RES 95024X - Laserfiche WebLink

- - Recommended Improvement Plan Central and East Contra Costa County will fill up the Tri-Valley freeways even if Tri- Valley jurisdictions do not grow. Therefore, the TVTC will accept congestion at the gateways recognizing that while it is not ideal, at least it will minimize through traffic. The focus then shifts to maintaining adequate levels of service, and providing transit options, for trips within the Tri-Valley. The transportation plan succeeds in avoiding congestion on the arterial system. Also, 1-680 between Alamo and Route 84 is expected to flow smoothly. Level of Service F conditions, however, are expected on 1-580 westbound in the morning and eastbound in the evening between Tassajara Road and North Livermore Avenue. This would be partially alleviated with high occupancy vehicle lanes and ramp metering. Transportation Demand Management (TDM) The TVTC supports TDM measures; however, TVTC does not want to base the Transportation Plan on unrealistic TDM goals without supporting programs. Through the plan process, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD)-mandat- ed average vehicle ridership (AVR) of 1.35 was tested. This applies to employers with 100 or more employees. The TVTC estimated that such large employers make up only about 10 percent of all employment. This, coupled with the fact that commute trips make up about 35 percent to 40 percent of the PM peak-hour traffic stream, means -- that the BAAQMD mandate will have negligible impact on traffic levels. The TVTC also investigated the impact of achieving an AVR of 1.35 for all employers, -- throughout the Bay Area, large and small. Compared to the "nmb~ent" AVR of 1.10- 1.15, this would be a 20 percent improvement. Given the commute trip proportion of total PM peak-hour traffic, a 20 percent increase in AVR would translate into 7 -- percent to 8 percent less traffic on the roads. While this would create a significant improvement in operations, it would not significantly reduce the need for road building. Nevertheless, if at least a 10 percent increase in AVR were not achieved, additional intersection improvements, beyond what are included in the plan, would probably be necessary. The achievement of a 20 percent increase in AVR would not be easy. The TVTC believes that this would require a significant increase in the cost of solo commuting. However, the TVTC is not in favor of parking charges. Gasoline tax increases would be more acceptable, provided they were levied regionwide (including San Joaquin County). Gas tax increases would encourage commute alternatives and would provide more money for transportation investments. The plan is based on a more-achievable goal of an average 10 percent increase in AVR for all employers. This increase would be realized through the adoption and enforce- ment of local trip reduction ordinances. The 10 percent increase in AVR will bring " some of the intersections otherwise projected to be borderline unacceptable back into compliance with the TSOs. -- Barton-Aschman Associates, Inc. 132