Quick Facts
There are many ways to commute to, from, and through Contra Costa County. 511 Contra Costa helps commuters find alternatives to driving alone, such as carpooling, vanpooling, biking, transit, walking and telecommuting. We also help employers implement no-cost commuter programs that help reduce green house gas emissions, retain and attract employees and increase productivity, reduce payroll taxes, ease parking demand, and help relieve traffic congestion around worksites.
Organization
511 Contra Costa provides services in the county’s 20 jurisdictions under the direction of three transportation planning committees representing the west, southwest and east/central regions.
Funding
Funding for 511 Contra Costa programs is provided primarily by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA), as well as a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in the County in 1988 and administered by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. A portion of employer services is funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds.
Commuting at a Glance
Contra Costa County has the third lowest drive-alone rate in the Bay Area, and its residents are the second most likely to carpool in the region. The county has:
- 20% carpooling rate
- 17 express bus routes
- 19 Park & Ride lots
- 243 miles of bike lanes
- 10 BART stations
Employer Involvement
511 Contra Costa provides transportation management programs and customized services at no charge to employers throughout the county. Services include:
- Employee transportation surveys
- Parking management programs
- Commuter benefits
- Bicycle lockers, racks and maps
- Commute information packets & workshops
- Relocation assistance
Community Outreach
511 Contra Costa reaches out to the community at large and schools throughout Contra Costa. Services include:
- School carpool ridematching
- Transit tickets to middle and high school students
- Week-long bike/pedestrian/carpool/transit programs at middle schools
- Bicycle lockers and racks at public locations
- Commute information at community fairs
Results
Through extensive outreach and incentives for commuters and employers, 511 Contra Costa contributes to a more sustainable quality of life in Contra Costa County. Agency programs aimed at reducing the number of single-occupant vehicles in 2006 resulted in:
- 1,672,139 trips reduced
- 24.85 tons of polluting emissions reduced
- 10,000 commuters used 511 Contra Costa services
