck ban, which prohibits trucks weighing over 4.5 tons (9,000 pounds), begins at Foothill Boulevard in San Leandro and ends at Grand Avenue in Oakland. Exceptions for passenger buses and paratransit vehicles are permitted.

For more information, please see the I-580 Truck Access Study Map.

Interstate 580 Truck Ban History / Timeline

The truck ban, originally implemented along MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland in the 1950’s, was approved when the I-580 freeway was constructed in the early 1960’s. While removing the ban has been proposed several times over the years, this will be the first time a study will be conducted to address this possibility. Click here to review the history of the truck ban or view the timeline below that illustrates the history of how the truck ban came to be.

Chart displaying the history and timeline of the Interstate 580 truck ban from 1951 through 2000.

^{Download or view Interstate 580 Truck Ban History / Timeline chart}

Project Components

The I-580 Truck Access Study features four components to guide the development of a comprehensive planning study, which will include transportation, health, environmental justice, and equity considerations relating to the ban on heavy trucks along I-580 through Oakland. The four components include:

Traffic Studies for I-580 and I-880 corridors – The study will examine current traffic patterns and the impacts a repeal of the ban would have on future traffic patterns. The study will look at how traffic will shift for freeways and local roadways within the study area and how the performance of all vehicle types on those facilities will change. The traffic analysis will help to develop recommended strategies.
Racial Equity Assessment – The study will include an equity assessment of race and historical disparities that will help to inform the development of the final study report and its conclusions and recommendations. The assessment will be analyzed with the I-580 truck ban in place and a scenario without the ban.
Comprehensive Community Engagement Strategy. A Community Engagement Strategy will be developed that aims to effectively target the communities most impacted by the truck ban, focusing on areas in East Oakland, West Oakland, San Leandro, and unincorporated Alameda County. Outreach and engagement activities will then be conducted to ensure that the voices and opinions of these communities regarding the truck ban are heard and incorporated into the recommended strategies produced in the study.
Health Assessments (noise and air quality). In collaboration with the Bay Area Air District, the study will develop an air pollution emissions estimate to assess which communities and demographics are overexposed and impacted by air quality issues, caused by proximity to the freeway. The noise impact assessment will be conducted by the hired consultant.

Fact Sheet / FAQ's

What is the I-580 Truck Access Study?
Answer: Caltrans, in partnership with the Bay Area Air District and the City of Oakland, are conducting a study to evaluate how removing the existing truck weight restriction on I-580, commonly referred to as the I-580 truck ban, would affect safety, reliability, and efficiency along the I-880 and I-580 corridors in Oakland and neighboring communities, and how this change would impact public health for impacted populations.
Will the I-580 truck ban be removed as a result of this study?
Answer: No, this is only a study to help understand what would happen if the truck weight restriction was removed. An act of State legislation would be required to remove the restriction from the California Vehicle Code.
Where is the truck ban in effect?
Answer: On I-580 between Grand Avenue in Oakland and Foothill Boulevard in San Leandro.
What are the I-580 Truck Access Study limits?
Answer: On I-580, near the unincorporated communities of Ashland and Cherryland to I-80 in Oakland and on I-880, from I-238 in San Leandro to I-80 in Oakland.
Why is the I-580 Truck Access Study being conducted now?
Answer: Caltrans is responding to community concerns and implementing strategies recommended by the West Oakland Community Action Plan (2019) to help improve community health.
How long will the I-580 Truck Access Study take to be completed?
Answer: Approximately 18 to 24 months. The final report will be completed in late 2026/early 2027.
Where can I get more information on the I-580 Truck Access Study?
Answer: Email: bayareafreight@dot.ca.gov
Website: Interstate 580 Truck Access Study

Resources / Past Events

Study Team

This project study is a collaboration between various agencies, each contributing their specialized knowledge and skills to ensure meaningful outcomes.