County Plans Closing Carpool Lane Gap On I-680

At Tuesday’s Alamo Municipal Advisory Council meeting, county officials laid out plans for a highway project that would fill a 5.4-mile gap for high-occupancy vehicles on I-680 southbound.

The project would add an HOV lane by widening the existing freeway from north of Livorna Road in Alamo to South Main Street in Walnut Creek, restriping existing roadway from South Main Street to North Main Street. The addition would create a continuous HOV lane between the Benicia-Martinez Bridge and the Contra Costa/Alameda County line.

Staff members from the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, who are conducting outreach with local groups such as the MAC, laid out a timeline for the project, which is currently in the environmental review stages.

The environmental review process includes a cultural resources study, biological resources study and general environmental technical study.  Susan Miller, CCTA project director, said she expected a two-year environmental study process, followed by a design process slated to begin in winter 2013. 

Miller said construction is expected to begin in spring 2016 and finish in 2018.

“It sounds like a long way away, but construction projects like this take that much time and planning from the outset,” Miller said.

The width of the shoulder and inside lanes on I-680 southbound would be narrowed to create space for the additional HOV lane. 

The current 12-foot width for inside lanes would be reduced to an 11-foot width, while the current 12-foot width for outside lanes, where larger vehicles usually operate, would stay the same. 

Miller said safety would not be impacted, but studies to be presented at later dates would offer in-depth analysis of lane widths.

Another round of visits to local groups will be conducted in spring 2012 with updates on the project’s progress. Also, a public open house is planned for fall 2012, Miller said.

Councilmember David Barclay asked if the project would improve the congestion he encounters around the South Main Street exit in the mornings. 

Miller said the project would reduce traffic jams for all motorists, with HOV users benefiting the most.

“With buses and all those kinds of vehicles moved over to the carpool lane, everyone will be able to see improvement,” she said.

Miller also said staff members are looking into constructing a toll lane.  Even though the project would not implement the toll lane, she said, it could create a space for future operation.

“If there’s an empty conduit that we can provide now, we’ll look at those kinds of opportunities,” she said. “It would make sense for us to see that kind of toll road in the future of that area.”

Miller said the project is estimated to cost $80 million, with $44 million already identified as coming from from Measure J and Regional Measure 2 funds.

Also at the meeting:

• Councilmembers to offer recommendations from parks survey.

McDonald offered councilmembers the chance for input before a working group, composed of McDonald, Nancy Dommes and Steve Mick. They will give recommendations based on the 2010 Alamo Parks and Recreation Survey.

Some councilmembers said the responses seemed skewed because of a lack of context for the survey, which went out to almost 5,000 residents.

David Barclay said he had, “a hard time coming to any single conclusion,” from the survey but added that , such as Bocce Ball courts and a new park in Alamo.

Mick and Barclay said they would like to see more research into land acquisition for possibly purchasing a new park. 

Dommes said she wanted to prioritize identifying local parcels for such purposes, adding that the purchase could be a good use for .

Councilmember Ed Best said he was, “somewhat bothered by statements that there are ‘no parks in Alamo,’” adding that and are two local parks.

“Especially considering the cost of land today, we need to look very carefully at spending this money and make sure it enhances the park experience for Alamo residents,” he said.

The working group meets Wednesday, McDonald said.