HIGHWAY LANE CLOSURES:

There will be Highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of SR4 from Lone Tree Way to the SR4/SR160 connector ramp on Wednesday and Thursday evenings between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am and again on Friday evening between 11:59 pm and 6:00 am.

There will be Highway lane closures in the westbound direction of SR4 from the SR4/SR160 connector ramp to Lone Tree Way on Friday evening between 11:00 pm and 6:00 am.

RAMP CLOSURES:

The SR4 westbound off ramp at Hillcrest Avenue will be closed Friday evening from 11:59 pm to 5:00 am.

LOCAL STREET CLOSURES:

Lone Tree Way/A Street will be closed between the SR4 on and off ramps on Saturday evening from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am and again on Monday through Friday evenings from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am.

Please note: Lone Tree Way/A Street will be open to the Hillcrest Avenue westbound off ramp detour traffic on Thursday and Friday evenings.

There will be single lane closures on Lone Tree Way/A Street in both directions between the SR4 on and off ramps on Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

There will be single lane closures on Lone Tree Way in both directions between Canada Valley Road and Jeffery Way Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

See detour maps by clicking here: Highway 4 closures.

For questions or comments please send e-mail to info@4eastcounty.org.

Data Shed Light on Health, History of Region’s Transportation Network

OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 28, 2015…The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) today unveiled its innovative Vital Signs website (vitalsigns.mtc.ca.gov), an interactive tool that Bay Area residents can use to track the region’s progress toward reaching key transportation, land use, environmental and economic policy goals. Residents also can consult the new website to learn more about historical trends, differences and similarities among the Bay Area’s many communities, and how the nine-county region stacks up with other major U.S. metro areas.

The first phase of the Vital Signs initiative examines 14 different indicators by which the health of the Bay Area’s transportation systems can be monitored. These include several measures of Bay Area transit agencies’ performance; a detailed look at pavement conditions on state highways, city streets and county roads; and a rank-ordered list of the 139 most congested freeway segments in the region. Phase II of the Vital Signs project, slated for completion this spring, involves land use and economic development measures. Data for Phase III, which will focus on environmental and safety questions, is due for release this summer.

“Vital Signs is a wonderfully descriptive and appropriate name for this effort,” said MTC Chair and Orinda City Councilmember Amy Rein Worth. “In the same way that temperature, pulse and blood pressure can reveal a lot about a person’s overall health, measures such as transit cost-effectiveness, freeway delay, housing construction or neighborhood poverty rates can be used to gauge our region’s overall well-being.”

Dave Vautin, MTC’s Vital Signs project manager, says the website was designed to provide both access to data and a unique online experience. “This information is not just useful to researchers but genuinely interesting to the public at large. We’ve worked hard to develop customizable charts and maps, combined with high-quality graphics, that will allow all Bay Area residents to better understand what’s happening in their county, city and neighborhood.“

Among the key findings in the first set of Vital Signs data is that Bay Area commuters are committed to their choice of transportation. Solo drivers account for two-thirds of all commuters in the region, a statistic that has remained constant for decades. Still, among the nation’s 10 largest metro areas, the Bay Area has the third-lowest number of commuters who drive to work alone, trailing only New York and Washington, D.C. The percentage of Bay Area commuters who ride transit similarly has held steady at about 10 percent since the 1980s. The most significant shift in recent decades is the increasing number of residents who choose to bike to work or to telecommute. These gains have come at the expense of carpooling, which has declined in popularity over time. San Francisco leads all Bay Area cities with 32.6 percent of residents commuting to work by transit. Other cities in which the share of residents commuting via transit tops 20 percent include Albany, Colma, El Cerrito, Berkeley and Daly City.

While the Bay Area remains one of the nation’s most transit-oriented metro areas, and overall ridership in the region has grown in recent years, it is still well short of the modern-era peak achieved in 2001. Total transit ridership dipped 3 percent from 2002 to 2012 (the latest year for which National Transit Database information was available for Phase 1 of the Vital Signs project) and per-capita ridership declined 10 percent over this time. New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Miami all experienced notable growth in both overall and per-capita transit ridership from 2002 to 2012. The only major metro areas with greater declines in ridership than the Bay Area are Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta. Indeed, considering the growth of the Bay Area population, the region has for two decades become less dependent on public transit, with the average resident boarding a bus, train, ferry, light-rail vehicle or cable car 79 times in 1991, compared to just such 68 trips in 2012.

Several major Bay Area transit operators carried fewer riders on a typical weekday in 2012 than they did in 1991, with declines ranging from 7 percent for San Francisco Muni to 30 percent for SamTrans. Ridership slipped 13 percent at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and 17 percent at AC Transit. In contrast, BART and Caltrain ridership has climbed to record highs, with Caltrain carrying over 140 percent more riders each weekday than it did in 1991 and BART’s weekday ridership rising nearly 50 percent over this period.

The complete list of transportation performance measures now available on the Vital Signs website includes:

• Commute Mode Choice (by residential and employment location)

• Commute Time (by residential and employment location)

• Commute Patterns

• Traffic Volumes at Regional Gateways

• Time Spent in Congestion

• Miles Traveled in Congestion

• Travel Time Reliability

• Transit Ridership

• Transit System Efficiency

• Daily Miles Traveled

• Street Pavement Condition

• Highway Pavement Condition

• Bridge Condition

• Transit Asset Condition

MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

NOTE: The Vital Signs initiative is further illuminated by several short videos posted on MTC’s website at: http://mtc.ca.gov/news/press_releases/vitalsigns_launch.htm.

OAKLAND, Calif., – The Metropolitan Transportation Commission – the Bay Area’s transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency – is recruiting interested Bay Area residents to fill three vacancies on its Policy Advisory Council. In Contra Costa County, there is an opening for an individual representing disabled interests. In Santa Clara County, the vacancy is for an individual to represent either the economy or the environment. And the third vacancy is an at-large seat, to be filled by an individual representing either the economy or the environment from any of the nine Bay Area counties. The Council meets the second Wednesday of the month from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in Oakland, and advisors are reimbursed for their transportation to and from the meeting.

Created by the Commission in November 2009 to advise MTC on transportation policies in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Policy Advisory Council incorporates diverse perspectives relating to the environment, the economy and social equity. The Council advises MTC on a range of dynamic topics, including:

• Regional planning efforts linking transportation, housing and land-use plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Public transit service productivity improvements to produce more efficiency from the region’s existing transit investments.

• Pursuit of new revenues to support a transportation system that better serves all Bay Area residents.

  “The Commission wants and needs to hear various viewpoints when making transportation policy and investment decisions,” said MTC Chair Amy Rein Worth. “Incorporating different perspectives enhances our decision-making process. The Policy Advisory Council helps the Commission to improve mobility for all Bay Area residents.”

Applications for the three vacancies will be accepted through February 9, 2015. No specific educational background is needed for most seats – just a background in the specific application category, and an interest in transportation and how it affects residents in the nine Bay Area counties. Experience working on public policy issues or community-related issues is desirable. Appointed advisors are expected to attend monthly meetings at MTC’s offices in Oakland and will serve through the term ending in July 2017. While positions are voluntary, advisors do receive a small stipend for their attendance at certain meetings.

MTC’s appointing Commissioners will review the applications, and the full Commission is scheduled to approve the selections in March. The selected applicants will attend their first meeting on April 8, 2015. To apply for a vacant position or to learn more about the Policy Advisory Council, visit www.mtc.ca.gov/get_involved/advisory or call (510) 817-5757.

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is constructing the State Route 4 (SR4) Sand Creek Road Interchange and 4-Lane Widening through Antioch and Brentwood. As part of the SR4 Widening, the contractor will be performing the following work activities on the following dates:

The westbound SR4 on- and off-ramps at Sand Creek Road will be closed from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM starting on Wednesday, November 12th and ending on Friday, November 14th. (See detour map by clicking here: CCTA TRAFFIC ADVISORY 2014-11-06)

Reversing traffic control will be in place on SR4 between Balfour Road and Sand Creek Road during the same time. Work will consist of paving operations.

Motorists are advised to use the provided detour or alternate routes and should allow extra time for their commute. For the detour map, please see attachment. The ramps will be closed concurrently.

This work is weather dependent. If it is delayed due to weather conditions, it will be rescheduled for a later time.

Please drive with caution through the work area and leave a safe traveling distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you. CCTA appreciates your patience as we work to improve mobility in East Contra Costa County. For the most current information please contact the project hotline number at 925-206-3002 or go to www.4eastcounty.org.

It’s fast, it’s frequent, it’s convenient, and it’s about to open.  BART’s new train to plane service, “BART to OAK,” which provides an easy connection to Oakland International Airport, will open in time for Thanksgiving travel on Saturday, November 22, 2014.

To mark this exciting moment in BART’s history, a public celebration will be held on Friday, November 21, to give the community a chance to check out the new stations, the beautiful art work, and to take a free ride before it opens.

The project broke ground in 2010 and construction cost $484 million for the 3.2 mile, automated guideway, or $151.25 million per mile. It was designed and built by the project team of Flatiron, Parsons and Doppelmayer (for more information, click here) which has already won awards for the systems’ innovative engineering and forward use of technology.

The new connector will replace the AirBART buses and is expected to reduce vehicle traffic on the freeways, as it will be easier for travelers to take BART directly to the airport. Ridership is estimated to be between 4,780 to 5,730 riders per day in the first year, doubling the current the number of estimated AirBART riders, and as much as 10,300 to 14,070 riders per day by 2030, according to a 2009 report by Wilbur Smith Associates, which can be viewed here.

Clean, Easy, and Quick Service 

BART to OAK – Oakland International Airport (OAK) Station.

Starting on Saturday, November 22, 2014, riders will be able to board one of four three-car automated people movers at either the Coliseum Station or the Oakland International Airport Station and take the eight-minute ride at 30 mph.  

“The ride and the experience alone are memorable,” said BART General Manager Grace Crunican. “Riders get a 360 degree view from the windows surrounding the entire car as you travel over the traffic below.  It’s a cable propelled system with light-weight and quiet trains, so it’s like gliding through the air.”

Trains arrive every 5 minutes during peak commute hours (weekdays 8am-8pm) and drop off and pick up riders just steps away from both terminals at OAK.  BART riders have a quick and easy train to train transfer at the Coliseum station.  Riders can use a BART ticket or a Clipper Card. The complete schedule can be found below.

Sample one-way adult fares between the new Oakland International Airport Station and various stations throughout the system include: from Downtown Oakland stations: $7.85; from Downtown San Francisco stations: $10.05; from Downtown Berkeley station $8.50; from Walnut Creek station $9.70; from Fremont $9.85; from Dublin Pleasanton station: $9.80.  Fare listings can be found here: http://www.bart.gov/tickets/calculator

As of Saturday, November 22nd, AirBART buses will no longer be in operation.

Get a Sneak Peek, Join the Celebration

A public celebration will take place on Friday, November 21st at the Coliseum Station from 11am-3pm. The festivities include commemoratives and local music.  All costs of the celebration have been paid through the generous donations of various sponsors. More details can be found at www.bart.gov/grandopening.

Learn more about the newly installed, original art at the Coliseum Station side of the station here, and the Oakland International Airport Station here.  Follow the excitement of the grand opening on our Storify page.

BART is gearing up to carry hundreds of thousands of baseball fans to downtown San Francisco on Friday, October 31 to celebrate the Giants World Series Championship. BART will run its rush hour service all day–using every available train possible. To ensure that everyone can get home safely, trains will run until 2AM. Trains to and from the city will be at maximum length and frequency.

About 100 extra BART employees in yellow vests will be stationed throughout the system to help with crowd control and to assist passengers. BART Police will have extra patrols and extra train technicians were also on hand just in case. Ticket sales tables will be set up at Fremont, Dublin, Bay Point and Millbrae stations to help speed up ticket purchases.

Large crowds are expected and passengers should anticipate long lines and crowded trains. BART will have additional staff on hand to help customers who need assistance and offer crowd control. BART officials are urging fans to buy their round-trip tickets or load up their Clipper® cards before Friday’s ticker tape parade in San Francisco. 

Travel Tips

BART wants everyone to have fun and get to the parade safely. New riders need to know that everyone who rides BART needs a BART ticket or Clipper card to enter the system. 

Here are other Giants parade day tips:
o    Load your Clipper card with extra value or, if buying a BART ticket, purchase a round trip ticket before parade day.
o    Avoid peak commute hours (6AM-9AM and 4PM-6PM).
o   If possible, leave your bike at home or double lock your bike at the station. Trains will be very crowded.
o    Allow extra time to get to San Francisco before the parade begins at 12 Noon.
o    Parking rules and restrictions will be enforced. Consider getting to the station by alternative means such as carpooling, walking, biking (and parking your bike at the station) or taking a bus, as parking lots will fill up very early. Do not park in permit spaces if you don’t have a permit. (Even if you have a reserved space, we cannot guarantee eager fans won’t park there—we will be ticketing).
o    Plan your trip using the BART QuickPlanner but for the most accurate information about the added service, use Real Time Departures.
o    You can get automated BART Service Advisories (BSA) on your phone. BART offers both email and text options. To sign up for BSAs, please visit us at www.bart.gov/alerts.
o    For on-demand service information, you can use our mobile site m.bart.gov or request BART real time departures, service advisories and more via text message. To get started text “BART go” to 468311 or jump right in and text “BART” + your station name. We’ll text you back in seconds. Follow us on Twitter @sfbart for news or @sfbartalert for automated service advisories.

– See more at: http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2014/news20141030#sthash.TcFPJYbI.dpuf

Approximately 40,000 Bay Area students (up to age 18), teachers and chaperones will have the opportunity to ride BART free for educational field trips thanks to a partnership with Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is funding the program.

Bay Area schools may now apply for free BART rides for educational field trips online on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration ends December 31, 2014 or sooner if the program reaches 40,000 riders.

Enrolled students of elementary, middle, and high schools located in the Bay Area on school-sponsored field trips for educational purposes are eligible.

To better serve more students throughout the Bay Area, each school is limited to six field trips. This will allow more schools to participate in the program. To register, go to www.bart.gov/fieldtrips

“Partnering on ‘Free BART Rides for School Field Trips’ is a natural extension of our commitment to a making sure children in the region have a rich educational experience,” said Mimi Hahn, vice president of marketing and communications for the nonprofit aquarium.

Here is a list of some BARTable cultural and educational destinations:

• Davies Symphony Hall: Civic Center BART, walk 3 blocks

• Asian Art Museum: Civic Center BART, Walk 2 blocks

• California Historical Society: Montgomery Street BART, Walk 2 blocks

• Cartoon Art Museum: Montgomery Street BART, Walk 2 blocks

• Children’s Creativity Museum: Powell Street BART, Walk 2 blocks

• Contemporary Jewish Museum: Montgomery Street BART, Walk 2 blocks

• Exploratorium: Embarcadero BART, 15 minute walk

• Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: Montgomery Street BART, Walk 3 blocks

• Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Downtown Berkeley BART, Walk 1 block

• Lesher Center for the Arts: Walnut Creek BART, Walk 4 blocks

See more by clicking here.

What do you want in Contra Costa? BART? Buses? Bikes? Roads? Ferries?

In an effort to obtain greater input on the transportation needs and priorities of county residents the Contra Costa Transportation Authority will host a workshop this Thursday, August 28 at 7 p.m. at the Pittsburg City Council Chambers located in the Pittsburg Civic Center at 65 Civic Avenue.

The Countywide Comprehensive Transportation Plan, or CTP, is one of the key planning tools called for in the Measure J Growth Management Program (GMP). Specifically, Measure J requires the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to:

Support efforts to develop and maintain an ongoing planning process with the cities and the County through the funding and development of a Comprehensive Transportation Plan

The CTP provides the overall direction for achieving and maintaining a balanced and functional transportation system within Contra Costa – including a series of strategies and implementing actions – while strengthening links between land use decisions and transportation. It outlines the Authority’s vision for Contra Costa and it establishes goals, strategies, specific projects, and other actions for achieving that vision.

The Authority adopted its first Countywide Plan in 1995. The first major update to the Plan was adopted in July 2000. The second major update, which helped define the Measure J Expenditure Plan and GMP, was adopted in May 2004. The third update was adopted in 2009.

During 2014, the Authority will undertake a fourth update to the CTP. The 2014 Issues and Opportunities brochure, (available for download on the CCTA website, below) sets the stage for the 2014 Update.

If you can’t attend Thursday night’s meeting, you can participate online by sharing your ideas and seeing what other ideas have been submitted by visiting www.keepcontracostamoving.net, and calling (925) 256-4720 or emailing 2014CTP@ccta.net to get a copy of the survey mailed to you.

For more information on the CTP, visit http://ccta.net/_resources/detail/11/1.