What are Seaport Compatibility Measures?
In the framework already committed to by the Oakland A’s and the Port of Oakland, Seaport Compatibility Measures are “measures, designs, and operational standards to ensure that the [Howard Terminal] Project does not impact or interfere with the Port’s use or operations outside of the Project…. including … the Port’s current or reasonably anticipated future use, operation, and development of Port facilities, properties, and utilities of Port tenants, Port contractors, or operators engaged in the maritime use of the Port Area.”
What Seaport Compatibility Measures should be put in place to ensure this project does not harm port operations?
In 2021, the Port of Oakland held three discussions with maritime stakeholders about what components must be included in a comprehensive package of Seaport Compatibility Measures. These meetings were segmented into discussions focused on detailed individual seaport stakeholder needs per transportation sector: trucking, rail meeting, maritime, and navigation.
The results of these discussions were maritime stakeholders’ suggested measures to ensure the continued safe and efficient navigation of ships and other waterside operations, maintain the orderly ingress and egress of trucks and other traffic to and from the Port, and avoid potential conflicts between trains, trucks, passenger vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians. The complete list of the proposed Seaport Compatibility Measures for the Howard Terminal project can be read here.
Why are they important?
Establishing robust, enforceable, and fully funded Measures are fundamental to the core of this Project as they are the ONLY basis upon which the A’s can fulfill this promise to hold the entire Port community harmless. However, to the best of our knowledge, NONE of the Seaport Compatibility Measures identified in this letter have yet been agreed to by the Oakland A’s.
What is the current status of Seaport Compatibility Measures for the A’s project?
In July 2021, the Oakland City Council affirmed that Seaport Compatibility Measures must be in place to protect the working waterfront and its workers from impacts of the Oakland A’s luxury real estate and office development BEFORE the City Council is presented with a final Development Agreement, infrastructure financing plans, and the Final Environmental Impact Report. Yet, since then, no meaningful efforts have been made by the City or the Oakland A’s to address Seaport Compatibility Measures.
This is part of a long pattern of giving lip-service to the seaport stakeholders from maritime, trucking, railroad, and waterfront labor, who have been trying to get a commitment to actually adopt real, effective, and lasting Seaport Compatibility Measures for the past 3 years.
Maritime stakeholders provided the City with the above suggested Seaport Compatibility Measures in September 2021, but neither the City nor the Port has held any meetings or discussions with stakeholders since, nor officially adopted any of the recommended Measures.
On behalf of the thousands of hardworking Port workers and stakeholders, and the tens of thousands of people nationwide that rely on the Port of Oakland to help keep the supply chain moving, we call on the City and the Port to get serious about adopting a meaningful set of Seaport Compatibility Measures. If the City and the Port truly intend to ensure that the Oakland A’s Howard Terminal project will not impede or slow current waterfront operations and future seaport growth, threaten jobs, or increase congestion, and air emissions, then it is imperative that they sit down with waterfront stakeholders, commit to real compatibility, and aggressively protect our Port.