HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03031987 - S.13 TO: - BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Contra
FROM: � Supervisor Sunne Wright McPeak
Costa
DATE; Introduced February 24 , 1987 for Action on Caffly
March 3, 1987
SUBJECT: Free Tolls for Car Pools on the Martinez-Benicia Bridge
P -
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) $ BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a position of support and request Cal-Trans to study the
feasibility of establishing free tolls for weekday car pools
on the Martinez-Benicia Bridge.
Further, if above position is adopted to help relieve
congestion in Contra Costa County which now occurs every day
due to the commuter traffic over the Martinez-Benicia Bridge,
then request following action:
a. The Transportation Committee of the Board of
Supervisors (Supervisors Schroder and Torlakson)
should meet with Cal-Trans and representation of
Solano County, Benicia and. Fairfield to discuss the
"free toll for car pools" .concept and explore the
feasibility of instituting aggressive transportation
systems management (TSM) requirements on development
in Solano County, including the construction of park
and ride lots.
b. The coalition task force convened by Supervisor
Fanden should discuss this proposal at its next
meeting (or as soon as possible) and explore the
feasibility of a joint public-private sector effort
to institute the free car pool policy and construct
appropriate park and ride lots.
BACKGROUND
It is essential to immediately relieve the traffic congestion
that occurs daily in Contra Costa County from commuters
crossing the Martinez-Benicia Bridge to Solano County. We
cannot wait for construction of the second span of the bridge
to be completed in eight to ten years. The following facts
require action:
1. The commute traffic now backs up to Willow Pass Road
every evening causing major congestion for Central
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON March 3 1987 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
APPROVED the concept and REQUESTED CALTRANS to study the feasibility of establishing
free tolls for weekday carpools on the Martinez-Benicia Bridge; APPROVED Recomendations
a. and b. above.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: Transportation Committee ATTESTED
J.
Supervisor
Supervisor I'anden Phil Batkw,otr1 of the Dow Of
County Administrator Wperwm vWCounty A4(A1l4ftztor
p��r««d�•aw BY DEPUTY
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Fzee Tolls for Car Pools on the
Martinez-Benicia Bridge
February 24,, 1987 Page 2
Contra Costa County residents. This used to occur mostly
on Fridays; now this happens every day.
2 . Immediate expansion of I-680 northbound from Willow
Pass Road to. the bridge is needed. While the bridge
now has three lanes, I-680 in this vicinity only has
two lanes. The traffic now backs up because of the
lack of capacity on I-680 and the uphill grade to
the bridge, not only because .of the bridge itself .
Therefore, we need to tackle the least costly, most
efficient solutions first to achieve relief as soon
as possible.
3 . Eliminating bridge tolls for .weekday (not weekend)
car pools is an additional measure which would
relieve the traffic congestion in Contra Costa
County. This proposal would both help the local
commuter and Contra Costa County residents.
4 . Growth in Solano County without any consideration
for the impact on the. bridge and Contra Costa County
is adding a tremendous burden to our transportation
system. Solano County -and its cities should require
mitigation from their developers for the impacts on
Contra Costa. They should be implementing
transportation systems management (TSM) in Solano
County. as a condition of development and
constructing "park & ride lots" on the Solano County
side of the bridge.
Attached is an unsolicited letter from Al McNabney supporting
the free car pool proposal. I think he represents the
thinking of many residents.
F EB 7 ;98'1
Ant?............
1161 Leisure Lane No . 7
Walnut Creek , Calif . 94595
February 16 , 1987
Honorable Sunne Wright MCD eak
Super. visor - District 4
2301 Stanwell Drive
Concord , Calif . 94520
Honorable Supervisor : RE : 2nd Benecia Bridge
A news item and Editorial. in "everbody ' s" journal. , the Contra Costa
Times concerning suggestions advanced in connection with the proposed
second Benecia bridge prompts this letter .
It makes sense to me to urge a seperate lane for van-pool drivers
and riders use .
By the time the proposed bridge is actually built and ready for use
it is likely we will have another energy crisis to cope with . Until
we find some acceptable alternative to auto use we will probably
Continue to use cars ' till the last drop of gasoline is gone . By
pooling , the use of that last drop of: gasoline may be postponed .
Furthermore , if I understand what has been suggested , implementation
of the idea would have little effect on the overall cost of the
proposed structure.
As a matter of fact I. have some difficulty even understanding the
opposition expressed in the above referred to provider of our news .
Re cc fully
A . B . McNabney
ABM: ABM
PS : No answer expected nor required .
ABM
3-3-87
Benicia Bridge Update
Previous legislation on the original bridge designates
existing approaches. The bridge and approaches can only be
built within the limits of toll funding. To date costs have
not been defined. CALTRANS believes that the current toll
will not pay for the proposed additional span, and that the
toll will have to be substantially higher. Usual procedure
is that CALTRANS determines the approaches.
The bridge does not qualify for federal Interstate funding,
because it is a toll road.
Current bridge bonds do not allow for. toll free periods or
lanes.
CALTRANS bond authority, Kay Moore said that new bonds will
be written more flexibly, allowing for toll free lanes and
times.
The Board could request CTC and CALTRANS to consider a toll
free lane, or a commuter diamond lane be included in the
bridge and corridor design.
NCF:dp