Sep 21, 2026 - Transit

Oakland gets bus-only lanes

Ryan Deto

Urban street with tall beige brick buildings, a red bus-only lane in the foreground marked ONLY, cars on the road, street lamps, pedestrians, and a flag on a right building under a blue sky. — The red bus-only lane on Fifth Avenue in Oakland is part of the new University Line bus-rapid transit line. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios

Oakland now has two bus-only lanes: one on Fifth Avenue and the other on Forbes Avenue.

Why it matters: The lanes are part of Pittsburgh Regional Transit's University Line, which is extending from Downtown, through Uptown and into Oakland.

The bus-rapid transit line will have 24 modern stations and lanes dedicated only to buses.

Pro tip: Non-public transit vehicles — even if parking, loading or unloading — are not permitted. Same for bicycles.

Warnings will be issued until Sept. 30 and ticketing will begin Oct. 1, per PRT.

Fun fact: The red isn't paint. It's an epoxy coating embedded with tiny red glass beads, per PRT.

What's next: The University Line is expected to be finished in 2027.

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Oakland gets bus-only lanes

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