In developing transportation related issues and proposals to bring forward for consideration by TWIC, staff receives input from the Board of Supervisors (BOS), references the County's adopted Legislative Platforms, coordinates with our legislative advocates, partner agencies and organizations, and consults with the Committee.
This report includes four sections, 1: Local, 2: Regional, 3: State, and 4: Federal.
1. LOCAL
Contra Costa Transportation Authority's (CCTA) Integrated Transit Plan (ITP): CCTA is conducting the ITP in order to, "...improve transit services and coordination in Contra Costa County. CCTA is reviewing all existing services and will recommend new ways to improve transit for everyone, with special consideration for the different needs of riders across the county."
The ITP is being conducted at a critical time, initiatives intended to improve public transit and ensure fiscal solvency are underway at the State legislature and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Seamless Bay Area, a nonprofit advocating for improved public transit has had sucess influencing legislation and regional policy. Locally, the CCTA is developing a new Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP) anticipated to be finalized in 2025. The CTP (see update below) is likely to expand on the theme from the 2017 CTP which indicated a need to pivot towards active transportation and public transit. Further on the horizon is the 2034 expiration of the current Measure J (2004) transportation sales tax.
CCTA ITP Update:
CCTA is still in the ITP initiation phase. The timeline and link to the project website is below. Updates will be brought to TWIC as the need arises.
https://ccta.net/planning/integrated-transit-plan/
Update: CCTA Accessible Transportation Strategic (ATS) Plan
CCTA continues to make progress in implementing the ATS Plan with the support of Measure X funding. An extension of the original Measure X funding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is going to the Board of Supervisors at their August 15 meeting. A second MOU is in development for the second year of Measure X funding.
CCTA has recently hired new staff for the Accessibility and Equity Programs Manager position approved by the CCTA Board in the spring. It is anticipated that this new position will speed the implementation of the ATS Plan and expedite the use of Measure X funds for programs benefiting older Contra Costa residents and those with disabilities.
Update: CCTA Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP)
CCTA is in the process of finalizing the CTP. The timeline is below and an Outreach Summary is attached to this report which breaks down feedback received by age, zip code, income, race/ethnicity and the Regional Transportation Planning Committee (RTPC) subregions.
2. REGIONAL
Update: Metropolitan Transportation Commission(MTC): Plan Bay Area 2050+ Blueprint
MTC is conducting a "limited and focused" update to "Plan Bay Area 2050". There is a survey out (link below) which has been promoted on the County's social media and the Contra Costa 2050+ "Pop-Up Workshop" will also be promoted.
MTC Survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MTC-ABAG
Diablo Valley College — Pleasant Hill Campus
Wednesday, September 6, 12 to 3 p.m.
321 Golf Club Road
Pleasant Hill, CA
3. STATE
The County's legislative advocate will be present at the August TWIC meeting to provide an update. Two items have been flagged for potential discussion at TWIC and are described below:
Senate Bill 532 (Wiener): San Francisco Bay area toll bridges: tolls: transit operating expenses.
A report from Mark Watts on this bill is attached to this staff report. Below is a summary from the Assembly Transportation Committee Analysis:
Requires the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) to increase by $1.50 the toll for each of the seven state-owned toll bridges in the San Francisco Bay Area and continuously appropriates toll revenues to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), including revenues from the toll increase for allocation to transit operators in the region that are experiencing a financial shortfall. Specifically, this bill:
1) Beginning January 1, 2024, and until December 31, 2028 requires MTC to increase the base toll rate by $1.50 for the seven state-owned toll bridges within its jurisdiction and requires the toll to be adjusted annually based on the California Consumer Price Index.
2) Continuously appropriates moneys from the toll increase and other specified tolls to MTC to expend for specified purposes.
3) Requires MTC to provide revenues from the toll increase to toll operators within MTC’s jurisdiction that are experiencing a financial shortfall and operate fixed-route public transit services, including bus, rail, or ferry and do not directly receive most of their revenues from the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District.
4) Requires MTC to annually distribute at least 90% of the revenues from the toll increase to these operators in order to avoid service cuts and maintain operations, including safety, security, reliability, or cleanliness services and improvements.
5) Provides that MTC may only allocate these funds to a transit operator after it determines that the funds are necessary to avoid service cuts relative to service levels provided by that transit operator during the 2022-23 fiscal year.
6) Requires MTC to prioritize averting service cuts for transit operators that serve the highest number of transit riders.
7) Requires MTC to annually distribute no more than 10% of the revenues from the toll increase to assist eligible transit riders with restoring or reconfiguring service above levels provided during the 2022-23 fiscal year, or for the purpose of funding initiatives to transform transit service pursuant to the MTC’s adopted Transit Transformation Action Plan, or to make specific safety, reliability, or cleanliness improvements.
8) Requires each transit operator eligible to receive an allocation to annually submit a five-year projection of its operating needs based on standardized assumptions and guidance developed by MTC.
9) Allows MTC to audit, request revision, or directly amend operating needs projections if necessary to ensure consistency and fairness across transit operators.
10) Prohibits the $1.50 toll increase from being reduced without statutory authorization by the Legislature.
11) Authorizes BATA to issue revenue bonds to finance transit operations and capital funded by the $1.50 toll increase.
12) Decreases the maximum amount of penalties that can be included in a schedule of toll evasion penalties for a toll evasion violation on a San Francisco Bay area state-owned toll bridge to instead be $5 for the notice of toll evasion violation and $10 for the notice of delinquent toll evasion violation beginning July 1, 2024.
13) States legislative intent to enact future legislation to require MTC to study, design, and implement an equity-based program to mitigate the impacts of the $1.50 toll increase within two years of the effective date of this act.
14) Creates a state-local mandate and requires a 2/3 vote.
AB 1464 (Connolly): Toll Bridges: Richmond-San Rafael Bridge
Summary from the 5/10/2023 Assembly Transportation Analysis:
This bill requires the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to consider the following, if they decide to develop a project to open a third lane on the westbound level of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to motor traffic:
1) Restore the third westbound lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to motor vehicle traffic during the weekday morning commute.
2) Add a moveable “zipper” barrier to the eastbound level of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge similar to the barrier on the westbound level so that a continuously operated bicycle and pedestrian lane and the San Francisco Bay Trail can be maintained.
3) Operate the moveable zipper barriers on both levels of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in such a manner so as to allow the most efficient flow of traffic in either direction while preserving an open bicycle and pedestrian lane and the San Francisco Bay Trail.
4. FEDERAL
No report in August.
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