TRANSPORTATION, WATER & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: September 28, 2026
Subject: CONSIDER the dissolution of the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee
Submitted For: Warren Lai || Director | PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Department: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Referral No: 2
Referral Name: Consider the dissolution of the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee as part of an administrative effort to streamline the review of applications for transportation, water, and infrastructure grants to be prepared by County Departments
Presenter: Chris Lau || Assistant Director | PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING DIVISION
Contact: Chris Lau | (925) 313-2276
Referral History:
The Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee (CBAC) provides input to the County and the cities/towns of the County on bicycle projects for Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds to construct bicycle/pedestrian projects and provides advice to cities/towns and the County on bicycle planning matters.
The CBAC is comprised of sixteen (16) seats, including the following:
• Five (5) District Representatives, each representing one of the Board of Supervisors Districts
• Eight (8) Bicycle Organization Representatives, each representing one Bicycle Organization that uses the roads in Contra Costa County
• One (1) Mayors' Conference Representative
• One (1) East Bay Regional Park District Representative
• One (1) Bicycle Industry Representative
The California Highway Patrol and Superintendent of Schools serve in an ex officio capacity as resources only. The qualifications for membership on the committee are to live or work in the County. Each representative should designate an alternate who must also live or work in the County.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) requires agencies to receive input from bicycle groups through a Bicycle Advisory Committee, prior to applying for TDA funds. The CBAC was formed by the Board of Supervisors on August 4, 1992. The formation of the CBAC was to provide a cost efficient alternative to cities/towns and the County, other than forming individual bicycle advisory committees by each agency. The formation was endorsed by the City County Engineering Advisory Committee and the Mayors’ Conference.
The CBAC meets once a year to advise the County and the cities/towns on which projects should be a priority for application of TDA funds.
Referral Update:
The Public Works Department has administered the TDA grant program on behalf of Contra Costa County and its cities for over 35 years. Public Works staff have also served as staff to the CBAC to facilitate the TDA grant process. The Public Works Department committed to administering the TDA grant program before the existence of the County congestion management agency, or known today as the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA). Through the function of CCTA, CCTA formed the Countywide Active Transportation Advisory Committee (CATAC, formerly Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (CBPAC)), which has a very similar function to the CBAC. After discussion with CCTA staff, they agree with County staff’s proposal to utilize the CATAC to serve as the Bicycle Advisory Committee required for the TDA grant process. Therefore, there will no longer be a need for the CBAC.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
CONSIDER the dissolution of the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee and DIRECT staff to seek Board of Supervisors’ approval.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
If approved by the Board of Supervisors, staff costs to administer the CBAC will be eliminated, resulting in cost efficiencies.