To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Active Technical Transportation Assistance for Rodeo Hills School Safety Study
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director or designee to execute an Active Transportation Technical Assistance agreement with the Rails to Trails Conservancy for the County to receive technical assistance to further develop bicycle, pedestrian and related improvements along Garretson Avenue near Rodeo Hills Elementary School in Rodeo for a period of 8 months that will conclude not later than December 31, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% CalSPAN program funds. This technical assistance is provided through funding from the California Department of Public Health’s CalSPAN (California State Physical Activity and Nutrition) program, which is part of a federal grant from the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”).
BACKGROUND:
February 2025, the West Contra Costa Transportation Commission (“WCCTC”) presented their member agencies the opportunity to submit projects for the Rails to Trails CalSPAN Active Transportation Technical Assistance (“TA”) program. Per WCCTC staff, the program does not provide direct funds to local jurisdictions, but technical assistance can be used to develop or implement a wide variety of active transportation programs including: policy development, program development, demonstration projects, pop ups, and other projects aimed at connecting pedestrian, bicycle, and/or transit routes to everyday destinations. Projects need to be in, or focused on, disadvantaged communities (defined based on Cal Enviro Screen 4.0, California Healthy Places index, or County Median Household Income). The TA program is fully administered by the Rails to Trails Conservancy.
In response, County staff recommended a project at Rodeo Hills Elementary School from the County Active Transportation Plan or “ATP” (adopted March 2022). The ATP and the County’s 2045 General Plan share the goal of supporting people who walk, bike, roll, or use mobility devices by creating safe, equitable, connected, and comfortable facilities for all ages and abilities (aka “complete streets”). This is accomplished through intentional planning for active transportation, interagency coordination, prioritization of capital improvement funds, supporting innovative projects, and improving public facilities to accommodate active transportation. The TA program, through its technical analysis and design support, would advance the proposed project toward implementation consistent with the ATP and the County’s 2045 General Plan. The TA scope of work also includes a task for engagement with the local and school community. The proposed project is defined as follows:
• Project ID 42 (Garretson Ave/Rodeo): Study school access. Potential to convert parking to angled on one side only with a shared use path. Project assumes significant reconfiguration and some sidewalk construction to address school access and safety.
In March 2025, the Rails to Trails Conservancy notified County staff that the Rodeo Hills Elementary School ATP project, ID 42, was selected. In August 2025, Rails to Trails Conservancy staff sent County staff an Active Transportation Technical Assistance agreement (Exhibit A) for the County’s signature and a proposed scope of work (Exhibit B).
Staff recommends the Board authorize the Conservation and Development Director to execute an agreement with the Rails to Trails Conservancy to enable the Conservancy provide technical assistance to the County to further develop the complete streets improvements along Garretson Avenue near Rodeo Hills Elementary School, based on the County’s adopted Active Transportation Plan.
The TA process was originally set to commence September 2025 and end May 2026 (8 months). County staff will work with Rails to Trails Conservancy staff to modify the project timeline to make it current, however the overall duration of the effort would not change.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the agreement is not approved, the County will not participate in the Rails to Trails Active Transportation Technical Assistance program which would allow for further development of ATP projects near Rodeo Hills Elementary School.