680 680
2244
580 580
880 880
44 44
8080
SAN
FRANCISCO
OAKLAND
RICHMOND
WALNUT CREEK
SACRAMENTO
FAIRFIELD
SAN JOSE
SAN
FRANCISCO
OAKLAND
RICHMOND
WALNUT CREEK
SACRAMENTO
FAIRFIELD
SAN JOSE
INTRODUCTION
Interstate 680 (I-680) is a backbone corridor
for the Bay Area that plays a critical role in the
region’s prosperity. It provides for the movement
of goods, services, and people throughout
northern California and beyond. Thousands of
homes and businesses rely on this corridor for
day-to-day travel and increased congestion has
led to unacceptable delays. Importantly, I-680
is also a federally designated “alternative fuel
corridor,” which amplifies CCTA’s commitment
to moving the corridor forward through focused
modernization and implementation of a suite of
multimodal projects along the corridor.
To improve safety, smooth traffic, and increase
access for all users of the transportation
system, CCTA has designed a one-of-a-kind
holistic approach that combines specific transit
improvements, active transportation projects,
congestion relief projects, and innovative
concepts to work in harmony to improve this
vital corridor. Projects featured in CCTA’s 680
Forward program include:
• Zero emission bus service
• Shared mobility hubs
• Transit bus-on-shoulder lanes
• Bicycle and pedestrian overcrossings
• Express lane network
• I-680/SR-4 interchange improvements
• Tech tools to encourage sharing modes
• New mobility options for elderly and disabled
These combined projects will have significant
environmental, equity, and economic benefits,
and increased mobility options are a major
interest for the local community. Reducing
congestion, investing in transit, switching
to alternative fueling, and improving nonmotorized transportation options will positively impact climate change. Improving bicycle and
pedestrian infrastructure, building mobility
hubs, and investing in affordable transit will
create a more socially equitable community and
give disadvantaged community members more
transportation options. Economic benefits will
be seen in the reconfiguring of the SR-4 corridor
by improving traffic operations and safety, and
the use of intelligent compaction methods will
reduce maintenance costs.
680 FORWARD IS THE ONLY PROJECT
IN THE BAY AREA COMPETING FOR
MEGA GRANT FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN
ENDORSED BY THE METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (MTC),
THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING,
FINANCING, AND COORDINATING
AGENCY FOR THE NINE-COUNTY SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA.
CCTA seeks $395 million,
37% of the total project
cost of $1.07 billion, to
move I-680 forward while
aligning with federal,
state, and local safety,
equity, and emission goals.
3 | 680 FORWARD
Our recent behavioral research along the I-680 corridor made clear that a significant percentage (68%) of corridor residents would like to drive less.
This means that many of the cars that we see on the corridor every day, actually don’t want to be there! Drivers would rather take other modes of transportation, they just don’t think it is possible for them.
This research opened our eyes and revealed that a shift was necessary in how we plan projects. No longer can we rely only on traffic data and traditional modeling to design transportation infrastructure. We also MUST consult with our residents and ask thoughtful, scientific questions about why they travel the way they do and how they would like to travel.
Our research also revealed that transit is a mode many are willing to try.
With this in mind we have the following transit-related projects planned for the I-680 corridor:
EXPRESS BUS PROJECT
The I-680 corridor currently does not have train or bus service connecting the Tri-Valley area to Martinez. An express bus route on I-680 is necessary to close this gap and serve those passengers that have no other means of traveling along the corridor. This service would provide a vital connection between travelers on Amtrak’s national network, and the Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin routes with regional rail service such as the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) rail networks.
Several key elements are necessary to make this express bus connection work, including the shared mobility hubs being planned as part of the INNOVATE 680 program. These hubs will be strategically placed along I-680 at several convenient locations such as the Bollinger Canyon Park & Ride and Walnut Creek BART. Other elements under development for this express bus service include the purchase of hydrogen fuel-cell buses, fueling stations, and shoulder improvements to support part-time transit lanes.
In addition to filling an unmet need for passengers, this service will provide additional travel options to all who live and work along the corridor, it will help reduce congestion, and it will reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) thereby improving the environment.
PART-TIME TRANSIT LANES
This project involves improving highway shoulders so that buses can use these lanes during peak congestion hours to help them keep on schedule. CCTA’s goal with these lanes is to make transit a more accessible and reliable mode of travel.
TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS
4 | 680 FORWARD
HUB
Our Shared Mobility Hubs and trail improvement projects are aimed at supporting greener, more active travel modes. Recent data we collected from residents around the I-680 corridor showed that most residents are willing to walk or bike up to 15 minutes to get to a transportation stop. Our teams are encouraged by this fun fact, and we are using this information as well as data about preferred amenities and mobility methods to design projects that will make active transportation options not just the smart choice, but the easy choice.
Two of the projects that we have in motion right now are Shared Mobility Hubs (part of our INNOVATE 680 program) and several bike and pedestrian infrastructure projects involving the Iron Horse Trail.
We also have a Vision Zero Implementation Guide to support active transportation projects in the corridor.
BIKE & PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE
The Iron Horse Trail is a regional feature that parallels I-680 and connects the communities along the corridor while providing residents a way to bike or walk to many destinations. CCTA has two pedestrian overcrossing projects planned along this trail: one in San Ramon at Crow Canyon Road and Bollinger Canyon Road, and one that will close a gap that currently exists between the Iron Horse Trail and the Contra Costa Canal Trail. Both overcrossings will enhance safety and access for pedestrians and bicyclists who use the Iron Horse Trail.
The pedestrian overcrossing in San Ramon will consist of a 200 foot-long cable stayed bridge. This project is fully funded and will begin construction in 2023.
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS
The planned gap closure project between the Iron Horse Trail and the Contra Costa Canal Trail will result in a more cohesive bike trail network for the communities along I-680 in central Contra Costa County.
Currently, the I-680 corridor and the I-680/SR-4 interchange are barriers to connecting these two trails.
SHARED MOBILITY HUBS
This project will include the planning and development of shared mobility hubs at existing park and ride lots along I-680 from Bollinger Canyon Road to State Route 4. These neighborhood mobility centers will offer personalized travel options to provide first and last mile connections to transit and may also include amenities such as coffee shops, bike lockers, and wi-fi.
5 | 680 FORWARD
The I-680 corridor serves as the main artery through central Contra Costa County, connecting it with Solano County to the north and Alameda and Santa Clara counties to the south. It is critical to the movement of goods and people in our county and region that this highly-traveled corridor is operationally optimized, safe, and smooth. CCTA has two key projects in motion that are focused on improving travel along the corridor:
EXPRESS LANE COMPLETION
This project involves extending the existing express lanes from Rudgear Road in Walnut Creek to the Benicia Bridge, and will provide 25 miles of nearly continuous express lanes in the northbound direction. The goal of this express lane system is to increase travel speeds for those choosing to travel by carpool, vanpool, or motorcycle.
680/4 INTERCHANGE PROJECT
The State Route 4 (SR-4) corridor serves as the only major east-west transportation link joining the communities of Antioch, Bay Point, Pittsburg, Oakley, and Brentwood with central Contra Costa County and the Bay Area. It is critical that the interchange where SR-4 meets I-680 operates smoothly.
CCTA is working on a series of phased interchange improvements that will reconfigure the interchange, increase safety, provide congestion relief, and generally improve traffic operations within this highly-traveled area.
CONGESTION RELIEF
Innovative solutions are a part of our regular routine at CCTA. We are always looking for new ways to do our work better, and this project is no exception. We utilized the intelligent compaction method during the Phase 3 asphalt installation on this project.
Intelligent compaction (IC) refers to the compaction of road materials, such as soils, aggregate bases, or asphalt. IC rollers provide real-time compaction monitoring and timely adjustments to the compaction process to ensure more uniform material density than conventional compaction methods. This helps avoid premature pavement failure. The rubberized open-graded asphalt will reduce noise in the corridor.
Additionally, our crews used additives in the asphalt that reduced the temperature of the asphalt production, which required less fuel and reduced overall GHG emissions during the paving process.
This also promotes greater longevity in the product itself and results in a longer life span and less maintenance.
6 | 680 FORWARD
CCTA’s goal for the I-680 corridor is to provide a new set of easy-to-use options and tools that will improve mobility for everyone and encourage travelers to move toward greener or shared modes of transportation.
To accomplish this CCTA is using several innovative options to help smooth traffic including:
COORDINATED ADAPTIVE RAMP METERING (CARM)
This project supports many of the projects happening on the corridor in Contra Costa. CCTA’s plan is to gather operational data from high-tech infrastructure, like Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) and Adaptive Ramp Metering (ARM), to refine the transportation system through a countywide connected data center. Real-time traffic information, based on the data gathered, will prompt dynamic adjustments to ramp meters in real time.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
MOBILITY-AS-A-SERVICE
Also known as MAAS, this project is a combination of public and private transportation services that provides personalized mobility options based on traveler needs, allowing you to plan, pay and receive rewards for your trip. Our team is developing a mobile application to tie together all services along the corridor and eventually countywide. For the mobile app to be successful, projects like the shared mobility hubs and express bus services utilizing the shoulder, would be in operation.
AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEMS
Often referred to as ADS, this project will collect safety data on connected and autonomous vehicle operations to create more accessible travel options for the elderly and disabled. It will also inform technology that allows infrastructure and vehicles to communicate and avoid collisions.
ONE
VEHICLE
PER
GREEN
ALL OF THESE PROJECTS TOGETHER are anticipated
to improve mobility and accessibility throughout the region while supporting California’s vision to increase economic vitality and add jobs, while reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
TOTAL project cost................................... $1,070,000,000* TOTAL funding request................................$395,000,000* Requested Federal Mega funding match....................37% *Dollar amounts are approximate. Please refer to the application for exact amounts.