WALNUT CREEK, CA – As Bike to Work Day 2015 arrives, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) continues to deliver new bicycle and pedestrian improvements throughout Contra Costa.
From improving bicycle access at Central Avenue and Liberty Street in El Cerrito to installing a new bike lane on Stone Valley Road in Alamo, CCTA continues to enable vital safety improvements that successfully build upon the county’s network of key bicycle routes and programs. The agency is responsible for delivering nearly $22 million in pedestrian, bicycle, and trail investments throughout Contra Costa which is funded by the county’s half-cent transportation sales tax (Measure J), in addition to securing more than $60 million in federal funding to support walking and biking since 2009.
“We are continuing to deliver programs and projects that make our streets safer for all road users,” stated CCTA Chair Julie Pierce. “These improvements are helping to smooth traffic, improve air quality, and expand access to recreational trails, providing Contra Costa residents with reliable alternatives when commuting to work, school, or wherever they’re headed in the county.”
One major component of CCTA’s investments in bicycle infrastructure is the Safe Routes to School program. The program is focused on creating safer conditions in drop-off and pick-up zones at schools and encouraging more bicycling and walking among K-12 students. CCTA has worked with local health, education, and safety organizations, as well as directly with schools, cities and local transportation agencies to develop and implement these changes. In recent federal grant cycles, CCTA has been able to provide approximately $5.6 million for Safe Routes to Schools, supporting 18 new projects across 11 cities countywide.
“Children and families deserve safe streets and the choice to walk and bike to school,” Chair Pierce added. “Their safety and the opportunity for healthy activities are easily worth the investments we are making.”
To learn more about the county’s bicycle infrastructure and future investment plans, CCTA encourages members of the public to stop by the CCTA/511 Contra Costa energizer station today at the intersection of the Iron Horse and Contra Costa Canal Trails in Walnut Creek for “Smoother Streets and Smoothies” to commemorate Bike to Work Day. Please note, this event is weather permitting.
Completed bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects and plans funded by Measure J include the following:
- Central Avenue and Liberty Street Streetscape Improvements in El Cerrito
- San Pablo Corridor Complete Streets Plan for El Cerrito
- Oak Park Boulevard/Patterson Boulevard Intersection Improvement Project in Pleasant Hill
- Shell Avenue Bicycle / Pedestrian Improvement Project in Martinez
- Alhambra Valley Road Sidewalk Gap Closure Project in Martinez
- Adaptive Service Analysis Plan for County Connection
- Olympic Corridor Trail Connector Study between Lafayette and Walnut Creek
- Stone Valley Road Bike Lane Gap Closure in Alamo
- Martinez to Crockett Segment: SF Bay Trail
- Reconstruction of the Contra Costa Canal Trail from Citrus Avenue to Oak Grove Road in Concord
- Repair Iron Horse Trail at Lincoln Avenue in Walnut Creek
- Repair and Rehabilitate Delta-de Anza and Marsh Creek Trails in East County
Completed bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects made possible with Federal funding include the following:
- Barrett Avenue Bicycle Lanes in Richmond
- Monument Shared Use Trail in Concord
- Central Ave & Liberty St Streetscape Improvements in El Cerrito
- Downtown Pedestrian, Bicycle & Streetscape Improvements in Lafayette
- Montalvin Manor Pedestrian and Transit Access Improvements in Contra Costa County
- Lisa Lane Sidewalk Project in Pleasant Hill
- Safe Routes to School Projects at elementary schools in Richmond
- Brentwood School Area Safety Improvements
- Moraga Way Pedestrian Pathway in Orinda
About The Contra Costa Transportation Authority
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. CCTA is responsible for maintaining and improving the county’s transportation system by planning, funding, and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA can be found online at ccta.net.
