Community Outreach: Oakland, Tacoma

 

City and Port of Oakland officials are meeting with neighbors to hear concerns about big rig traffic on streets in West Oakland. About 3,000 trucks daily transport containers in Oakland. 

The city designated truck routes around the area in 2005, said Patricia McGowan, senior planner for the City of Oakland Planning and Building Department. But not every driver stays on track, she pointed out. The new plan will specify where trucks can drive and park.  It will also strengthen enforcement of truck restrictions.

The city and port said they are already taking steps to steer freight-haulers away from residential neighborhoods. Truck service centers are planned at the port and at an adjacent city development so that drivers won’t have to venture into West Oakland for fuel, food and other services. Overnight truck parking spaces are being added, too.

 

 

A group of Port of Tacoma employees and family members recently volunteered at the Emergency Food Network warehouse in Lakewood to repack 4,275 pounds of rolled oats for distribution to food banks around Pierce County. They repacked enough food to give a meal to 1,710 families. 

 

 
Port of Tacoma employees and their family members volunteer at Emergency Food Network in Pierce County
Photo credit/Port of Tacoma

 

Port of Tacoma has already participated in three Repack Projects so far, and are scheduled for four more this year. EFN’s Repack coordinator, Kevin, says he always looks forward to working with them because they work hard and make the Repack fun!

Over the past two years they have repacked 91,367 pounds of food. This is equivalent to more than 73,000 meals provided to individuals and families. They have also held food drives the past three years during the Apple Cup as a way to create a competition between Cougar and Husky fans and bring in more food donations. This has worked so well that they have donated a total of $325 and 3,260 pounds of food to EFN.