What We Do
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) works to plan, fund, and implement innovative transit programs that strengthen our diverse communities and improve the lives of residents.
We look forward to continuing our work to reduce harmful emissions, improve mobility, and strengthen the economy in 2024 and beyond.
Reducing Traffic Congestion
CCTA is Contra Costa’s designated Congestion Management Agency (CMA), responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. Currently, the county’s transportation needs significantly exceed available revenue and over the next 30 years, our population will continue to grow which means the travel needs will continue to change.
To confront this challenge in an efficient and sustainable way, CCTA funds, plans and delivers a wide variety of projects and programs to help manage traffic congestion and improve quality of life for commuters and residents.
These initiatives include the Highway 4 Widening Projects – a six-year effort that will reduce congestion and improve public transit access by doubling highway capacity and adding a new BART extension; and Innovate 680- a comprehensive suite of 6 projects along the I-680 corridor that when operating together will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
In addition, CCTA is working to further smooth traffic in Contra Costa County by implementing advanced traffic management programs that encourage the use of connected and autonomous vehicles.
Local Streets and Roads
CCTA understands that sometimes the best choices are made at the local level, which is why we provide significant funding directly to local cities and towns to fix and maintain streets, and to improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities. This funding includes street repaving, trails through parks, and other enhancements.
Key examples include a new bike lane and sidewalks along Geary Road, 12 miles of new paving along the Iron Horse Trail bicycle and pedestrian paths, replacing a ditch with underground storm drains, and below ground electrical and drainage improvements. Our work often includes redesigning existing streets so that drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists can all stay safe while moving across the county.
Safety & Accessibility
CCTA is committed to ensuring safe, accessible transportation options for every Contra Costa County resident, from students, to seniors, to commuters. This includes planning, funding, and executing a range of programs, such as reduced fare transit passes, school bus programs, and projects for pedestrian and bicycle safety that provide access to schools.
In Central and East County, all 77 elementary schools, 26 middle schools and nearly all of the high schools (11 of 15) have participated in the Street Smarts Diablo program which includes instruction, training and a free, limited-ride public bus pass for 70,000 students.
CCTA is leading a comprehensive approach to ensuring children’s safety as they travel to their schools. We partnered with 511 Contra Costa to engage with school administrators, school districts, City/County staff, and local police departments to create safer conditions in drop-off and pick-up zones at schools, and to encourage more bicycling and walking among K-12 students across Contra Costa.
To support the needs of seniors and people with disabilities, CCTA partners with Mobility Matters, a non-profit service wherein more than 100 volunteers provide thousands of rides each year. CCTA and Mobility Matters also established the “Rides 4 Veterans” program to provide transportation services for veterans that are not covered by the Veterans Administration.
CCTA also helped launch a travel-training program designed to help seniors and people with disabilities travel independently, using fixed-route public transit. Supportive guides empower residents to travel safely and conveniently to work, medical appointments, shopping and more.
Improving Public Transit
Working in partnership with local transit agencies across Contra Costa, CCTA is improving ease of use and quality for public transit options including BART, bus, and other innovative solutions like autonomous vehicles and services for students, seniors, and residents with disabilities.
To increase ridership on buses, CCTA is incentivizing riders by offsetting fares and improving the frequency and capacity of high-demand routes.
To increase capacity and ridership on the BART system, CCTA is funding improvements to station capacity, access, safety, and parking. CCTA is also working toward the acquisition of new BART cars and implementation of mobility options that will close the first-last-mile gap to and from BART stations, such as shuttles, carpools, and bicycle and pedestrian access.
Protecting the Environment
CCTA’s broader commitment to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions to improve air quality has resulted in an estimated 103,598 fewer solo driving miles.
We support programs that encourage solo drivers to opt for more environmentally-friendly options like carpools, buses, ferries or cycling. Not only is CCTA responsible for funding, planning, and executing projects to improve the quality and infrastructure of these alternative options, we are also expanding opportunities for zero-emission vehicle charging, smart rideshare, carshare, carpool, and bikeshare services.
Innovation & Technology
CCTA may be a small agency, but we are dedicated to maximizing our impact through the smart use of technology. Rather than exclusively trying to “build our way” out of congestion, we worked closely with key partners to launch GoMentum Station – a revolutionary test bed site for cutting-edge autonomous (driverless) and connected vehicle technology.
At GoMentum Station, CCTA is helping to inspire a new generation of technology that has the potential to revolutionize transportation infrastructure and bring jobs to Contra Costa County.
GoMentum Station’s vision centers around the use of emerging technologies and public-private partnerships to make transportation more safe, reliable and efficient.