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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 08251987 - S.2 ' ' OARD OF SUPERVISORS S � FRCM: Supervisor Sunne Wright McPeakra GATE: Introduced August 18 , 1987 for Action on . August 25 , 1987 @ Cam SUBJECT: Free Tolls for Carpool/Vanpool Across Carquinez Bridge and Martinez-Benicia Bridge SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) a BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION In order to reduce impact of Solano County commute traffic on I-80 and I-680 in Contra Costa County, the Board of Supervisors should take the following actions: a. Request Caltrans to immediately enact a program of toll-free commutes for carpools/vanpools (vehicles with three or more passengers) during weekdays for the Carquinez Bridge and Martinez Benicia Bridge. b. Request Caltrans to dedicate another lane on each bridge for the carpools/vanpools as soon as is possible. (It is likely this cannot be done for the Martinez-Benicia Bridge until the existing span is widened. ) C. Request Caltrans to consider feasibility of moving the toll booths to the southbound lanes to charge the morning commute traffic and remove them from the northbound lanes. d. Request support of this position from TRANSPAC and the West County Transportation Committee ( to present eventually to the Transportation Partnership) . e. Request endorsement and support for this position, particularly the free carpool/vanpool commute program, from Bay Area RIDES. f . Request support for this position from Solano County, Vallejo and Benicia. Further, submit this issue for discussion with the Solano County Board of Supervisors. g. Request a revised schedule from Caltrans for widening of I-680 northbound from Willow Pass to the bridge approach. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE S : ACTION OF BOARD ON _ August 25 , 19 7 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER In addition to approving the recommendations set forth above, the Board approved the recommendation of Supervisor Fanden that the Director of Community Development review the status of existing bridge bonds. The Board further ordered that the Toll Booths in Tandom proposal of C. W. Tallman, (3000 Broadway, #85, Wallejo 94589) is REFERRED to the Task Force on the Martinez- VOTEeOFc SUPErRV4'SORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cc: Community Development Director AT'T'ESTED August 25, 1987 County Administrator PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Martinez-Benicia Bridge Task Force via CDD SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY Q CY� c DEPUTY X382/1=83 Free Tolls for Carpool/Vanpool Commuters Across Carquinez Bridge August 18, 1987 Page 2 h. Request the Transportation Division, Community Development Department to immediately communicate with Caltrans on these issues and prepare the necessary letters to obtain support from groups identified above. BACKGROUND Although the Board of Supervisors has adopted similar positions in the past ( see attached proposed Board Orders) and the joint-county task force has worked diligently to address the commute traffic problems, there has been little action taken to promote carpools/vanpools for Solano County commuters to lessen the impacts on I-80 and I-680 in Contra Costa County. The traffic congestion caused by Solano County commuters going through Contra Costa is worsening every day. While the most effective incentive for carpooling commuters is free tolls combined with shorter commute times through HOV lanes, it is important to immediately begin a policy of free commutes for carpools/vanpools to assist with the public awareness campaign. To achieve this, we will need the critical support of the cities in central and west counties and Bay Area RIDES. Further, it is worth examining the feasibility of switching the toll booths from northbound traffic to southbound traffic to relieve congestion in Contra Costa County and to more easily administer a toll free carpool/vanpool program. The most critical improvement needed to relieve northbound afternoon congestion (which now occurs on most weekends) on I-680 through Central Contra Costa County is to widen I-680 from Willow Pass Road to the bridge approach. Unfortunately, it appears this construction project may be delayed. The Board of Supervisors needs to immediately elevate the priority of this project. . - `A6A-R,_-j OF SUPERVISORS S FROM: ,�,,��n..��}tra Harvey E. Bragdon \.JVJIC� Director, Community Development Dept. DATE'. oUint / August 25, 198710 County WI �t� SUBJECT: STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ON BOARD ORDER FOR FREE TOLLS FOR CARPOOL/ VANPOOL ACROSS THE CARQUINEZ BRIDGE AND MARTINEZ/BENICIA BRIDGE SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION• The Community Development Department, Transportation Planning Division, staff suggests that the Board adopt the following actions > in response to the Board Order introduced by Supervisor McPeak on August 18, 1987 : In response to points a, b, c and g of Supervisor McPeak' s Board Order, direct the Community Development Director to coordinate an effort communicating the Board' s issues and concerns with Caltrans, and to send a letter to Caltrans requesting: la. that Caltrans consider immediately enacting a program of toll-free commutes, as well as consider dedicating a future lane on each bridge for (high occupancy) bus/vanpool/ carpools lanes. The intent of the carpool lanes is not necessarily for the entire bridge, but for the approaches to the toll plaza and specific toll booths dedicated to servicing multi-passenger vehicles. Indicate that the County is willing to work with Caltrans on legislation to change the restrictions on the bonds ( see recommendation 2c) ; lb. that Caltrans consider revising the schedule for widening the I-680 northbound from Willow Pass to the bridge approach so that this project is finished before the completion of the widening of the Benicia Bridge to alleviated short term congestion that occurs in this area due to the bridge traffic; dp9:boTolls.t08 Orig. Dept. : CDD, TPD CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNAT E RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECO N ATION O BO RD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(SI: ACTION OF BOARD ON August 25 , 1987 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT I II AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: ATTESTED August 25, 1987 PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF CAO SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CDD DPW BYE �- DEPUTY M38217-83 lc. that a meeting be coordinated by the Community Development Department between the Department, the Department of Public Works and Caltrans to discuss the feasibility of moving the toll booths to the southbound lanes in order to charge for the morning commute rather than the afternoon commute. Also, that Caltrans consider other methods of expediting the commute by eliminating barriers which may cause drivers to slow down more than necessary. Further, since Senator Barry Keene is interested in the bridge problem and is amenable to this request, that the Board of Supervisors direct the Community Development Director to request the following through the Senator' s office: 2a. that the State Legislative Counsel review the enabling legislation for the bridge bonds and see if allowing free passage is permissable and legal; 2b. information regarding the most expedient and cost-effective method of legally implementing toll free commutes; 2c. in conjunction with this request to the Senator' s office, direct the County staff to include changing the appropriate bond legislation to allow free tolls as a part of County' s FY 1987/88 legislative package. In response to points d, e, f and g of Supervisor McPeak' s Board Order, direct that the Community Development Director send letters to: 3a. TRANSPAC, the West County Transportation Committee, RIDES, Vallejo, and Benicia, requesting support for the position stated in a and b of the August 18, 1987 Board Order. (TRANSPAC has already been notified of the request and it has been put on their agenda. ) ; 3b. staff suggests that TRANSPAC also send a request that Cities of Benicia, Fairfield, Suisun, and Vallejo and Solano County join in supporting the County' s request and that the County act through TRANSPAC to solicit their support. County staff will also place the County' s request on the West County Transportation Committee agenda; 3c. finally, direct County staff to include this item for discussion with the Solano County Board of Supervisors. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Recommendations la through 3c. No significant financial impact on the County' s operations. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS/BACKGROUND: This Board Order represents a set of staff recommendations in response to the Board Order introduced by Supervisor McPeak on August 18, 1987. CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION: The requests made by Supervisor McPeak and the Board will not be implemented in a timely fashion. dp9 :boTolls.t08 cc: CAO CDD DPW