| On October 20, 2021, the Board of Supervisors referred to the IOC the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) challenge “Cut the Commute” to identify issues and determine the feasibility of accepting the Challenge (see board order and Challenge, attached). Employers that accept the BAAQMD Challenge must commit to actively study and determine what strategies will work best for their particular workforce to facilitate remote work opportunities. Recommended strategies can include, but are not limited to, remote work, public transit options, carpool, and bike to work programs. |
The County has developed and proposed to our labor partners a draft Remote Work Policy. Because this Policy may affect every County employee and labor group, a Countywide policy is necessary and we will need to reach agreement with all parties. The County has conducted four meetings with the Labor Coalition (all County unions except sheriff and fire) thus far but has not reached agreement on a number of key issues, including the process for identifying positions eligible for remote work, the process of resolving denied remote work requests, and a number of cost items related to remote work. The County will continue to meet and discuss the draft Remote Work Policy with the Coalition in an effort to reach agreement. Until agreement is reached, remote work will remain a goal but cannot be a strategy to which the County can commit in response to the BAAQMD's challenge.
While remote work is the centerpiece of employer commute/emissions reduction programs, the County has previously implemented many other employer and public service programs to encourage alternatives to the daily commute, as well as ongoing community planning for such alternatives:
- Adopted a Climate Action Plan to set goals and identify solutions to reduce emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) and other harmful pollutants. The CAP supports a balanced transportation system including bicycle, pedestrian, transit, and carpooling facilities, transit,and parking demand management.
- Early adopter of a Smart Growth initiative, to promote development within existing urban areas to protect open space and promote the creation of pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods and shopping districts.
- Adopted various transportation plans, including Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan for the Bay Area, Priorities for Senior Mobility, Bay Point Community Based Transportation Plan, and the Contra Costa County Accessible Transportation Strategic Plan.
- Adopted a Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan to support and encourage walking and bicycling, and identify actions the County and its partners should take to facilitate them.
- Adopted a Clean Air Vehicle Policy and Goals to procure the most fuel-efficient and lowest emission vehicles, and reduce petroleum fuel consumption.
- Enterprise Rideshare and Ridematching Service
- Plan and implement neighborhood bicycle and pedestrian improvements, e.g., Treat Blvd., West Leland Rd.
- Plan and implement multi-use trails and thoroughfares for expanded non-motorized commuting and recreation, e.g., Iron Horse Corridor/Regional Trail, Olympic Corridor, Lafayette/Moraga Trail, Marsh Creek Corridor Trail, etc.
- Adopted the Idle-Free Pledge, promising to turn off vehicle engines when waiting for more than 30 seconds to reduce air pollution in the region.
- Conducted the Employee Commute Survey, a survey conducted in July and August 2019 of County employees regarding how they travel to and from work. The survey found that most employees drive alone and are spending 40-45 minutes on average commuting each day. Two-thirds of County employees would consider alternatives for their work commute, particularly telecommuting and carpools. Primary factors that inform current commute choices are travel time, cost, and flexibility. While a small percentage of County employees taking the survey drive electric vehicles currently, more than half are considering purchasing an electric vehicle, and 75 percent would like to the County to install electric vehicle chargers at County facilities.
- Endorsed the annual Bike to Work/Wherever Campaigns, provide employee bike lockers, Bike Mapper and Toolkit
- Adopted the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Ordinance to encourage the use of creative and effective ways to reduce motor vehicle trips and their associated impacts created by new development projects.
- Participating in the East County Integrated Transit Study to identify solutions for improving transit service between Antioch and Brentwood.
- The County’s TDM Guidelines (2009), which were developed to assist project proponents with implementing the TDM Ordinance and developing project TDM plans.
- The County’s Employee Commute Benefit Program, which was instituted to allow County employees to use pre-tax funds to pay for certain commute related expenses. This program also satisfies compliance with the Bay Area Commute Benefits Program (SB 1339) required for employers of 50 or more full-time employees.
Through these many programs and initiatives, the County continues to demonstrate its commitment to reducing commute traffic, congestion, and vehicle emissions, creating more walkable communities, increasing access to public transportation, and improving the overall quality of life of Contra Costans.
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