HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS - 05141991 - 91-316 TC: ,2 F3
( EXHIBIT A )
IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In the Matter of supporting the ) _
designation of the new fifth and sixth ) RESOLUTION 91/316
lanes on Interstate 680 (Martinez- )
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 Martinez-Benicia
Bridge, including:
1. a request to Caltrans to implement toll-free commutes on
the Carquinez and Martinez-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, motor vehicles produce about half of the pollution
that cause violation of the ozone standard; and
WHEREAS, state law requires an average vehicle ridership rate
of 1. 5 persons per vehicle in order to satisfy clean air standards
and currently there is an average of only 1. 32 person per vehicle
recorded on the Martinez-Benicia Bridge during peak hours; and
1
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 operation of the new
lanes as HOV lanes would eventually create congestion with future
traffic growth, although such congestion would be less that what is
currently experienced along the corridor; 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 compared to
existing congestion; 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 temporary designation of the fifth
and sixth lanes of I-680 from Willow Pass Road to the Martinez
Benicia Bridge as high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV) for two or
more persons per vehicle during the AM and PM peak periods.
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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Caltrans is requested to work
with the County and other affected jurisdictions on developing a
strategy to meter traffic flow on I-680.
PASSED on May 14, 1991 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors McPeak, Torlakson, Powers
NOES: Supervisor Schroder
ABSENT: Supervisor Fanden
ABSTAIN: None
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and and correct
copy of an order entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors
on the date aforesaid.
Witness my hand and the Seal of the
Board of Supervisors affixed this
14th day of May, 1991.
PHIL BATCHELOR, Clerk of the Board of
Supervisors and County Administrator
By: Deputy Clerk
CC: Community Development
County Administrator
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