To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: Implementation of San Pablo Dam Road Bike Lanes Project, El Sobrante area.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution and DIRECT the Public Works Director to implement a road diet as part of the San Pablo Dam Road Bike Lanes Project, El Sobrante area. (District I)
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Public Works has submitted a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for the San Pablo Dam Road Bike Lanes Project. If awarded, local grant match requirements would be 20%, with 80% coming from SS4A grant. Typically, the local grant match would be from Road Fund revenues, however, given current funding constraints, other sources would need to be identified.
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Public Works has prepared and implemented the following County plans and policies regarding safety, accessibility and livability of its communities:
• Vision Zero Action Plan (March 1, 2022): A strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.
• Active Transportation Plan (April 26, 2022): Enhances active transportation by promoting access and connectivity for all modes of travel besides automobiles, focusing on self-propelled human-powered travel such as walking and bicycling.
• Complete Streets Policy (July 12, 2016): Ensures County roads are designed and operated to enable safe use and support mobility for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities.
San Pablo Dam Road in El Sobrante has been identified as a high-traffic corridor with a significant number of traffic incidents, including accidents involving both pedestrians and cyclists. Based on these traffic incidents and County plans and policies, San Pablo Dam Road has been selected to undergo a road diet. The San Pablo Dam Road Bike Lanes Project will implement a road diet by installing one travel lane in each direction, a center two-way left turn lane, and bike lanes between Appian Way and Castro Ranch Road in the unincorporated El Sobrante area. This project aims to reduce vehicle speeds by reducing lane widths and improving bicycle safety by installing buffered bike lanes.
Implementing a road diet on San Pablo Dam Road aligns with the goals of Vision Zero, the Active Transportation Plan, and the Complete Streets Policy by prioritizing the safety and well-being of all road users. Numerous studies have shown that road diets can significantly reduce traffic collisions, improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and enhance the overall quality of life in communities. Community engagement and feedback have demonstrated strong support for measures that improve safety and accessibility on San Pablo Dam Road. The implementation of a road diet on San Pablo Dam Road is supported by traffic safety data, a recent traffic analysis of the proposed road diet, expert recommendations, and community input. The El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council (ESMAC) supports the road diet project.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If a road diet is not implemented on San Pablo Dam Road, the County will not realize a potential reduction in accidents and will not meet the goals of the Vision Zero Action Plan, the Active Transportation Plan, and the Complete Streets Policy.
c: Supervisor John Giora-BOS, Jerry Fahy -Transportation Engineering, Carl Roner-Transportation Engineering
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
body
IN THE MATTER OF: Approving and Directing the Public Works Director to implement a road diet as part of the San Pablo Dam Road Bike Lanes Project, El Sobrante area. (District I)
WHEREAS, WHEREAS, the County of Contra Costa is committed to enhancing the safety, accessibility, and livability of its communities through the implementation of comprehensive transportation policies, including the Vision Zero Plan, the Active Transportation Plan and the Complete Streets Policy; and
WHEREAS, the Vision Zero Plan is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all; and
WHEREAS, the Active Transportation Plan (ATP) demonstrates that Contra Costa County is committed to enhancing active transportation by promoting access and connectivity for all modes of travel besides automobile travel. By definition, active transportation comprises any self-propelled, human-powered travel, such as walking and bicycling. The purpose of Contra Costa County’s ATP is to serve as a roadmap to enhance active transportation safety and mode share for unincorporated areas in Contra Costa County by providing a comprehensive look at the County’s active transportation needs and opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the Complete Streets Policy is to insure that County roads are designed and operated to enable safe use and support mobility for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities; and
WHEREAS, San Pablo Dam Road in El Sobrante has been identified as a high-traffic corridor with a significant number of traffic collisions, including collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists; and
WHEREAS, a road diet involves the reallocation of road space to enhance safety and accessibility for all users by reducing the number of travel lanes and implementing measures such as bike lanes, pedestrian walkways, and enhanced crosswalks; and
WHEREAS, numerous studies have shown that road diets can significantly reduce traffic collisions, improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and enhance the overall quality of life in communities; and
WHEREAS, implementing a road diet on San Pablo Dam Road between Appian Way and Castro Ranch Road aligns with the goals of Vision Zero Plan, Active Transportation Plan, and Complete Streets Policy by prioritizing the safety and well-being of all road users; and
WHEREAS, community engagement and feedback have demonstrated strong support for measures that improve safety and accessibility on San Pablo Dam Road; and
WHEREAS, the implementation of a road diet on San Pablo Dam Road is supported by traffic safety data, a recent traffic analysis, expert recommendations, and community input including the El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:
1. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors hereby approves the implementation of a road diet on San Pablo Dam Road between Appian Way and Castro Ranch Road in El Sobrante.
2. The Department of Public Works is directed to develop and implement a detailed plan for the road diet, including but not limited to lane reductions, the addition of bike lanes, pedestrian enhancements, and improved crosswalks.
3. The Department of Public Works shall ensure that the road diet plan is developed in consultation with community stakeholders, traffic safety experts, and relevant public agencies.
4. Funding for the road diet implementation shall be allocated from existing transportation and safety improvement budgets, supplemented by grants and other funding sources as available.
5. The Board of Supervisors reaffirms its commitment to the goals of the Vision Zero Plan, the Active Transportation Plan and the Complete Streets policy and encourages continued efforts to improve safety and mobility for all residents of Contra Costa County.
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