The County has worked with the Bay Point community and the District V Supervisor’s office on numerous transportation issues affecting Bay Point. These efforts include the Bay Point Community-Based Transportation Plan adopted by the Board in January 2007, and the Bay Point Walkability Workshops which were conducted by the Health Services Department in Fall 2007. Throughout these planning efforts, community members identified the difficulties for walking or bicycling along Bailey Road in the area of the State Route 4 freeway ramps, the BART Station entrance road, and the intersection at Bailey and Canal Roads where students cross as they go to and from the Bel Air Elementary School. This section of Bailey Road was one of the highest priorities the community identified during the development of the Bay Point Community-Based Transportation Plan.  
  
In addition, Bay Point residents also have expressed a desire for visual improvements such as landscaping or other amenities along Bailey Road from the freeway north to Willow Pass Road. This northern segment of Bailey Road is a long, straight segment of road with no shade or other amenities for pedestrians. There are several bus stops along the roadway but due to narrow sidewalks there is no room for bus shelters or benches.   
  
To address these issues, the County applied for and received a $200,000 planning grant from the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to develop a plan with specific recommendations for Bailey Road improvements. The grant will come from the “Transportation for Livable Communities” program which is funded by the Measure J transportation sales tax. The grant will be provided to the County on a reimbursable basis for work performed. The funds will be used to cover the costs of a professional planning consultant who will develop the plan, under the management of the Department of Conservation and Development. The Redevelopment Agency will provide up to $26,000 in matching funds, as required by the grant program.  
  
The project will begin in March 2009, with completion approximately one year later.  
  
The Department of Conservation and Development performed a consultant selection process using the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Outreach program, starting with a request for proposals that was distributed in December 2008. Eight written proposals were received; staff invited seven of the eight firms in for interviews, which were conducted on January 27, 2009. The eighth firm was not invited for an interview because their written proposal did not adequately respond to the needs that were stated in our request for proposals. The firm is based in Georgia and their proposal showed they are not familiar with Bay Point.  
  
The selection panel consisted of staff from Conservation and Development's Transportation Planning Section and Redevelopment Agency, and the Public Works Department, and staff from BART and Caltrans, who were invited because their agencies will be key participants in the project. The panel unanimously selected the consultant team headed by BMS Design Group of San Francisco, with sub-consultants Kimley-Horn Associates and BKF Engineers. This consultant team was selected as the best for both the interviews and the written proposals that were submitted.  
  
The process will include technical planning and traffic engineering work, landscape design, and public outreach. The Bay Point Municipal Advisory Council will receive regular briefings and will have opportunities to provide input at key points in the process. A general community workshop and outreach program also is planned. Institutional participants will include BART, Caltrans, Tri Delta Transit, the East Bay Regional Park District, and the City of Pittsburg.  
  
The County has set aside $1.5 million in Navy Mitigation Funds for construction or implementation of the plan. If additional construction funds are needed, grants will be sought at that time.  
  
The Board of Supervisors is asked to authorize the Director of Conservation and Development to execute a professional services contract with BMS Design Group for an amount not to exceed $226,000. The contract will be effective March 18, 2009 and will expire on June 30, 2010.