CITY OF SAN PABLO
Mayor and Council
1000 Gateway Avenue ● San Pablo, CA 94806
Main: 510-215-3060 ● Fax: 510-215-3013
www.SanPabloCA.gov
September 28, 2022
E-TRANSMITTAL/U.S. REGULAR MAIL
[email protected].
The Honorable Mitch Weiss
Executive Director
California Transportation Commission
1120 N Street, MS 52
Sacramento, CA 95814
Subject: Letter of Support for the Interstate 80 (I -80)/San Pablo Dam Road (SPDR) Interchange Improvements Phase 2 Application for the 2022 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP)
Dear Mr. Weiss:
On behalf of the City of San Pablo City Council, t he City of San Pablo strongly supports the I-80/SPDR Interchange Improvements – Phase 2 grant application that is nominated for the 2022 TCEP by the California Department of Transpor tation (Caltrans), in partnership with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) in West Contra Costa County region.
Previously, with much success, CCTA completed Phase 1 construction in 2017 for $42 million funded largely by local and regional transportation funds, including a $3M contribution from the City of San Pablo . Phase 2 will reconstruct the existing I -80/SPDR interchange to address the infrastructure conditions that lead to a relatively high incidence of accidents, shootings and truck strikes at this segment of the I-80 freeway.
In fact, the current overcrossing bridge maintains a non -standard vertical clearance of 14 feet and 8 inches which is an extreme low clearance for heavy traffic flow. As a result, the overcrossing remains susceptible to a number of collisions with trucks and other fatal accidents. A review of recent CHP Traffic CAD data indicates that from period 2018 through 2021 for this segment of the 1-80 freeway boasts the following staggering public health and safety statistics, as follows:
Number of Collisions/Incidents:
• 2016 - 171
• 2017 - 182 (4 Fatal Collisions)
• 2018 - 134 (2 Fatal Collisions)
• 2019 - 126 (1 Fatal Collision)
• 2020 - 121 (2 Fatal Collisions)
• 2021 - 140 (4 Fatal Collisions)
Total Incidents Combined: 874 (13 Fatal Collisions)
Note: CHP Traffic CAD Data (2018 -2021) also included: (4) shootings; one (1) homicide, two (2) attempted homicides, and one (1) vehicle hit with gunshots, and no injuries.
The Honorable Mitch Weiss Page 2
Executive Director
California Transportation Commission
September 28, 2022
Despite these harsh statistics, implementation of this regionally -significant project creates many opportunities to meet local, regional and state-wide transportation goals. Specifically, the existing I-80/SPDR interchange lacks bicycle facilities and continuous sidewalks, and is categorized under the highest Level of Stress in CCTA’s Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Moreover, the provision of standardized sidewalks and safe bicycle lanes are aligned with Caltrans’ Director’s Policy-37 regarding Complete Streets as well as the proposed new Class IV bicycle facilities on San Pablo Dam Road identified in the City of San Pablo Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (adopted February 2022) , and the City of San Pablo Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Master Plan (adopted March 2022). Additionally, SR2S improvements are especially important given that both the I -80/SPDR interchange and the McBryde Avenue off-ramp are located less than a ¼ mile from Riverside Elementary School.
Most importantly, this project may facilitate the implementa tion of the mobility recommendations identified in the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC) High-Capacity Transit Study to support high -quality transit in the East Bay region.
As a regionally-designated Equity Priority Community, the City of San Pablo urges the CTC to fund this project in order to improve overall highway safety at this overcrossing, enhance pedestrian and bicycle access and safety by closing the existing sidewalk and crosswalk gaps by adding new separated and protected bicycle facilities, and creating safer corridors for the West Contra Costa County region.
In closing, the City of San Pablo has worked extensively for nearly 20 years with CCTA and the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC) , in partnership to support this regional transportation project . Again, our City’s continued support for this critically needed regional transportation infrastructure project remains steadfast.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
RITA XAVIER
Mayor, City of San Pablo
cc: Tim Haile, CCTA Executive Director
Hisham Noemi, CCTA Director, Programming
San Pablo City Council
Matt Rodriguez, San Pablo City Manager
Teresa Stricker, San Pablo City Attorney
Charles Ching, San Pablo Assistant City Manager
Allan Panganiban, Public Works Director/City Engineer