Overview
Overview
The Part-Time Transit Lanes (PTTL) project
is one of the six ground-breaking projects that make up Contra Costa
Transportation Authority’s (CCTA) INNOVATE 680 program. This program seeks to implement a carefully curated
suite of projects that, when operating together, will address corridorwide congestion, travel delays, and
long-standing operational challenges along Interstate 680 (I-680) in Contra Costa County.The PTTL project will
enable buses to travel on the right shoulder (or transit-only lanes) to bypass congestion during periods of
heavy traffic. This will not only help reduce congestion on the freeway, but it will also make transit more
reliable. In Contra Costa County, part-time transit lanes are currently planned between Bollinger Canyon Road
and the Walnut Creek BART station.Several US cities have successfully implemented part-time transit lane systems, some of which have been in
operation for a number of years.
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
- Atlanta, GA
- Chicago, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Miami, FL
- Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
How Part-Time Transit Lanes Work
To create an exclusive space for buses to travel during heavy traffic and when
auxiliary lanes do not exist, the
right shoulder would function as a transit-only lane. The buses authorized to
use this exclusive lane will be
clearly identified. The lanes can only be used when traffic is moving at a speed less
than 35 mph. Here are a few other guidelines that buses will follow while traveling in this lane:
 | Lane Speed limit = 35 mph |
 | Bus travel speed cannot be greater than 15 mph over the bypassing traffic speed. For example, if traffic is stopped (zero miles per hour), the bus using the part-time transit lane can travel at a max speed of 15 mph. 0mph + 15mph = 15mph max speedIf congested traffic is moving at 20 miles per hour, the bus using the part-time transit lane can travel at the max speed of 35 mph. 20mph + 15mph = 35mph max speed |
 | Buses will yield to all traffic incidents on shoulder |
Goals
 | Provide faster, more reliable transit |
 | Increase bus ridership |
 | Decrease use of single occupancy vehicles |
 | Reduce congestion and VMT thereby improving air quality |
 | Increase accessibility of efficient, safe travel |
 | Improve overall transit experience for all riders |
Vision of User Experience
Commuter
opens mobility on demand app, chooses to
travel by bike, then bus.
Commuter stores bike safely at a shared mobility hub, and board bus.
Timed lights
on city streets provide smooth ride to
on-ramp.
Congestion on I-680 prompts bus
to use Part-Time
Transit Lane located on shoulder, bypassing
traffic.
Commuter arrives with short
walk
to office.
For more info about this
project contact:
Hisham Noeimi,Director of Programming
Contra Costa Transportation Authority
925.256.4731 hnoeimi@ccta.net
Construction
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Quicklinks
Our Innovate 680 endeavor is just getting underway. Stay tuned for additional information about this project soon.