TRANSPAC Board Meeting Summary Minutes
Meeting Date: March 12, 2026
Board Members Present: Ken Carlson, Contra Costa County (Chair); Carlyn Obringer, Concord; Sue Noack, Pleasant Hill;
Brianne Zorn, Martinez; Craig DeVinney, Walnut
Creek, Richard Enea, Clayton
Planning Commissioners Present: Craig Mizutani, Concord; Alex Khalfin, Pleasant Hill; Molly Clopp, Walnut Creek
Staff Present: Matt Todd, TRANSPAC Managing Director; Tiffany Gephart, TRANSPAC
Guests/Presenters: Danielle Elkins, CCTA; Haleema Bharoocha, CCTA; Elaine Welch, Mobility Matters; Chalo Buckman,
Mobility Matters; Kyle Boehm, County Connection;
Andy Smith, County Connection; John Sanderson,
County Connection
Minutes Prepared By: Tiffany Gephart
1. Convene Regular Meeting / Pledge of Allegiance / Self-Introductions Chair Carlson called the meeting to order at 9:01 A.M. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Self-introductions were made.
2. Public Comment
Chair Carlson opened the floor for public comment on items not on the agenda. There were no comments from the public. Public comment was closed.
3. Consent Agenda
The consent agenda included the following items:
a. Approval of Minutes
Minutes of the February 12, 2026, TRANSPAC Board Meeting. b. CCTA Executive Director's Report Regarding CCTA Actions / Discussion Items c. Items Approved by the CCTA for Circulation to the Regional Transportation Planning Committees and Related Items of Interest
d. RTPC Meeting Summary Letters
e. CCTA Meeting Updates and Countywide Information Links f. Transportation Meetings Attended by Staff
g. Subregional Transportation Mitigation Program – Development Project Tracking
On motion by Commissioner Noack, seconded by Commissioner Obringer, to approve the consent agenda by unanimous vote of the members present (Zorn, Enea, Carlson, Obringer, Noack, DeVinney).
4. Measure J Program 17 Funding Request – City of Martinez Bicycle Parking Facilities Matt Todd provided an introduction to this item, noting that Measure J Program 17 funds support programs within the 511 Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) program, including a subprogram for bicycle parking infrastructure. Danielle Elkins of CCTA presented the details of the funding request. The proposal would allow CCTA to enter into an agreement with the City of Martinez who will operate and maintain bicycle facilities funded through the program. The request is for $13,402.54 to purchase 20 circular bike racks and 2 bike repair stations at locations to be determined by the City. Ms. Elkins noted that approximately $100,000 per year is available for this type of infrastructure, with a requirement that parking be publicly accessible.
Commissioner Zorn noted that the City of Martinez recently established a new sustainability subcommittee of the City Council, and that expanding bicycle parking was one of the committee's initiatives. She added that the city is proposing to install the facilities in daylighted parking spaces that have been red-curbed, as an innovative use of those spaces.
On motion by Commissioner Noack͕ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ ďLJ ŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶĞƌ KďƌŝŶŐĞƌ, to approve the programming of $13,402.54 in already allocated Measure J Program 17 funding for the installation of 20 circular bike racks and 2 bike repair stations within the City of Martinez, by unanimous vote of the members present (Zorn, Enea, Carlson, Obringer, Noack, Devinney).
5. Measure J Line 20a Fund Program – FY 2026/2027 and FY 2027/2028 Program Tiffany Gephart provided an overview of the Measure J Line 20a fund program, which provides funds for transportation services for seniors and people with disabilities in the TRANSPAC area.
Staff received nine applications covering eight programs and two capital requests for the FY 2026/2027–2027/2028 funding cycle, with a submission deadline of January 23, 2026.
Applications were received from County Connection (Contra Costa Rural Lifeline program, Travel Training, Midday Free Rides, and Monument Free Paratransit), the City of Walnut Creek Transportation Program, the City of Concord Senior Transportation Program, Golden Rain Foundation / Rossmoor, Choice in Aging (Mount Diablo Mobilizer), and Mobility Matters (Rides for Seniors and Rides for Veterans). A scoring committee has been formed, consisting of Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) members, a representative from the Contra Costa County Area Agency on Aging, and a CCTA representative. The committee is scheduled to meet the following week to evaluate applications, with a draft recommendation planned for May and a final recommendation to the Board in June.
Four applicants were invited to present their programs at this meeting: Mobility Matters, and three programs from County Connection.
Mobility Matters – Rides for Seniors and Rides for Veterans Elaine Welch, founder of Mobility Matters, presented on the organization's volunteer driver programs. Mobility Matters is a nonprofit that provides free, door-through-door, one-on-one escorted transportation for seniors aged 60 and older who live in Contra Costa County and are not in institutional settings. A second program, Rides for Veterans, serves disabled veterans of any age. Ms. Welch described the organization's transportation information and referral helpline, which matches riders to providers and assists callers in identifying accessible transportation options. The organization has approximately 500 members and 200 volunteers, with six paid staff and some paid part-time drivers. Ms. Welch announced that she will be retiring this year after decades of leading the organization and introduced her successor who was present at the meeting.
Planning Commissioner Khalfin asked how individuals access the program and what the typical response time is. Ms. Welch described a case management model in which staff conduct an intake assessment using a series of screening questions and then refer callers to the appropriate provider or enroll them in Mobility Matters' program when no other options are available. She clarified that the program serves the most vulnerable and economically limited individuals, and refers those with disposable income to paid providers.
Planning Commissioner Khalfin asked how individuals become volunteer drivers. Ms. Welch explained that volunteers must be between the ages of 25 and 75, with exceptions allowed up to 79 for qualifying individuals. Volunteers undergo background checks, DMV screening, and a three-hour training focused on safe interactions with seniors. The organization publicizes volunteer opportunities through events, outreach staff, and a biennial resource guide called "Way to Go Contra Costa."
Chair Carlson asked about tracking TRANSPAC-specific ridership given that Mobility Matters serves a broader county-wide population. Ms. Welch clarified that the organization maintains records identifying which rides were funded by TRANSPAC, which accounts for approximately 50% of the organization's rides, and provides monthly billing reports to TRANSPAC accordingly.
Mr. Todd added that staff has historically worked with Mobility Matters on an aggregate basis, tracking the overall TRANSPAC-funded share rather than individual trips.
County Connection – Midday Free Rides and Monument Free Paratransit Kyle Boehm, Grants Administrator at County Connection, presented on two programs. The Midday Free Rides program is a continuation of an existing program funded under Measure J Line 20a. It provides free rides on County Connection fixed routes for students with disabilities to support travel training, limited to off-peak hours between 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. Participating programs include Mount Diablo Unified School District, RES Success, and Clayton Valley Charter High School, which was recently added. Over the past two years, approximately 163 participants have used the program. Ridership has remained steady, with approximately 2,500 projected trips per month over the next two-year period. The program cost is $66,000 over two years, with reimbursement based on actual usage. A heat map showing that 99.7% of trips originate on a route within or serving the TRANSPAC area was included in the presentation.
Commissioner Obringer asked about which cities are served by the Clayton Valley Charter High School component, noting that the school draws students from multiple cities. Mr. Boehm
clarified that the program is available to students with disabilities in the school's transition program, and that participation is not limited to residents of a specific city.
Chair Carlson asked how students are identified for drivers and how trips are tracked. Mr. Boehm explained that participants receive a sticker for their student ID badge that identifies them as part of the program. Drivers record the trip using a device on board, which also generates origin data used to produce the ridership heat maps.
Mr. Boehm then presented on the Monument Free Paratransit program, a new initiative proposed in response to a direction received during County Connection's most recent triennial review. County Connection currently provides free fixed-route fares on routes serving the Monument corridor using Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) funds from cap-andtrade greenhouse gas reduction revenues. The triennial review directed that free paratransit fares also be provided for paratransit trips originating within the three-quarter-mile catchment area of those routes, to bring paratransit fares into parity with free fixed-route fares. The proposed program would cover the $5 Link paratransit fare for eligible certified Link paratransit riders. Andy Smith, Director of Planning and Marketing at County Connection, was also available to answer questions.
Commissioner Obringer asked about language support and the intake process for the Monument community, noting the linguistic diversity of the area including Afghan diaspora communities.
Mr. Boehm noted that users must first be certified Link paratransit riders. John Sanderson, Director of ADA and Specialized Services at County Connection, added that the customer service call center uses Language Line for translation assistance when needed, and that drivers are trained to communicate with passengers across language differences.
County Connection – Link Extended Service Area / Rural Lifeline and Travel Training John Sanderson presented on two additional County Connection programs. The County Connection Link Extended Service Area and Rural Lifeline Transportation program expands paratransit service to residents living outside of County Connection's standard ADA-mandated service area, as shown in the purple shading on maps included in the presentation.
Approximately half of County Connection's total Link paratransit service occurs within the TRANSPAC area, a portion of which exceeds the federally mandated three-quarter-mile ADA service boundary. The full program request totals approximately $500,000. Mr. Sanderson noted that weekend ADA paratransit service areas are smaller than weekday areas, and that this program helps preserve weekend access to a broader range of destinations.
Chair Carlson asked about ridership. Mr. Sanderson reported approximately 2,500 unique users and 100,000 trips in the most recent year. Commissioner Zorn asked how riders request service.
Mr. Sanderson explained that Link paratransit operates a reservation-based call center accepting trip requests until close of business the day before travel, with a requirement to provide service within one hour before or after the requested time.
Matt Todd asked for clarification on the service area map, which depicted blue, yellow, and purple zones. Mr. Sanderson explained that blue represents the ADA-mandated service area (three-quarters of a mile from fixed routes while in operation), yellow represents an additional three-quarter-mile buffer that County Connection has historically served beyond the ADA
requirement, and purple represents areas served on weekdays but not weekends, as well as areas more than one and a half miles beyond a County Connection route.
Mr. Sanderson then presented on the County Connection Travel Training program. The program is modeled on best practices from successful programs in other regions, including Seattle and Chicago, and builds on lessons from a prior County Connection travel training effort from 2022 through 2025. The proposed program would allocate one full-time equivalent staff position to travel coaching, along with funding for marketing, outreach materials, and program support. The goal is to establish a sustainable, well-functioning travel training program over the two-year period, with opportunities for coordination with CCTA on related programs.
Commissioner Obringer asked about anticipated demand and outreach strategy. Mr. Sanderson indicated that the primary target population would be seniors and people with disabilities, and described plans for outreach at senior centers, day programs, and community events. He noted that raising awareness is a key challenge, as many potential participants are unaware that travel coaching assistance is available. He also highlighted an interest in reaching non-English-speaking communities, particularly at senior day programs, by identifying local champions among program participants.
Commissioner Obringer suggested that outreach also target residents of new affordable housing developments in downtown areas within the TRANSPAC region, noting that many such projects have large immigrant populations. Mr. Sanderson agreed that senior housing is a rich outreach opportunity, and committed to finding ways to reach residents in multiple languages including Pashto and Dari.
Planning Commissioner Mizutani asked whether County Connection offers incentive programs or discounted fare opportunities tied to new residential developments. Andy Smith described two regional programs administered through the Clipper card system: Clipper START, a low-income discount pass available to individuals at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, which provides half-price fares across the Bay Area; and Clipper Bay Pass, an institutional pass program in which a housing developer or other institution purchases passes for all residents or members, providing unlimited Bay Area transit access at a subsidized rate. Commissioner Noack added that the Clipper Bay Pass program is currently available through two channels—universities/schools and corporations—and noted that at least one affordable housing developer has previously purchased Clipper access for residents. She indicated that expansion of these programs is anticipated to be part of a transit measure on the November 2026 ballot.
Planning Commissioner Mizutani commented that combining digital access to trip planning information with hands-on assistance signing up for transit passes would be a compelling outreach strategy. Mr. Sanderson confirmed that County Connection staff would be willing to assist residents through the sign-up process.
Planning Commissioner Mizutani also asked whether the County Connection travel training model is based on a specific transit agency's program. Mr. Sanderson confirmed it was modeled on a survey of national best practices rather than a single agency, and that the two-year rampup is designed to build back-office infrastructure and trainee tracking systems that were lacking in the prior program.
Chair Carlson raised a question about ensuring that Measure J Line 20a funds benefit the TRANSPAC service area specifically, noting that some programs operate countywide or across multiple subregional planning committee areas. He asked how staff tracks whether funded rides have an origin or destination within the TRANSPAC area. Matt Todd clarified that the historical standard has been that a trip must either originate or terminate within the TRANSPAC service area to be considered eligible. Mr. Sanderson noted that approximately 80% of trips are within the TRANSPAC area, with the remaining 20% having an origin or destination in an adjacent area such as the Southwest Area Transportation (SWAT) committee region. He also noted that the regional coordination challenge is compounded by the fact that other subregional planning committees, such as TRANSPLAN, do not have the same dedicated Measure J funding structure.
Ms. Welch confirmed that Mobility Matters tracks TRANSPAC-funded rides separately and provides monthly billing reports that distinguish TRANSPAC-originating trips from others.
Danielle Elkins noted that West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC) handles its Line 20a funds differently, distributing them directly to existing providers through the Transit Claim 15 process rather than an open call for projects.
Tiffany Gephart added that approximately 60 to 70% of trips funded through TRANSPAC's Line 20a program are wholly within the TRANSPAC area, based on tracking by staff and program operators.
Commissioner Zorn observed that across the presentations, access to programs appeared to rely primarily on phone calls rather than digital or app-based options. She suggested that digital alternatives would improve accessibility, particularly given the variety of providers and the research burden placed on potential users.
Mr. Sanderson noted that County Connection's Link paratransit app allows users to rebook previously taken trips and view real-time arrival information, though it is limited for booking new trips. He indicated that County Connection has also piloted live chat options.
Ms. Elkins described CCTA's OPTIMAT initiative, a U.S. Department of Transportation grant focused on developing a unified information and referral platform for the county's 25-plus accessible transportation operators. The project is being developed in partnership with UC Berkeley PATH and aims to allow users to input their origin, destination, and needs to identify available options, even if booking still occurs through individual providers. She noted that the complexity stems from the variety of software systems used by different operators, some of which still rely on spreadsheets or paper-based records.
Haleema Bharoocha of CCTA clarified that the OPTIMAT platform is intended for information and referral only, not for booking. Booking for specialized services would continue to involve direct contact with individual providers, given the highly individualized nature of eligibility and service delivery. She emphasized that even creating a unified information platform would be a significant achievement given the fragmentation of existing systems.
Ms. Welch noted that the average age of Mobility Matters' clients is approximately 85, and that most clients prefer telephone access over digital tools. She and Ms. Bharoocha agreed that a bifurcated system offering both online and telephone options would best serve the full range of users.
6. Form 700 Filing Requirements for 2026
Ms. Gephart provided a reminder that Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) filings are required for all applicable members, alternates, planning commissioners, and TAC members by the deadline of April 1, 2026. Filing is completed electronically through the NetFile system, where TRANSPAC appears as a dropdown option. Staff will provide a status report and follow up individually with any members who have not yet filed. Irina Nalitkina is assisting with tracking filings. Chair Carlson suggested that any deficiency notices be sent by email directly to individual members rather than addressed publicly.
7. TRANSPAC CCTA Representative Reports
Commissioner Obringer reported on the March 5, 2026, CCTA Planning Committee meeting. The Planning Committee approved the release of a request for proposals (RFP) to develop a countywide model ordinance for micro mobility and a potential countywide shared micro mobility agreement. Commissioner Obringer also noted that three grants were approved to fund traffic signal improvements in three corridors: Lamorinda, Danville, and Concord (along Concord Boulevard and portions of Concord Avenue). The grants were secured through Congressman Mark DeSaulnier's office. The contract for the Danville corridor was previously awarded, the Concord contract has been awarded, and the Lamorinda contract is pending award.
Danielle Elkins noted that a Redefining Mobility Summit is planned for May and invited the Board to stay tuned for details.
8. Metropolitan Transportation Commission Report
Commissioner Noack reported on recent Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) actions. She noted that MTC finalized the Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) incentive program, under which $45 million from the One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) 4 program will be set aside to incentivize cities that adopt tenant protection and housing policies. Of the 100 total program points, only eight are tied to the protection component, and cities must select two of ten available protection options. She noted that Contra Costa County cities may use countyadministered programs such as rental assistance to satisfy one of the two required options, providing additional flexibility. The $45 million comes from the regional share of the OBAG 4 allocation, not the county share.
Commissioner Noack also reported that MTC, the California Department of Finance, and the Governor's office negotiated a $590 million loan to the four largest Bay Area transit agencies to bridge the anticipated funding gap between the expiration of COVID-era relief funding in July 2026 and the potential receipt of revenues from a transit ballot measure in November 2026, if approved by voters. The loan carries a two-year interest-free period followed by a 10-year repayment term, with loan security in place to protect MTC. The loan does not draw from the state general fund.
Planning Commissioner Khalfin asked how the $45 million TOC set-aside figure was determined.
Commissioner Noack explained that the figure was chosen to be large enough to create a meaningful incentive while not displacing other OBAG-funded programs and projects.
Commissioner Noack also noted that MTC has begun planning for Plan Bay Area 2060, the next long-range regional transportation plan.
9. TAC Oral Reports by Jurisdiction
No reports were given by TAC representatives.
10. Board Member Comments
No comments were offered by Board members.
11. Managing Director's Report
Mr. Todd noted that a CCTA Board Workshop is tentatively planned for May 14–15, 2026, which would conflict with the regularly scheduled May TRANSPAC Board meeting on May 14. The workshop is expected to cover the Countywide Transportation Plan and Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP) topics, and invitations are expected to be extended to elected officials from all cities in the county, not only CCTA Board members. Staff sent an email to Board members the previous day requesting input on alternative meeting dates.
12. Adjourn / Next Meeting
The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:22 A.M. The next regular meeting is proposed for Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. at Pleasant Hill City Hall, Large Community Room, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Remote teleconference information will be included in the posted meeting materials.