Student has a plan to revitalize Oakland

Stanford University undergraduate Daniel Jacobson is interested in pursuing a career in transportation planning and urban design, and I think it's safe to say he's off to a real good start.

The 20-year-old native of Point Richmond spent nine months of independent study producing a detailed and ingenious plan to revive Oakland's economy: build a 2.5-mile streetcar line that runs through the heart of the city, connecting Piedmont to Jack London Square.

The plan would create up to 24,000 jobs, housing opportunities for an equal number of new residents and breathe life back into downtown Oakland.

Oakland at-large Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan, who has known about Jacobson's work for a couple of weeks, described it as an "anchor project" with the potential to create a downtown hub that connects newly redeveloped areas of uptown Oakland to the waterfront.

"This could have more bang for the buck than virtually any project we could do in this area, which is the very heart of Oakland," said Kaplan.

Jacobson's plan is an impressive and comprehensive 140-page how-to manual on how to build, run, operate and finance a successful streetcar project in Oakland.

He lays out a route that would link two BART stations, the Oakland ferry, Amtrak and main AC Transit lines. He projects residential and commercial growth along the rail line, identifying 125 acres of underutilized land adjacent to the line. He provides job projections for the next 20 years. He also provides a road map for local, state and federal funding to pay for the $92 million price tag of the streetcar line.

And I'm just trying to hit the high points of his work.

Jacobson traveled to Portland, Ore., and Seattle to learn about similar streetcar systems now operating.

His plan for Oakland is based on a streetcar line now operating and creating economic opportunities in Portland's Pearl District.

"The plan is to provide a long-term investment that will concentrate and accelerate development in Oakland," Jacobson said. "Streetcars are meant to reshape economically depressed or underused areas."

Jacobson accomplished all of this, including travel expenses to Portland and Seattle, with a $1,275 grant from the office of the Stanford Vice-Provost of Undergraduate Education. But he spent only $987.

That's pretty cost-effective, especially when you consider that Oakland city officials paid $300,000 for a streetcar feasibility study in 2005 and applied for an additional $330,000 in feasibility funds this year.

"I could have done it cheaper, but I decided to treat myself to a couple of $12 meals," said Jacobson, almost apologetically.

Jacobson's inspiration for the idea was the failure of the 3.2-mile BART Oakland Airport rail connector. Estimated at $522 million - five times the cost of Jacobson's line - it was too costly to build. At an estimated $6 for a one-way trip, it was also too costly to ride. The connector provided no significant public benefit to nearby residents.

BART board member Tom Radulovich, a smart-growth advocate who advised Jacobson on his project, last year referred to the BART plan as "blingfrastructure."

So when federal transportation officials rejected the project, Jacobson decided to produce his own plan to help lift the city.

That was, of course, in addition to his full course load of other classes.

"Multivariable calculus and linear algebra are not fun and they suffered a little bit (because of the project), but it was well worth it," said Jacobson.

Jacobson said the project is a gift to Oakland that "didn't cost them a dime."

"I hope they enjoy it and I hope they don't return it," he said.

I don't know if Oakland hands out awards for civic service, but if they do, Daniel Jacobson should certainly receive one.

Every interested Oakland resident with access to the Internet can check it out for themselves at www.oaklandstreetcarplan.com. It's a detailed plan to revitalize downtown Oakland and a logical next step for a recently redeveloped section of downtown Oakland with new housing that has attracted 10,000 residents in recent years.

Chip Johnson's column appears in The Chronicle on Tuesday and Friday. E-mail him at chjohnson@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page C - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle