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Welcome to the Alameda County Transportation Planning Page!
Thank you for your interest in long-range planning for the future of our transportation system in Alameda County. Two major plans are underway that will guide future transportation improvements:
About the Countywide Transportation Plan (CWTP)
The Alameda Countywide Transportation Plan (CWTP) is a long-range policy document that guides transportation funding decisions for Alameda County's transportation system over a 25-year horizon. This plan lays out a strategy for meeting transportation needs for all users in Alameda County and includes projects and other improvements for: new and existing freeways, local streets and roads, public transit (paratransit, buses, rails, ferries), as well as facilities and programs to support bicycling and walking.
Additionally, the CWTP serves as Alameda County’s input to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in their development of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), which is also underway in 2011. All projects requesting state or federal funding must be consistent with the RTP. The sales tax expenditure plan (currently Measure B) is another key source of funding for transportation projects and programs in Alameda County. Projects and programs for the expenditure plan are drawn from the CWTP.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
For the first time, the CWTP and Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) for the Bay Area will require the County to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets set by the State of California under SB 375. The target is a 7% GHG reduction by 2020, and a 15% GHG reduction by 2035.
To address SB 375 requirements and other needs, the current update will address transit oriented development and priority development areas; parking management; transportation systems management and goods movement; as well as transit connectivity, maintenance and operations.
About the Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP)
Concurrently with the CWTP update, the Alameda CTC is also developing a new Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP). The TEP lays out the spending for a new sales tax measure, slated to be placed on the ballot in 2012.
The sales tax expenditure plan (currently Measure B) is a key source of funding for transportation projects and programs, such as operations and maintenance, in Alameda County. Of the total collected funds under the current measure, 60% are dedicated to programs such as local streets and roads repair, bicycle and pedestrian safety, transit and paratransit operators, and 40% of collected funds are dedicated to capital projects including transit and highway improvements.
A reauthorization of the TEP is being considered for these reasons:
- The majority of current Measure B capital projects have either been built or are fully funded. To proactively prepare for our future transportation needs, we need a new plan and source of funds for capital projects. These take several years to plan, design, fully fund and build.
- The economic downturn has reduced funding for many programs supported by Measure B.
Because it is funded through a transportation sales tax, the TEP is a financially constrained document. The existing 1/2 cent sales tax will continue to be collected until 2022. The new Transportation Expenditure Plan will be submitted to the voters of Alameda County for approval. If the plan appears on the 2012 ballot, as anticipated, it will require a 2/3 majority to pass.
Plan Development Process
To develop the CWTP/TEP, Alameda CTC is working with a Steering Committee, Community Advisory Working Group and Technical Advisory Working Group. These committees include representatives from fifteen local jurisdictions, six transit operators, Caltrans District 4, the Port of Oakland, MTC and other community and agency stakeholders to identify and prioritize projects and programs.
Click here to access all the materials that have been developed to date in this process. This includes reports, issue papers, project lists, PowerPoint presentations and more.
We welcome your comments on the CWTP/TEP and invite your input at essential project milestones and invite you to sign-up here to receive automatic email updates from the Alameda CTC.
Plan Development Schedule
The development of the CWTP began in November 2010 and a draft has now been completed. We expect the final CWTP to be approved mid-2012.
The development of the CWTP will provide the necessary input to craft the TEP. Currently, plans call for the TEP to appear on the November 2012 ballot.
The process and timeline for developing the Countywide Transportation Plan and Transportation Expenditure Plan are depicted in the Process Map.
