The City realizes that regional traffic issues often must be addressed with regional solutions and cooperation with our neighbors. San Ramon is an active participant in regional transportation planning efforts. The following are brief summaries of the regional transportation planning efforts that the City of San Ramon currently participates in:
1. Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) - Southwest Area Transportation Planning Committee (SWAT)
With the passage of Measure C in 1998 and then Measure J in 2004, Contra Costa voters approved a ½ cent sales tax to fund transportation improvements in Contra Costa County. In addition to the transportation sales tax, Measure J includes a Growth Management Program (GMP) component, which requires that local jurisdictions consider regional transportation conditions when planning for development. The Measure J GMP requires that important public services be maintained and that traffic level-of-service standards are met as a condition of receiving Measure J funds. Compliance with these Growth Management standards is evaluated bi-annually by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA). San Ramon has met its CCTA Growth Management requirements every year since the program’s inception. The City’s annual "return-to-source" funds from this program are approximately $800,000 which is used for roadway maintenance and improvements.
Measure J also established four Regional Transportation-Planning Committees to provide a forum for regional transportation issues. San Ramon is in the Southwest Area Transportation Committee (SWAT), along with the Towns of Danville and Moraga, the Cities of Lafayette, Orinda, and unincorporated Contra Costa County. SWAT is comprised of elected officials, appointed by each respective agency and staff members from each jurisdiction.
SWAT website: https://ccta-swat.net/
2. Tri-Valley Transportation Council (TVTC)
The Tri-Valley Transportation Council (TVTC) includes the Cities of San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore, the Town of Danville, and unincorporated Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Founded in 1991, the TVTC completed the Tri-Valley Transportation Plan/Action Plan for Routes of Regional Significance in 1995. The Plan establishes shared traffic service objectives and takes into account high-priority transportation improvement projects to ease regional traffic congestion.
The Tri-Valley Transportation Development Fee on new developments funds the improvements. The fee, which was adopted by the seven TVTC jurisdictions in 1998, and amended in May 2003 and in 2008, applies to all developments in the Tri-Valley.*
*Fees are updated annually based on construction cost index.
TVTC website: http://www.tvtc-jpa.com/
3. Dougherty Valley Oversight Committee (DVOC) - Southern Contra Costa Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (SCCJEPA)
Contra Costa County’s approval of the Dougherty Valley Specific Plan in 1991 triggered a legal response from several area cities and non-governmental organizations. Through extensive negotiations and mutual efforts, the legal challenge of the County’s approval was resolved through a comprehensive Settlement Agreement between the City of San Ramon, Town of Danville and Contra Costa County. This legal Settlement Agreement was to spawn two regional transportation planning forums; the Dougherty Valley Oversight Committee (DVOC) and the Southern Contra Costa Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (SCCJEPA) regional fee program.
San Ramon, Danville, and Contra Costa County adopted the SCCJEPA in 1995. It establishes a list of transportation projects aimed at providing sufficient traffic capacity to accommodate traffic from the Dougherty Valley development as well as from other projects in San Ramon and Danville. The SCCJEPA also establishes a common fee to be applied to all developments in the three jurisdictions, with the revenues earmarked for specific roadway improvements in each jurisdiction.
4. 511 Contra Costa
511 Contra Costa is a countywide comprehensive Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program that promotes alternatives to the single occupant vehicle. It encourages green commutes through the utilization of alternative modes of transportation that improve traffic congestion and improve air quality, by maximizing the use of the entire transportation network. Commute options include carpooling, vanpooling, biking, transit, and walking. 511 Contra Costa also offers a Guaranteed Ride Home program to help encourage Contra Costa commuters to try a commute alternative.
511 Contra Costa provides trip planning services for commuters and residents who need help planning their bicycle trip to work or school, as well as trip planning assistance with the various public transportation agencies in the area.
5. Tri-Valley Spare the Air Resource Team
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) is committed to engaging the public directly in its efforts to reduce air pollution. A component of the Air District’s innovative efforts to engage the public was the formation of local resource teams in 1991. From that point to the current day local civic groups, agencies, businesses and environmental organizations meet regularly and work collaboratively to implement projects that promote cleaner air. Team members are responsible for developing and carrying out local projects. Each Resource Team receives facilitated support to foster effective communication among team members, to assist with planning projects, to help team members allocate tasks and to assure that the work gets done. There are currently nine Spare the Air Resource Teams meeting and working together within the Bay Area's nine counties.
The Tri-Valley Spare the Air Resource Team has created several challenges for employers to participate in such as the Great Race for Clean Air Challenge, which is a friendly competition between Tri-Valley area employers to encourage the use commute alternatives to and from work. The Extreme Makeover: Commute Edition, employers located in the Tri-Valley area apply to receive an employee commute program makeover. The Tri-Valley Air Quality Impact Award (AQIA) recognizes individuals, businesses and organizations making strides to improve local air quality through innovative projects and programs such as reducing vehicle idling around schools, encouraging employees to carpool to work, among others. In addition, the team created the Idle-Free Tri-Valley campaign for elementary schools, boy scouts and the community in the cities of Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon and Livermore. The goal of the Tri-Valley Resource Team’s Walk ‘n’ Roll to School campaign is to reduce school commute traffic, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased safety around schools and providing an opportunity for children to incorporate more exercise in their day.
For more information on the City’s Regional Transportation Planning efforts, contact Chris Weeks, Division Manager at (925) 973-2754, or email: [email protected]