TRUCK ROUTE ENFORCEMENT When Oakland Police Officer Edward Presnell is not on his motorcycle enforcing truck routes in West Oakland, you'll be able to find him at the Cypress Public Information Office. Officer Presnell is responsible for enforcing the truck routing program implemented by the City of Oakland and funded by Caltrans as part of the Cypress Replacement Project. The truck routing program prohibits large commercial trucks from using designated residential streets in West Oakland. As work on the Cypress project progresses, calls to Officer Presnell increase. The increase in construction activity has generated a flurry of calls to Officer Presnell about potential violations of the truck route. Residents can call to report violations of the truck routes in their neighborhood. With a new location in the heart of the project area, Officer Presnell will be able to respond to inquiries more quickly. Officer Presnell can be reached at (510) 286-1091. Below is a list of the West Oakland streets included in the truck routing program.

Along Mandela Parkway, the route of the old Cypress Freeway, a new look is on the horizon. Local residents, commuters and truck drivers can see major changes along the street as a public housing development undergoes a major rehabilitation and local community-based organizations join to build new homes.

Peralta Village, a neighborhood housing development owned and managed by the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA), is being remodeled. Built in the early 1940's, the two-story, concrete block dwellings are being converted to two-story, one-, two- and three-bedroom townhouse units. The improvements will do much to transform the appearance of the approximate eight square block area. Angled and peaked roofs will replace the original flat roof tops. The exteriors are patterns of gray and lighter colors. New landscaping and underground utilities are expected to give the area a more pleasing appearance. When finished, the 390-unit development will be complementary to the neighboring Victorians and single family dwellings.

Just west of Peralta Village is Campbell Village, also owned and managed by the OHA. The 154 units of Campbell Village are being rehabilitated in a manner similar to Peralta Village. The construction for each of these developments is being done in phases and will be completed in summer 1998, which is the same time that the new Cypress Freeway is scheduled for completion. "We hope that these two sites in West Oakland will be trendsetters and an inspiration to other nearby property owners," said Lily Toney, executive assistant for OHA.

Across from Peralta Village, at the corner of Mandela Parkway and 10th Street, two new homes are being built by YouthBuild. Fifty local youths have the opportunity to learn the construction and building trade by actually building the new homes. "The program allows these young people to get involved with cleaning the community, getting rid of vacant properties, and learning a life long skill," said Michelle Clark-Clough, executive director for the Youth Employment Partnership (YEP) program. "The site is an excellent one for YouthBuild. It allows for them to restore some of the residential feel at the end of the street," said Lisa Motoyama, project manager with the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALC). "The design of the homes with bay windows and raised foundations will blend in with the neighboring Victorians," she said. The houses will be for sale upon completion. YouthBuild's pilot project is a cooperative effort with YEP, the EBALC, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fannie Mae and the Golden State Warriors.

These projects show that change is underway in West Oakland. With the new freeway and improved properties, the projected economic recovery of West Oakland is looking good.

After 42 years of service to Caltrans, District 4 Director Joe Browne has decided to retire. An engineer by trade, his friends say Browne understands that building roads and bridges is only part of his job description. "The roads we build and repair connect people to places and affect communities," says Cypress Public Information Officer Stephen Williams. "Joe has always reminded us of those people at the end of the bridge that were impacted by our work," Williams says.

Although the Cypress Project has dominated his work since he became District Director in 1993, Browne's tenure at Caltrans has been filled with notable and diverse achievements. He served as chief of transit development before becoming deputy District director for construction. As deputy director, he oversaw an $800 million construction program.

In 1981, Browne received the Humanitarian Award from the California Association of the Physically Handicapped. In 1986 he received the public personnel award from the Governor's Committee for Employment of the Handicapped. Browne is an active member of the Caltrans Disabled Advisory Committee. The United Minority Business Enterprises named him Public Official of the Year in 1991.

Browne leaves Caltrans at a time when District 4 is bustling with construction projects, including the widening of I-80, the construction of I-680/24, completion of the Bay Bridge retrofitting and construction of the Cypress Replacement Project. But like any good manager, Browne has laid a strong foundation that will allow the projects to run smoothly while he enjoys his retirement. Joe Browne will be remembered as not only a fine engineer and manager, but a man who truly cared about the people that he served. Congratulations Joe! You will be missed.

"Joe has been cooperative, flexible and accessible. He has been able to coordinate and balance the interests of all; officials, environmentalists, the community, everyone." - Elihu Harris Oakland Mayor.

"A difficult and impossible job, well done." - George Burtt Cypress Advisory Committee Co-chairperson

"The working relationship with Joe was always straight-forward and characterized by integrity." - David Glover OCCUR

"Joe worked very well with us. He ensured that we had a meeting place and he made sure that his staff was available to us." - Ellen Wyrick-Parkinson Oak Center Neighborhood Association

"He has done a great job of nurturing the Cypress project through the detail parts of the project." - Jim Putz Port of Oakland

District 4 Construction has built this onramp to the Information Highway demonstration that Caltrans does provide for the movement of goods, people, and Information!