To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: APPROVE the submission of grant applications to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) under the Coordinated Call for Projects (CCFP) in Contra Costa County, Countywide.
Recommendation: Recommendation of a Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE the submission of grant applications to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) under the Coordinated Call for Projects (CCFP) in Contra Costa County, Countywide.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
BACKGROUND:
CCTA administers and coordinates transportation funding programs that help Contra Costa County jurisdictions deliver local and countywide transportation improvements. These programs support projects such as complete streets, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, transit access, safe routes to schools, local roadway and corridor improvements, and projects that help Contra Costa County meet regional mobility, climate, safety, and access goals.
The CCFP creates one entry point for submitting candidate projects. Applicants submit project information once, and CCTA evaluates applications against the requirements of the applicable funding programs. Each funding source has its own eligibility requirements, but applicants do not need to submit separate applications for each program. CCTA will review each eligible project and determine how available funding sources can be used most effectively.
CCTA will use the CCFP to evaluate projects consistently and then match recommended projects with the appropriate funding source or combination of sources. This helps maximize the number of projects that can move forward while respecting each program’s requirements.
The sources of funding are:
• One Bay Area Grant 4 (OBAG 4). OBAG 4 is a regional funding program administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in partnership with Bay Area County transportation agencies. CCTA is responsible for developing and submitting Contra Costa County’s prioritized nomination list for the OBAG 4 County program.
• Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC). 5 percent of Measure J funds TLC, which supports projects that improve local access, strengthen connections between transportation and land use, and help create safer, more walkable, bikeable, and transit-accessible communities.
• Pedestrian, Bicycle and Trail Facilities (PBTF). 1.5 percent of Measure J funds PBTF, which supports bicycle, pedestrian, trail, and active transportation improvements across Contra Costa County.
RECOMMENDED CANDIDATE PROJECTS
Staff recommends the following candidate projects be submitted for funding consideration under the CCFP. These projects are recommended based upon their competitiveness, project readiness, and staff availability to complete each application. Geographic equity among supervisorial districts was also considered, but there are limitations on the types of projects eligible to be submitted. Should any of the following projects be awarded, staff will then assess funding availability to meet the local funding match requirements of the grant. The following projects are being submitted: Iron Horse Corridor San Ramon Double Tracking (Phase 1) (construction only) and Iron Horse Corridor Danville Double Tracking (Phase 2) (design only), Marsh Drive Class I Bikeway (design and construction), and Willow Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Repair (design and construction). A description of each project is included below.
Iron Horse Corridor San Ramon Double Tracking - San Ramon
Iron Horse Corridor Danville Double Tracking - Danville
The Iron Horse Corridor (IHC) is a former railroad right of way in Contra Costa County that stretches 18.5 miles from the Alameda County line northward to Concord and is the sole regional non-vehicle trail in the north-south direction in central Contra Costa County. The IHC provides connections to two Bay Area Rapid Transit stations at Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre and Dublin/Pleasanton, the Danville Park and Ride lot at Sycamore Valley Road, and the San Ramon Transit Center, thus providing a vehicle-free commuting route parallel to the I-680 corridor.
In June 2020, the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development finalized the Active Transportation Corridor Study for the IHC. Separating wheeled and pedestrian users in the IHC was found to provide the highest level of service and was considered to be an appropriate design option for areas with high demand. The Active Transportation Study also conducted extensive outreach in communities adjacent to the IHC and users identified separation of wheeled and pedestrian modes as being the most critical improvement that is needed in the IHC.
There are a number of public schools near the IHC in San Ramon and Danville. Every school day, hundreds of children use the trail to get to and from school. The IHC is also heavily used by the community for walking and biking, and conflicts between wheeled and pedestrian users have increased. Double tracking the pathway should minimize risks and improve safety for children, the elderly, the disabled, and other users of the trail.
The San Ramon phase of the project will construct a new pathway parallel to the existing pathway in the IHC from the new bridge over Bollinger Canyon Road to the proposed bridge over Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon, a distance of 1.3 miles. This area is currently being redeveloped for high-density housing. The IHC connects this high-density housing area to the nearby downtown commercial area, as well as local medical facilities, parks, schools, and City Hall. Walking or using a bicycle to access these activities is a positive shift to a healthier lifestyle for residents and will also help reduce the overall dependence on cars.
The Danville phase of the project will design a new parallel pathway in the IHC from the north of the proposed bridge over Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon to the south side of Sycamore Valley Road in Danville, a distance of 2.6 miles. Like the San Ramon phase of the project, this phase will improve access to important community facilities and facilitate positive shift to a healthier lifestyle.
Marsh Drive Class I Bikeway - Pacheco
Marsh Drive is a minor arterial that connects the unincorporated community of Pacheco to the City of Concord via the Marsh Drive Bridge and the Iron Horse Corridor. Marsh Drive runs along the western and northern edges of Buchanan Field Airport, crosses over Walnut Creek and continues into Concord. Marsh Drive fronts mobile home communities along its entire western length, and it acts as an important connection for the people in the mobile home communities to the Iron Horse Corridor terminus, and the commercial areas of Concord.
Currently, Marsh Drive has one travel lane in each direction and a parking lane. Marsh Drive’s pedestrian and bicycle facilities consist of a five-foot wide concrete sidewalk along the west side of the road, and a ten-foot-wide concrete sidewalk along northern portions of the road. However, there are significant gaps in the sidewalk, and it does not connect to nearby destinations. Furthermore, there have been three accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists on the road in the past five years, two of which were fatal.
This project will install a Class I shared-use path along Marsh Drive to provide a dedicated space for bicyclists and pedestrians. It connects residents to the Iron Horse Corridor, community parks and commercial areas to the east.
Willow Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Repair - Rodeo
The Willow Avenue Pedestrian Bridge (Bridge) spans Rodeo Creek near Willow Avenue and the Interstate 80 corridor, and serves as an important connection for people walking, bicycling and commuting within the Rodeo community. Past inspections have documented progressive structural movement, and a 2025 investigation determined that inadequate drainage has led to soil instability undermining the northern abutment of the Bridge. Due to these safety concerns, the County closed the Bridge in 2025 until repairs can be completed.
The Willow Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Repair Project will address the underlying geotechnical and drainage issues, stabilize the northern abutment, and restore the structural integrity of the Bridge. Key deliverables include drainage improvements, abutment stabilization, and associated structural repairs necessary to safely reopen the facility. These improvements will extend the useful life of the Bridge, reduce long-term maintenance needs, and enhance infrastructure reliability.
Reopening the Bridge will restore a critical pedestrian, bicycle, and commute connections across a major creek, improving access to nearby destinations and reducing the need for longer, indirect travel routes. As part of a connector trail, the Bridge provides links to nearby destinations such as the Bay Trail, Willow Avenue Park and Ride, and Rodeo Hills Elementary School.
If authorized to proceed, staff will prepare the grant application packages for the candidate projects noted above. If during project research staff discovers a critical constraint that would result in the project being cost prohibitive or will not meet the eligibility requirements of the funding program, staff will hold the application for further study to increase project readiness for the following grant cycle.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If staff is not authorized to submit applications, grant funding will not be available, which will delay the design and construction of these projects.