Part of the Authority's vision for a balanced, safe and efficient transportation network includes the encouragement of bicycling and walking in Contra Costa County. The strategies in the Countywide Comprehensive Transportation Plan include requiring local jurisdictions to adopt policies and standards to support walking and bicycling in new developments, supporting pedestrian-oriented developments, investing in trails and walkways, and encouraging local jurisdictions to develop bicycle facilities as part of a coordinated countywide system.
The Authority encourages bicycling and walking in several ways. It oversees programs that provide funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects. These programs include the Pedestrian, Bicycle and Trail Facilities program in Measure J as well as the new Contra Costa Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) program. The Authority also oversees some regional funding programs, including the Regional Bicycle Program and the MTC TLC program, that have funded a number of bicycle and pedestrian projects in the county.
Besides the new funding programs in Measure J, the revised Growth Management Program refocuses some of the local requirements to require local jurisdictions to adopt policies and standards to support walking and bicycling in new developments before they become eligible for a share of local streets funding.
The Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
The Authority outlines overall goals and strategies for encouraging bicycling and walking in its Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The first plan was adopted in 2003 and helped shape Measure J. In October 2009, the Authority adopted the first update to the CBPP
Complete Streets
MTC now requires project sponsors to describe how they've accommodated bicycling and walking into the design of any project seeking funds that MTC controls. As the Congestion Management Agency (CMA) for Contra Costa, the Authority and its Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee have a role in this process. The "routine accommodation" page describes the MTC process and links to any checklists sponsors have prepared that are under review.
Many other agencies and organizations actively support bicycling and walking in Contra Costa County and the region through their own plans and programs. This support includes local bicycle and pedestrian plans, safe bicycling instruction programs, facility planning and design guidance, and mapping of bicycle routes.
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