CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: July 13, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
TITLE: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. __-26 AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE CITY OF PLEASANT HILL AND PARTICIPATING
AGENCIES FOR THE INTERSTATE 680 CORRIDOR RAMP
METERING PROJECTS
SYNOPSIS
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) are partnering to implement ramp metering on Interstate 680 (I-680). The main goals of ramp metering are to manage recurrent and non-recurrent congestion to improve operational efficiency for the I-680 corridor without adversely affecting the adjacent local arterials, and to improve traffic and incident detection to enhance corridor operations.
To formalize the collaborative framework for ramp metering operations along the I-680 corridor, CCTA has led the development of the I-680 Corridor Ramp Metering Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU establishes the goals, policies, governance structure, performance metrics, and responsibilities of all signatory parties, including Caltrans, CCTA, Contra Costa County, and the cities and towns along the corridor.
The purpose of this item is to consider authorizing the City Manager to execute an MOU between the City of Pleasant Hill and participating agencies for the I-680 Corridor Ramp Metering Projects.
DISCUSSION
Background
Interstate 680 is a critical north-south transportation corridor traversing approximately 25 miles through Contra Costa County, serving the City of Pleasant Hill and neighboring communities.
Recurring peak-hour congestion along this corridor results in travel times approximately double those of off-peak periods, with projections indicating continued degradation without active management intervention.
Caltrans programmed funding from the State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) to install fiber-optic cable communication trunk lines along I-680 and Interstate 780 (I780), install/upgrade Traffic Operation Systems (TOS), and install/upgrade ramp metering along the I-680 corridor in Contra Costa County (with the exceptions of the State Route 24 and State Route 242 ramps), including widening and/or creating high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) bypass lanes where feasible in select locations. Caltrans utilizes an Adaptive Ramp Metering (ARM) system with an algorithm called “Fuzzy Logic.” The project limits for the Caltrans ARM project are on Southbound I-680 from Alcosta Boulevard to the Martinez-Benicia Bridge and Northbound I-680 from Burnett Avenue to the Martinez-Benicia Bridge.
CCTA developed the Innovate 680 Program over six years ago in partnership with local agencies along the I-680 corridor in Contra Costa County to address congestion through an integrated suite of improvements. A central component of that Program is the Coordinated Adaptive Ramp Metering (CARM) Project, which will deploy the STREAMS® advanced traffic management platform to operate ramp meters along Northbound I-680 from Alcosta Boulevard to Burnett Avenue as a three-year demonstration project. The CARM project will supplement ramp metering improvements being constructed by Caltrans under SHOPP.
Both the Caltrans ARM project and CCTA CARM project have received California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) clearances with Caltrans being the lead agency.
For the Caltrans ARM Project, Categorical Exemption and Categorical Exclusion (CE/CE) was signed on April 24, 2023. For the CCTA CARM Project, the CE/CE was approved on April 16, 2024, for Segment 1 (Northbound I-680 from Alcosta Boulevard to Olympic Boulevard).
Revalidation of the NEPA/CEQA CE/CE to add the segment on Northbound I-680 from Olympic Boulevard to Burnell Avenue was completed on November 13, 2025.
Analysis
To formalize the collaborative framework for ramp metering operations along the corridor, CCTA has led the development of the I-680 Corridor Ramp Metering MOU. The MOU establishes the goals, policies, governance structure, performance metrics, and responsibilities of all signatory parties, including Caltrans, CCTA, Contra Costa County, and the cities and towns along the corridor. The MOU covers key topics such as governance, operations, local arterial protections, performance metrics, and reporting as follows:
Governance: A two-tier governance structure is established, consisting of the I-680 Ramp Metering Technical Committee (RMTC) and the I-680 Ramp Metering Working Group (RMWG).
The City of Pleasant Hill is a member of both bodies. Technical issues are to be resolved at the staff level, with unresolved matters elevated to the RMWG and, if necessary, to the Caltrans District 4 Director and CCTA Executive Director.
Operations: Ramp metering along the corridor will use two systems - Caltrans’ Adaptive Ramp Metering (ARM) utilizing Fuzzy Logic algorithms on southbound and northbound segments, and CCTA’s CARM system using the STREAMS® platform on northbound ramps from Alcosta Boulevard to Willow Pass Road. CARM will operate as a three-year demonstration project.
Local Arterial Protections: The MOU includes specific safeguards to prevent ramp queue spillback onto local streets, including Queue Control (QC) and Queue Override (QO) parameters within the STREAMS® platform. These provisions directly address a key concern of the City.
Performance Metrics: Comprehensive Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be tracked for mainline performance, ramp performance, and parallel corridor volumes — including San Ramon Valley Boulevard and Danville Boulevard — to assess the effect of ramp metering on local arterials.
Incident Response and Emergency Override: Both the Caltrans TMC and CCTA TMC will maintain the ability to override or deactivate ramp metering signals to facilitate emergency vehicle access. CHP and local emergency services may request overrides through established communications protocols.
Reporting: A semi-annual Ramp Metering Performance Report will be prepared throughout the three-year CARM demonstration period. A preliminary assessment memorandum will be issued after the first three months of operations.
Financial Obligations: The MOU explicitly states that it will not impose any direct financial obligation on any local jurisdiction along the I-680 corridor. Capital and operating costs are the responsibility of Caltrans (SHOPP) and CCTA.
Data Sharing: Corridor stakeholders, including the City, will have read-only access to the STREAMS® Smart Motorways Dashboard to monitor real-time and historic ramp metering performance.
The following agencies are parties to this MOU: Caltrans, CCTA, Contra Costa County, the cities of Concord, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, and the Town of Danville.
CCTA has employed an iterative drafting process for the MOU, with multiple rounds of review involving all partner agencies. City of Pleasant Hill staff actively participated in this process and provided substantive written feedback and legal review during the review cycles. This collaborative approach has resulted in a document that reflects the collective input of all partner jurisdictions.
Staff supports approval of the MOU, as presented. Participation in the MOU formalizes the City’s role in corridor governance and ensures Pleasant Hill has a seat at the table for ongoing operational decisions, performance monitoring, and any future changes to ramp metering operations that may affect local streets. Next steps following the execution of the MOU include CCTA and Caltrans entering into a Cooperative Agreement for Operations and Maintenance activities for the CARM pilot segment, and CCTA convening a working group with all of the local jurisdictions along the corridor, the transit operators, Caltrans, California Highway Patrol, and Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the development of a Ramp Metering Operations and Maintenance Plan (RMOMP), which will also include Standard Operating Procedures for all ramp metering systems along the I-680 corridor.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no direct fiscal impacts to the City of Pleasant Hill that would result from executing the MOU. The MOU explicitly states that it imposes no direct financial obligation on local jurisdictions. Capital costs and operating costs for ramp metering infrastructure are funded by Caltrans and CCTA with secured fund sources.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public Contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official noticing bulletin board, at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, and at the Pleasant Hill Police Department. The agenda and staff report are posted on the City’s web page.
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Move to approve the resolution authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Pleasant Hill and participating agencies for the I-680 corridor ramp metering projects.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
The City Council could decline authorizing the execution of the MOU. Doing so would limit the participation from the City for ongoing operational decisions, performance monitoring, and any future changes to ramp metering operations that may affect the City.
ATTACHMENT(S)
Proposed Resolution
Attachment A - I-680 Corridor Ramp Metering MOU
Attachment B - Draft MOU Signature Authorization
Prepared by: Ann James, Public Works Director
Reviewed by: Janet Coleson, City Attorney
Approved by: Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager