Stanford Magazine has a great article on the Oakland Streetcar Plan by The Oakbook's Alex Gronke.  Read it here!
Update 10:45pm Wednesday: The article is currently on the front page of Stanford's website!

Check out the Q&A on the Oakland Streetcar Plan over on EMBARQ's TheCityFix.com.

Yesterday marked seven weeks since the release of the Oakland Streetcar Plan.  The response thus far has been amazing: the website thus far has attracted 25,000+ views and 250+ comments.  Media coverage began with the feature in the San Francisco Chronicle, then followed by articles in Oakland North (picked up by the Chronicle's InOakland Blog), Financial Times Germany, and the Stanford Daily.  The plan has also made its rounds across urban planning websites including Planetizen, Human Transit, The Overhead Wire, and even the ultra-right wing AntiPlanner Blog by oil industry-backed Randal O'Toole.

With all this publicity, I have been making rounds for presentations to a wide variety of audiences, such as Oakland's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Jack London District Asociation.  I have also been contacted by some of Oakland's highest profile leaders and businessmen who are fired up about the project (more on this soon).

Slowly the focus is shifting now from publication to implementation.  In the coming weeks, there should be some big news regarding a new advocacy organization to make the Oakland Streetcar Plan a reality.  If you haven't already, follow the Oakland Streetcar Plan on Twitter and Facebook and join the new mailing list for updates.  Tell your friends to check out the plan as well: the larger the group supporting the project, the louder the voice we'll have.  As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or comments through the contact page at the upper right corner, or directly at daniel.aaron.jacobson [at] gmail [dot] com.  Keep on the lookout for more news on the plan, as well as the release of the second version this summer with a handful of edits based in part upon reader feedback.

Check out articles in Financial Times Germany, Oakland North, and the Stanford Daily, as well as Bay Citizen and the InOakland Blog on the San Francisco Chronicle's website.

Hi everyone,

Thanks again for visiting the site.  I added a blog feature to publish news and updates and discuss certain aspects of the plan more in-depth.  There are a few pieces of news worth noting as we enter the sixth day since the plan's release:

First, the site has now attracted an outstanding 13,000+ views and 125+ comments thus far.  The seems to have generated a real buzz within Oakland, and I'm hearing great things from local residents, business owners, property owners, and leaders.  There should be a few more media features coming up, in addition to the article published in the San Francisco Chronicle last Friday.

Second, I'd like to announce my plans to release a second version of the plan in early July.  Apart from being able to add in a few minor pieces that were left out in the final push to release the plan, I a second version will allow me to incorporate a lot of the feedback that I have received--the changes wont be that dramatic relative to the grand scheme of the plan, but I would encourage anyone interested in having their voice heard in shaping this plan to submit your thoughts in the comments section (I try hard to respond to most comments, though it's hard when about 20 come in per day). 

Third, I will be leaving town tonight (Tuesday), and will have limited internet access through the remainder of July.  Etan Fraser, a longtime friend of mine, will mange most day to day inquiries, scheduling presentaitons, and site maintenance, though I hope to remain fairly active in the site.  Big things should be happening for the Oakland Streetcar Plan upon my return at the end of June.

Once again, please don't hesitate to email if you ever have any questions or comments on the plan.

Daniel Jacobson

Check out Chip Johnson's article "Student has a plan to revitalize Oakland" in the San Francisco Chronicle.