HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04231991 - S.1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM; ,��,
Supervisor Sunne Wright McPeak Contra
DATE: Costa
April 23 , 1991 County
SUBJECT; 1-680
I-680 High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND Alm JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION•
Adopt a resolution (see Exhibit A) requesting Caltrans, the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Federal Highway
Administration to designate the new -fifth and sixth lanes on Interstate
680 between Willow Pass Road and the Martinez/Benicia Bridge as high
occupancy vehicle lanes (two or more occupants) during peak periods
when they are opened to traffic this summer.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
BACKGROUND
At its April 15, 1991 meeting, the I-680/State Route 24 Task Force
agreed to support the designation of the fifth and sixth lanes of I-680
between Willow Pass Road to the south and the Martinez/Benicia Bridge
to the north as high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV) during peak periods
when these lanes are opened to traffic this summer. The HOV
designation is intended to support the Transportation System Management
(TSM) efforts underway by . Caltrans, the Contra Costa Transportation
Authority, the County and the cities by providing preferential
treatment and reduced travel time for, persons using carpools and
vanpools.
The Task Force has been developing strategies to reduce traffic through
the I-680/State Route 24 project area during the period of
reconstruction. As part of this work, the Task , Force requested
Caltrans staff to evaluate the feasibility of designating the fifth and
six lanes under construction north of State Route 242 as carpool lanes.
Caltrans reported that. currently 39% of the vehicles on I-680 carry two
or more persons during peak periods. If the additional lanes were
opened as mixed-flow lanes where any type of traffic could use them,
there would be no congestion on this portion of I-680. If the lanes
were opened as HOV lanes, congestion for mixed-flow traffic would be
reduced by about a third from present levels. Caltrans staff did not
support the HOV-lane concept at this location since it would not
relieve freeway congestion within the project area. .
CONTINUEESWH/MI1gCHMENT: _ YES SIGNATURE; vv�
ING
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATI.ON OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S) y - ---- -- — – --
ACTION OF BOARD ON - April 23, 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER X
REFERRED to the Transportation Committee, MTC and TRANSPAC for review.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT I�IV ) I 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: Steve Goetz, CDD ATTESTED -� 07.3 1991
county Administrator Phil Batch for,Clerk of the Board of
Supervisors and Courtly Administrate
M362/7-e8 BY DEPUTY
I-680 High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes
April 22, 1991
Page Two
Caltrans estimates the current demand during the AM peak hour at the
Solano County line at 4, 500 vehicles with an average vehicle ridership
of 1. 32 . Under the HOV lane concept and with current travel behavior,
an estimated 3 ,600 vehicles would use the mixed-flow lanes (1, 800
vehicles per lane) and 900 vehicles with two or more persons would
utilize the high-occupancy vehicle lane during the AM peak hour. The
theoretical capacity of a freeway lane is 2, 000 vehicles per hour.
Given these statistics, any congestion southbound in the mixed-flow
lanes would be relatively minor at the County line but may worsen
between Pacheco Boulevard and Concord Avenue as is presently the case.
Commuters in the mixed-flow lanes would not be adversely affected
considering congestion in . the mixed-flow lanes along I-680 would be
less than is presently experienced. Travel conditions in the HOV lane
would be free-flow with reserve capacity to accommodate induce
ridesharing and traffic increases which . are inevitable in this
corridor.
The Task Force is concerned with the prospect of increased freeway
capacity for single-occupant vehicles on traffic flow through the
reconstruction area. Additional freeway,capacity for commuters driving
alone would negate all other TSM efforts to increase ridesharing
through the reconstruction area at a time when the need for ridesharing
will be greatest. Phase III of the project will begin this year,
involving reconstruction of the freeway connectors and creating the
greatest disruption to commute traffic. TSM coordinators along the
corridor believe the availability of HOV lanes on I-680 between Solano
County and State Route 242 during the AM and PM peak periods is the
single most effective incentive to increase ridesharing through the
project area. The HOV-lane concept would also be supported by reduced
tolls for carpools which Caltrans plans to implement at the
Martinez/Benicia toll plaza this summer.
Another concern of the Task Force is meeting the recent mandates at the
local, state, and federal level to manage traffic congestion and
improve air quality. In 1988, Contra Costa voters approved Measure C
which required the County and the city to implement TSM strategies to
manage travel demand. In 1990, California voters approved Proposition
111 which requires all counties and cities to implement a travel demand
ordinance as part of their Congestion Management Plans. In order to
meet federal and state clean air legislation, MTC and the Bay Area
Quality Management District are required to develop regulations aimed
at increasing average. vehicle ridership to 1.5 persons per vehicle.
Opening HOV lanes along I-680 presents a unique opportunity to
implement actions now that can effectively encourage ridesharing along
a high-growth corridor without making conditions worse for those who
drive alone, and to underscore the local commitment to manage traffic
and improve air quality.
Opportunities for effective ridesharing incentives north of State Route
24 are quite limited. HOV lanes are under consideration for the
parallel span to the Martinez/Benicia Bridge but the lanes are not
likely to be available for another 10 years, and certainly not before
1997 when compliance with the Bay Area air quality standards is
required. Specific details regarding the configuration and operation
of the HOV-lane concept should be worked-out by Caltrans staff before
the present construction activity is completed. The effectiveness of
the HOV lanes should be evaluated after completion of the I-680/State
Route 24 interchange and a decision on whether to redesignate these
lanes as mixed-flow can be made at that time. However, once these
lanes are opened to mixed-flow, the opportunity for HOV lanes will be
lost until the parallel span of the Martinez/Benicia Bridge is
constructed.
The need to act on this recommendation is urgent. Caltrans estimates
that the fifth and sixth lanes on I-680 could be opened as early as
mid-June. Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration must approve
this revision to the project. MTC must evaluate the project's
conformity to the region's air quality regulations. I request that the
Board not refer this issue to it' s Transportation Committee but to act
on the recommendation.
I-680 High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes
April 22, 1991
Page Three
Conseauences of Negative Action
Failure to approve this recommendation will significantly reduce the
efforts to reduce traffic through the I-680/State Route 24 project area
and achieve air quality standards in the Bay Area.
( EXHIBIT A )
IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In the Matter of supporting the ) RESOLUTION NO.
designation of the new fifth and sixth )
lanes on Interstate 680 (Benicia )
Bridge to Willow Pass Road) as high )
occupancy vehicles lanes )
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County RESOLVE:
WHEREAS, Contra Costa County has on several occasions
expressed support for preferential treatment for high occupancy
vehicles (HOV's) on Interstate 680 leading to the Benicia Bridge,
including:
1. a request to Caltrans to implement toll-free commutes on
the Carquinez and Benicia Bridges and to dedicate a lane
on each bridge for carpools/vanpools as soon as it is
possible (August 25, 1987) ;
2. a request to Caltrans to use the new lanes on I-680
between Willow Pass Road and Marina Vista as HOV lanes
until the reconstruction of the I-680/SR 24 interchange
is complete (January 26, 1988, in response to Negative
Declaration for construction of the additional lanes on
I-680) ;
3 . designation of I-680 from Willow Pass Road northward for
HOV lanes in the Transit Network Plan of the Contra Costa
County General Plan (adopted January 1991) ; and
WHEREAS, Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa Transportation
Authority and the cities of Contra Costa County are involved in
several coordinated efforts to reduce traffic congestion and
prevent the deterioration of air quality; and
WHEREAS, these efforts include the enactment of Transportation
System Management (TSM) programs, which are intended to reduce peak
hour traffic congestion during weekdays by increasing the ridership
of vehicles through the formation of carpools and vanpools; and
WHEREAS, Caltrans is expending $20 million on a traffic
management' program to encourage ridesharing and transit use during
the reconstruction of the I-680/SR 24 interchange; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission will
implement by June 30, 1991 a reduced-rate toll schedule at the
Martinez/Benicia Bridge to encourage carpooling pursuant to AB-4042
(Campbell) , which became law this year; and
WHEREAS, in June, 1991, the California Transportation
Commission is expected to approve the funding of Phase III of the
I-680/SR 24 interchange project which will cause the greatest
disruption to commute traffic on I-680; and
WHEREAS, the San Francisco Bay Area is considered as a
"severe" area under the California Clean Air Act because the state
air quality standards for ozone are not expected to be met by 1997;
and
WHEREAS, Caltrans is presently completing the widening of
Interstate 680 from Willow Pass Road to the Benicia Bridge from two
lanes in each direction to three lanes in each direction and is
expected to open those lanes to traffic during the summer of 1991;
and
WHEREAS, Caltrans has indicated that opening the new lanes to
mixed flow traffic would eliminate present congestion along I-680
as far south as the I-680/State Route 24 interchange, while
operation of the new lanes as HOV lanes would reduce congestion by
over one-third of its present levels; and
WHEREAS, the presence of congestion has been shown to
encourage the formation of carpools and vanpools by commuters; and
WHEREAS, HOV lanes on I-680 would still result in improved
traffic flow for the remaining mixed-flow lanes; and
WHEREAS, the I-680/SR 24 Task Force has recommended that the
new lanes be opened as HOV rather than mixed flow lanes in order to
support the TSM efforts underway in the County and to serve as a
mitigation for the reconstruction of the I-680/SR 24 interchange.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of
Contra Costa County supports the designation of the fifth and sixth
lanes of I-680 from Willow Pass Road to the Benicia Bridge as high
occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV) for two or more persons per vehicle
during the AM and PM peak periods; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of Contra
Costa County urges Caltrans, the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission and the Federal Highway Administration to approve the
designation of said lanes as HOV lanes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Caltrans and MTC are requested to
evaluate the effectiveness of the HOV lanes north of State Route
242 upon the completion of the reconstruction of the I-680/SR 24
interchange to determine if they should be redesignated as mixed-
flow lanes.
PASSED by unanimous vote of the Board Members present on
this day of April 1991.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is true and correct
copy of an order entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors
.of the date aforesaid.
Witness my hand and Seal
of the Board of Supervisors
affixed on this day of
April, 1991 ,
Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the Board
of Supervisors and County
Administrator
By: Deputy Clerk
2gen/rw/I680.Res