Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02101987 - 2.1 I 2 . 1 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on February 10, 1987 , by the following vote: AYES`: Supervisors Powers, Fanden; Torlakson, McPeak.._ NOES: None ABSENT: Supervisor, Schroder . ABSTAIN: None -------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- SUBJECT: The Proposed Second Martinez-Benicia Bridge Span and Related Transportation Issues. In accordance with the Request of the Board on February 3, 1987 , D. J. Smith, the County's Transportation Lobbyist, and Burch Bachtold, District Director of Transportation , Distrtict IV, Caltrans , appeared before the Board to provide information on transportation issues in Contra Costa County. D. J. Smith commented on proposed legislation, AB 383 introduced by Assemblyman William Baker, which would authorize Caltrans to begin the feasibility study for a second Martinez- Benicia Bridge span. He expressed the opinion that there is a great deal of emphasis on building a second bridge, but that there should also be some emphasis on improvement to the approaches to the bridge. He noted that AB 383 does not immediately call for a toll increase to fund this project. Burch Bachtold, defined the projects relative to the expansion of the freeway program in Contra Costa County. He noted that the bridge is the central element which includes the approaches northerly on Route I-680 to Cordelia, south on I-680 at junction with State Route 4 , and westerly on Route 780 to Vallejo. Mr. Bachtold advised the Board that there are approximately 20 miles to this project in length. He mentioned the many problems that need to be resolved in the area of environmental concerns, navigational con- cerns, fish and wildlife concerns, engineering concerns and reloca- tion of the toll plaza to the south end of the bridge. Mr. Bachtold commented on a series of interim projects which are funded through the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) to provide some additional capacity north from Willow Pass Road to the bridge. He referred to a separate project to expand the current toll plaza by adding two booths that would provide some interim relief to facili- tate the flow of traffic. Mr. Bachtold spoke about the need to reconstruct the I-680 Highway 24 interchange and the reconstruction of I-680 Highway 4 interchange in Contra Costa County and the interchange with I-680 and Highway 80 in Solano County. In response to Supervisor Fanden's question, Mr. Bachtold advised that the construction project to provide an additional lane to the bridge approach from Contra Costa County should be completed in 1989 . �l 2. 1 Martinez-Benicia Bridge page 2 2-10-87 Supervisor Torlakson expressed a reluctance to support a second span without assurance that it will relieve traffic congestion. He expressed concerns that the improvements as proposed may not take care of the increased vehicle volume projected for the future as a result of economic factors, expansion of industries, additional jobs, and the general planning process. He inquired if the new span would generate more traffic. He expressed an interest in exploring the potential of using bridge tolls to fund other high- way projects. Supervisor Torlakson noted that the rate of growth needs to be looked at in relation to the timing of the projects. Mr. Bachtold responded that it would require legislative action to use bridge tolls to fund other highway projects. He advised that general plan questions would require working with Metropolitan Transportation Commission staff on I-580 and I-680 corridor studies. He noted that it is difficult to make a general or broad statement on the relationship of growth to transportation facilities that would be applicable to all projects. Mr. Bachtold advised that each project must be evaluated individually on its own merits. Supervisor Powers cautioned the Board about taking any action that might jeopardize the funding mechanism for the construc- tion of the second span and related projects. Supervisor Fanden expressed an interest in obtaining some interim relief. She proposed increasing the toll from 40 cents to 50 cents which might allow for free toll lanes during periods of high usage. She also proposed using the 10-cent toll increase to fund the Highway 4 project. D. J. Smith cautioned the Board in proposing the use of bridge tolls to fund highway improvement projects. He proposed meeting with county staff and Mr. Bachtold' s staff to review the 10-year program for all transportation corridors in terms of iden- tifying the funding sources and the construction phases. He expressed the hope that funding deficiencies and operational problems will be identified. Mr. Smith estimated this review period to encompass two months, after which he would submit a report to the Board. Supervisor McPeak inquired if Caltrans has given some con- sideration to a transportration system management program for Martinez-Benicia Bridge users such as a free lane for car pools similar to those in place on the Bay Bridge. Mr. Bachtold expressed support for TSM and benefits that could be derived. He noted that the Environmental Impact Report would address this issue. There being no further discussion, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the following actions are APPROVED. 1 . Requested D. J. Smith Associates, in conjunction with the State Department of Transportation, to prepare a report to be presented to the Board by April 14, 1987 which outlines the various bridge and highway projects currently being planned on Interstate 680, the Benicia-Martinez Bridge, State Highways 4 and 24, to include a brief description of the projects , the sour- ces of funding for the project, the timeframe for the project and the interrelationship of one project to the others. V 2. 1 Martinez-Benicia Bridge page 3 2-10-87 2. Requested D. J. Smith Associates to prepare a report to be presented to the Board by April 14 , 1987 on the need for and feasibility of legislation to provide funding for the widening of Interstate 680 from Willow Pass Road to State Highway 4, the possibility of including in the interim design changes to the existing Benicia-Martinez Bridge the need to address Transportation Systems Management (TSM) issues. 3 . Requested D. J. Smith Associates to provide a report to the Board of Supervisors on the feasibility of including in the definition of "approaches" to the second span over the Carquinez Straits Highway 4 over the Willow Pass Grade and Highway 4 through Franklin Canyon, methods of funding such an expanded project, including the use of bridge toll revenues for that purpose. I homb coif?+•that this Is a true and correct copy of an action ia;.�,v ,ani: antered on the minutes of the Boav-d of Supervls rs o5,the date shown. ATTESTEDt zoo 198,7 PHIL BATCHELOR, Clerk.of t. Board of Supervlsors and County Administrator By , Deputy (See Agenda Item 1 . 30) cc : County Administrator Community Development D. J. Smith and Associates