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background & purpose I-80/Central Avenue Interchange Improvement Projects Please visit www.ccta.net for more information. Updated: December 10, 2012 I Page 1 of 2 CONTRA COSTA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (CCTA) stakeholders existing conditions Aerial photograph showing traffic backed up on Central Avenue as cars approach the I-80 freeway (both directions). Looking east down Central Avenue from Pierce Street, showing cars backed up at intersection. I-80 westbound off-ramp at Central Avenue showing traffic backing up onto I-80. As the primary roadway connecting the El Cerrito Plaza BART station with I-80 and I-580, Central Ave. is a key commuter corridor and serves as an important local route, connecting commercial areas and local neighborhoods. As a result, the 0.1 mile (500 foot) section of Central Ave. between Jacuzzi St. and Pierce St. is the site of significant congestion. The congestion is caused by closely spaced signalized intersections along Central Ave. between Pierce St. and Jacuzzi St., combined with heavy traffic volumes and lack of or insufficient left-turn pockets along westbound Central Ave. Westbound Central Ave. through traffic is often blocked by vehicles waiting to turn left at Pierce St. and at the westbound I-80 on-ramp. The heavy congestion results in diversion to nearby interchanges during peak traffic hours. Following public input and engineering analysis that included development of sixteen alternatives to reconfigure the I-80/Central Ave. interchange, two projects were identified to provide near term congestion relief: Project 1: Operational Improvements and Project 2: Local Roads Realignment. When implemented, both projects will alleviate congestion and improve traffic safety along Central Ave. near I-80 while minimizing costs and impact in the project area. milestones initial study 2003 Project Initiation and Traffic Study Completed 2004 Measure J Passed Providing Funding for the Project 2006 Preliminary Engineering Initiated 2007 Public Open House, Property Owners Mtg. and On-Going Neighborhood Council Meetings 2009 Feasibility Study Completed 2010 Public Open House and Albany Traffic & Safety Commission Presentation 2011 Business Owners Meeting project 1: operational improvements 2012 Complete Environmental Impact Assessment and Presentations to Neighborhood Groups and the City of Richmond 2013 Initiate Design and Construction project 2: local roads realignment 2013 Cities of Richmond & El Cerrito to Initiate Environmental Impact Assessment 2015 Initiate Design project 1: operational improvements $3.5 million Estimated Costs $2.6 million Federal Earmark Funding $0.9 million Measure J Funding project 2: local roads realignment $17.0 million Estimated Costs $9.9 million Measure J Funding $7.1 million Future Subregional Transportation Mitigation Program Funding costs & funding ---PAGE BREAK--- Please visit www.ccta.net for more information. Updated: December 10, 2012 I Page 2 of 2 CONTRA COSTA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (CCTA) project area project 1: operational improvements project 2: local roads realignment N NO SCAL E EL CERRITO A L I F O Contra Costa County RICHMOND Eastshore State Park U.P. Railroad 580 INTERSTATE 80 INTERSTATE Rydin Rd. Central Ave.. Central Ave. San Joaquin St. St. Pierce Jacuzzi St. San Mateo St. San Luis St. City Limit Carlson Blvd. 123 c a l i f o r n i a San Pablo Ave. Restrict left turn onto westbound I-80 on-ramp during peak weekend hours using electronic variable message signage (VMS) PROJECT 1: OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS Replace all-way STOP with Signal Replace all-way STOP with Signal Construct new traffic Signal with Left-turn Pocket Study Area Change access to “right-in/ right-out” only Construct new road to connect Pierce Street and San Mateo Street Eliminate traffic signal and add island to restrict left turn Construct side street STOP for San Mateo Street traffic providing free flow for Pierce Street traffic PROJECT 2: LOCAL ROADS REALIGNMENT the operational improvements project aims to eliminate blockage of through traffic along Central Ave. by restricting left turns onto the westbound I-80 on-ramp (toward San Francisco) during weekend peak hours from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Through the use of electronic variable message signs (VMS), the project will redirect westbound I-80 traffic turning left from westbound Central Ave. to the eastbound I-580 on-ramp at Rydin Rd. The project will also replace the all-way STOP signs at the I-580 ramps with coordinated traffic signals. project benefits • No right-of-way impacts • Reduces westbound travel time on Central Ave. from San Pablo Ave. to Rydin Rd. by 28% or approximately 2 minutes • Reduces eastbound travel time on Central Ave. from Rydin Rd. to San Pablo Ave. by 13% or approximately 30 seconds • Reduces vehicle hours of delay during weekend peak hours by 34% • Improved operations will lessen vehicle idling resulting in improved air quality • Low cost improvement that can be completed in one year • Improves safety and speed along westbound I-80 by reducing back up of traffic exiting at Central Ave. • Improves traffic operations at westbound I-80 ramps/ Central Ave./Jacuzzi St. intersection from unacceptable LOS F to acceptable LOS D the local roads realignment project will improve traffic flow along Central Ave. by increasing the spacing between the signalized intersections and reduce the blockage of through traffic along Central Ave. by eliminating left turns onto Pierce St. The traffic signal on Central Ave. at Pierce St. will be removed and access at this intersection will be restricted to “right-in/right-out” so that no left turns will be allowed. Left turns into and out of Pierce St. will be accommodated by realigning San Mateo St. to connect with Pierce St. San Mateo St. will be signalized and widened to provide adequate storage for left turns. project benefits • Increases traffic signal spacing between eastbound I-80 ramps and Pierce St. from approximately 100 feet to 450 feet between eastbound I-80 ramps and San Mateo St. • Increases vehicle queuing capacity on Central Ave. at San Mateo St. by providing additional turn lanes includ- ing a westbound left-turn lane • Improved operations will lessen vehicle idling resulting in improved air quality signage example