On Lake Chabot Road

I’ve traveled Lake Chabot Road very regularly for the 15 years I’ve lived in San Leandro. In a car, on a bike, and lately on foot. I’ve seen and experienced the road conditions, and I’ve seen the damages from the storms of 2022/2023. I’ve worked on jobs where stabilization of the land is critical to maintaining access and safety. I’ve read many of the reports prepared over the years as the City of San Leandro has tried to address the roadway condition. And, I recognize Lake Chabot Road as an escape route for the surrounding community during a wildfire. 

I support moving swiftly to repair Slide 1, at the intersection with Chabot Terrace; and Slide 4, the severely eroded area along the west side of the road, where further erosion could have catastrophic consequences for the homes on Astor Circle. The City has $3.8M in secured funding, including a $2.09M federal grant, and we must put those resources to work immediately to stabilize the slopes, protect nearby homes, and safeguard taxpayer dollars.  

I don’t support reopening the road to regular traffic in its current condition. The risks are just too high. Based upon the geotechnical and engineering studies performed to-date, I believe that running 3,000+ vehicles per day, including garbage trucks, delivery trucks, construction vehicles, and passenger vehicles through this area will further compromise the roadway and could lead to a complete failure of the road.

Being closed to daily use today does not mean I am ignoring public safety. I support maintaining safe access for emergency responders, and educating residents on their evacuation routes. The flexible plastic bollards in place today are designed to steer drivers away from damaged shoulders while allowing for ingress and egress of emergency vehicles and evacuating families. 

Repairing the road in the areas of Slide 1 and Slide 4 will protect the homes on the hillside and will continue to keep the roadway viable for emergency evacuation. Slides 1 and 4 are the most urgent areas today, and should be addressed with existing funding. I don’t support a full reopening of Lake Chabot Road until Slide 1 and Slide 4 are repaired, and Slide 2 and Slide 3 are fully evaluated and shown to be structurally safe.