The Public Works Department and Conservation and Development Department have undertaken the preparation of Contra Costa County’s first Active Transportation Plan (ATP). The ATP will serve as a roadmap to enhance active transportation safety and mode share for the unincorporated areas in Contra Costa County. By definition, active transportation comprises any self-propelled, human-powered travel, such as walking and bicycling.
The ATP’s vision statement is as follows: Contra Costa County will have an equitable transportation system that supports active transportation for all users of all ages and abilities, allowing all to travel conveniently, reliably, and free from harm. The goals and objectives for the ATP were developed in support of this vision and with consideration of other local and state plans and policies, desires of local residents, and emerging trends and opportunities in active transportation.
The County’s recently adopted Vision Zero Plan, Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s (CCTA) 2018 Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, and CCTA’s Contra Costa Vision Zero Framework & Systemic Safety Approach (Vision Zero Framework) each have goals supporting increases in bicycling and walking, and this ATP is consistent with such planning documents. Other statewide plans include the California Transportation Plan and the California State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
This plan was created to help facilitate the following goals:
1. Prioritize active transportation investments based on factors such as collision history or systemic risk, location in an impacted community, location near key destinations, and funding opportunities.
2. Shift trip modes by Contra Costa County residents and visitors from motor vehicles to active modes such as walking and biking to create a more sustainable community and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Provide a vision for arterials and collectors within the unincorporated County roadway network to assist County departments in planning for private development, capital projects, and maintenance efforts.
The County has been disseminating information during the ATP process through its website, ActiveContraCosta.org. County staff and the consultants, Fehr & Peers and Alta + Planning, used creative outlets to obtain input from county residents since in-person, workshop meetings were no longer a viable option due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Community engagement efforts included the following: social media outreach; sidewalk decals that direct residents to the project website; interactive webmap where residents could provide direct input on areas of concern; an online survey; virtual meetings with various stakeholders and Municipal Advisory Councils; community pop-up events at the Bay Point and Hercules libraries, Pittsburg/Bay Point BART, Alamo Farmers’ Market, and Lefty Gomez Park.
The projects proposed in the ATP report were developed and prioritized based on a variety of factors such as: killed or severely injured (KSI) collision history, projects within priority areas, recommendations from previous regional efforts, feedback from key stakeholders, proximity to key destinations (schools, hospitals, affordable housing, etc.), projects within Equity Priority Areas as defined by MTC, and ease of constructability.
As of March 8, 2022, the draft ATP report has been made available for public review and comment. This review period will be open for two weeks, to which then the consultant will review all input received and incorporate appropriate feedback before finalizing the report. The County plans to bring the final ATP report for acceptance by the Board of Supervisors shortly after the period of public comment has ended. This must be done by April 12, 2022 in order to fulfill the requirements from the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program. Following the acceptance, the County will utilize the ATP report as a tool when prioritizing future active transportation-related capital projects and as a resource when pursuing grant funding. |