Contra Costa County launches integrated transit plan, seeks public input for public transport revolution

Concord, California – Residents of Contra Costa County have been invited by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) to take part in an important survey meant to change the local transportation systems. This poll is a component of a larger project aiming at creating an Integrated Transit Plan (ITP), meant to improve public transportation’s efficiency and convenience all throughout the county.

The effort of CCTA reflects the growing need among citizens to depend more on public transportation and less on personal vehicles. But historically, this change has been discouraged by things like irregular bus timetables, long journey times, and inadequate connection between several transit systems. Understanding these problems, CCTA is working with local bus companies including AC Transit, County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, WestCAT, and Wheels as well as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to create a complete plan to modernize and simplify transit services.

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The ITP will focus on several critical areas to revamp the county’s transit system:

1. Coordination: Improving interactions between various transit providers to ensure seamless and efficient travel for riders, thereby optimizing the use of public funds.
2. Innovation: Incorporating cutting-edge technologies and solutions like on-demand shuttles and Mobility as a Service, as well as traffic signal modifications to prioritize buses.
3. Equity: Ensuring the transit system serves all community members fairly, particularly focusing on low-income areas, communities of color, and people with disabilities.

The proposal not only aims to improve current services but also challenges how transportation may better meet changing requirements of the society. The CCTA hopes to draw more users by ensuring public transportation is dependable and easily available, enhancing first and last-mile connections, and including creative mobility solutions to lower the general reliance on cars.

Community engagement and project timeline

Started in May, the survey is an essential part of the 18-month ITP project started in April 2023. CCTA emphasizes how public involvement will help to shape Contra Costa County’s transit system going forward. Participating residents not only help the community but also have a chance to win one of the five $100 Clipper Cards.

Maintaining public open lines of contact throughout the planning and execution stages is much desired by the ITP project team. With the project aiming for completion in late 2024, revised results depending on community comments should be released this summer.

By means of the poll, Contra Costa County residents are urged to express their views and transit demands. See the ITP project website for further information and to register for the survey.

This project marks a major step towards building a more livable, sustainable, and fair Contra Costa County where better transportation links and creative ideas enable simpler and more pleasant travel for all.