El Cerrito
Hercules
Pinole
Richmond
San Pablo
Contra Costa
County
AC Transit
BART
WestCAT
July 8, 2020
Mitch Weiss
Executive Director
California Transportation Commission
1120 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support for Central Avenue I-80 Undercrossing Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements
Dear Mr. Weiss:
On behalf of the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC), I am writing in strong support of the Caltrans District 4’s application for an Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant to fund the Central Avenue Interstate 80 Undercrossing Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements (Project). The WCCTAC Board recently voted unanimously to provide a local match of $400,000 to support this project since it will provide much needed upgrades to existing pedestrian facilities, along with new dedicated bikeways to improve mobility and connectivity along Central Avenue across Interstate 80 in the City of Richmond. Their Resolution outlining this funding commitment is included in the application.
With recently completed improvements to bicycle facilities on Central Avenue, just to the west, this project would provide a much-needed link for the proposed El Cerrito BART to Bay Trail Connector, identified in the 2015 El Cerrito Active Transportation Plan. The Connector will encourage walking and biking in this congested corridor by improving access for commuters, recreators, and the general public to the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station and the San Francisco Bay Trail, as well as Point Isabel, nearby retail, and neighborhood destinations. Furthermore, this project will benefit MTC-identified communities of concern, ensuring that underrepresented communities fully share in its public health and mobility benefits.
WCCTAC is confident that this project will meet ATP’s goals of improving safety and mobility for non-motorized users and will increasing walking and biking trips along Central Avenue. WCCTAC is has been impressed Caltrans District 4’s efforts in putting together this application, including their attention to detail, the local partnership s they’ve assembled, the funding commitments they’ve secured, and the local outreach they’ve engaged in with the community. WCCTAC strongly recommends selection of this project for funding.
Sincerely,
John Nemeth
Executive Director, WCCTAC
Chris Kelley
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
CITY HALL 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Telephone (510) 215-4305 Fax (510) 215-4379 http://www.el-cerrito.org
July 9, 2020
Mitch Weiss, Executive Director
California Transportation Commission
1120 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Funding Commitment for Central Avenue I-80 Undercrossing Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements
Dear Mitch Weiss:
The City of El Cerrito is pleased to provide our funding commitment as indicated in Caltrans District 4’s Active Transportation Program (ATP) application for the Central Avenue Interstate 80 Undercrossing Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements (Project). The Project will provide much -needed upgrades to pedestrian facilities and new dedicated bikeways to improve mobility and connectivity along Central Avenue across Interstate 80 linking the cities of Richmond and El Cerrito.
The City of El Cerrito is committed to providing funds in the amount of $50,000 in Fiscal Year 2024 -25 to use as a local match for implementation of the Project. The funding sources may include the City’s SB 1 Local Streets and Roads Program (LSRP), SB 1 Formulaic Local Partnership Program (LPP), Transportation Development Act Article 3 Program, or other sources secured by the City at that time.
We are excited to work with Caltrans District 4 to engage further with the community, refine the project design, and support project implementation. If you or your staff have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Yvetteh Ortiz, Public Works Director/City Engineer, at yortiz@ci- el-cerrito.ca.us or (510) 215-4345.
Sincerely,
Karen Pinkos
City Manager
City of El Cerrito