Events | 511 Contra Costa - Part 4

Category: Events

Pittsburg to host final open house on BART transit village master plan

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Pittsburg is hosting a final open house tomorrow, Tuesday June 28th from 5:30 to 6 PM as part of a public review period that ends August 1st.
The master plan calls for retail stores, plazas and high- and medium-density housing, enabling residents to leave their cars at home while commuting to any part of the Bay Area served by BART.
Are you free Tuesday night? Come to the open house to share your thoughts.
What: Pittsburg/Bay Point BART master plan open house
When: 5:30 – 6 PM, Tuesday June 28, 2011
Where: Pittsburg City Council chamber, 65 Civic Ave

For more information about the plan, read the Mercury News article

Town of Danville kicks off Share Our Streets

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The Town of Danville is kicking off the first day of summer – a season synonymous with outdoor recreation – with the new “Share Our Streets” traffic safety campaign.
“Share Our Streets”, a joint effort by the Town’s Transportation and Police Departments, is a new summer-long program targeting the three main groups using area roadways: drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. The campaign, designed to promote safety among those groups, was developed in an effort to address concerns raised by local residents about the conflicts between the three groups. The “Share Our Streets” logo, featuring a biker, walker and driver, will serve as a reminder to everyone that safety, courtesy and caution is a shared responsibility.
Implementation of “Share Our Streets” will be a three-step operation that includes education, warning and enforcement periods. During the first phase (June 21 through July 18), the focus is on getting out the message. Police and citizen volunteers will be passing out informational materials to residents in Town.
In the second phase (July 21 through August 15), law enforcement officers will have the option of issuing a warning ticket in lieu of a formal citation for minor traffic infractions. During the final four weeks of the campaign, Danville Police will be strictly enforcing traffic laws for all three groups.

“Share Our Streets is not about issuing citations,” stated Danville Police Chief Steve Simpkins. “Our goal is to convey a positive message through education by first reminding our users to be courteous and cautious on the road.”

For more information on “Share Our Streets”, contact Sgt. Brad Harms at (925) 314-3722 or Bharms@danville.ca.gov or Transportation Program Coordinator Nat Rojanasathira at (925) 314-3382 or nrojanasathira@danville.ca.gov.

Bring your child to work day at Bank of America in Concord, 2011

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What: Bring Your Child to Work Day 2011
When: Wednesday, July 13th from 10 am – 4 pm
Where: Bank of America, Concord (1655 Grant Street, Lobby Conference room of Bldg A)
Description: The lobby will have activities for the kids between 10am – 4pm. 511 Contra Costa will be bringing a trivia wheel for children to spin and win a prize. We will also be handing out cool 511CC shwag. BART will also be in attendance handing out free Clipper cards to interested parties.

Happy "Dump the Pump" Day!

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Tomorrow is National Dump the Pump Day. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) started this holiday six years ago as an opportunity to remind people that, often, the easiest way to save money is by leaving your car parked and taking transit.
Transit is a cheaper way to get to work, home, and recreational options than driving.
When we do drive, we benefit from our friends and neighbors leaving their cars at home – APTA estimates that in 2009, public transit use saved 785 million hours of travel time for drivers.
Want to find a way to celebrate Dump the Pump Day? (Other than taking the bus, of course).
Tomorrow, WestCAT, the Western Contra Costa Transit Authority, will pick one winner to receive a $20 value pass or a $20 Starbucks gift card. Email your name and contact info to WestCAT before the end of the day on Thursday, June 16 to enter. The winner will be announced Friday.
Not familiar with WestCAT? Explore the system below. It’s never too early to start getting ready for Dump the Pump Day 2012.

Looking for more reasons to love transit? From APTA:

  • In 2010, Americans took 10.2 billion trips on public transportation.
  • People board public transportation 35 million times each weekday.
  • There are 7,200 public transportation organizations in the US, employing 400,000 people.
  • Every $1 invested in public transportation generates $4 in economic returns.
  • Public transportation reduces US oil consumption by 4.2 billion gallons each year.
  • Public transportation reduces the US carbon footprint by 37 million metric tons each year. This is equivalent to the household emissions of every person in Washington, D.C., New York City, Atlanta, Denver, and Los Angeles combined.
  • Money spent on transit projects creates 20 percent more jobs than highway projects.

511 Contra Costa salutes Brown and Caldwell for their Better Way to Work Week

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Brown and Caldwell in Walnut Creek kicked off Bike to Work Day 2011 with their own Better Way to Work Week.  511 Contra Costa attended the Commuting Information Fair during the week leading up to Bike to Work Day.  The fair was intended to give employees on the fence about commute alternatives a push in the right direction.

511 Contra Costa provided information about public transportation, biking/walking trail maps, the Guaranteed Ride Home Program, and our very own Clean Air bags.  Brown and Caldwell’s conference room turned into a Bike to Work Day prep shop as coworkers volunteered their time tuning up bikes, making adjustments, and sharing tips on bicycle safety with their fellow colleagues.

511CC even provided $20 incentives to those who pledged to take a commute alternative during Brown and Caldwell’s Better Way to Work Week or beyond.  One lucky winner received a BTWD bag filled with goodies and munchies!


Thanks for the invitation Brown and Caldwell–we had fun! And congrats to all that participated during Better Way to Work Week.  We hope you continue your green transportation ways!
To schedule your own worksite event to inform employees of alternative commute options and programs, sign up here.

Bay Bridge Eastbound detour in Oakland to begin Memorial Day weekend

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Today, Caltrans announced a detour for motorists driving into Oakland across the Bay Bridge beginning Memorial Day weekend.
From BayBridgeInfo.org,

Motorists driving on the lower deck of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge will experience a slightly different approach into Oakland after this Memorial Day weekend. While speed limits will remain the same, eastbound drivers should be prepared for the small detour as they emerge from under the upper deck.

Construction for this detour will not require a full bridge closure. While the bridge will remain open for the holiday weekend, select eastbound lanes will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29. Eastbound traffic will still have access during these limited lane closures and westbound traffic will not be impacted.
Bay Bridge Explorer
Also announced today was the release of Bay Bridge Explorer, a mobile driving simulator for iPhone, iPad and iPod that allows users to drive on the Bay Bridge.
Continue reading “Bay Bridge Eastbound detour in Oakland to begin Memorial Day weekend”

Visit BART's future seat lab

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With some of the oldest subway trains in the country, BART is looking for your opinion on how to make the next generation of train cars better suit riders in the 21st Century. The traveling future seat lab will make nine stops, one in each BART district, and everyone is welcome to give their thoughts on the possible future cars.

  • What kinds of seats would you like to see on new BART train cars?
  • How can BART best accommodate customers using wheelchairs?
  • How can BART best accommodate customers using bicycles or strollers or carrying luggage?
  • What types of passenger information should the new cars provide in their on-board displays?
  • What features do you most like or dislike about trains you’ve used in other cities?

The remaining mobile seat lab stops are:
Prewett Family Park and Community Center
Saturday, June 18, 11 am – 3 pm
4701 Lone Tree Way, Antioch
Parking lot (adjacent to pool)
South San Francisco BART Station
Tuesday, June 21, 2011, 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco
Wednesday, June 22, 10 am – 4 pm
Have you seen BART’s new seat lab? What do you want to see in BART’s new cars?

Past mobile seat lab stops:
Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station
Monday, June 13, 2011, 3pm – 6:30pm
Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre BART Station, at the plaza next to fountain.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Fruitvale BART Station, Village Plaza
Monday, May 23, 2011, 3 pm – 6:30pm
Los Medanos Community College, 2700 East Leland Road, Pittsburg, CA
Tuesday, May 24, 2011, 11 am – 3 pm
Richmond BART Station, McDonald Avenue side
Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 2:30 pm – 6:30pm
Union City BART Station, Center Access Road.
Thursday, June 2, 2011, 2 pm – 6 pm
(Originally scheduled for June 1 but rescheduled due to inclement weather)

San Pablo Avenue Spring Fling Celebration Saturday, May 14th 2011

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Celebrate the completion of the San Pablo Avenue Streetscape Project on Sat. May 14th by attending El Cerrito’s Spring Fling!

Welcome Ceremony — 10:00am to 11:00am

In front of Rialto Cinemas Cerrito, 10070 San Pablo Avenue

  • Welcome by the Mayor
  • Brief overview of the project
  • Dedication of the theater “stars” by the Friends of the Cerrito Theater
  • Light refreshments will be served.
  • Giveaway of 100 Clipper cards for free AC Transit bus rides on-the-day. (Limited supply)

Tour the Avenue — 11:00am to 2:00pm

Walk, bike or take transit along the Avenue to see the recent improvements.
Go at your own pace and visit local stores, galleries and restaurants along the way! Many businesses will be offering discounts or samples as part of the Spring Fling. Tour Stops will highlight:

  • The renovated historic Cerrito Theater
  • Rain Gardens – hosted by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership
  • Water-saving landscape renovations
  • New City Hall & public plaza
  • Pedestrian Safety Improvements & Street Amenities
  • Historic-cultural sidewalk pavers – hosted by the El Cerrito Historical Society
  • Baxter Creek Restoration

For more up-to-date information or to get involved, please contact Suzanne Iarla at (510) 215-4318.

LAVTA public workshop for proposed bus changes

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The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA), operator of the Wheels bus system, is holding a public workshop to receive public input on a number of proposed service changes:

  • service changes to Route 12
  • adding a new route or service extension to the main Livermore Public Library and Civic Center on South Livermore Avenue
  • rerouting Route 8 to provide direct service from the Pleasanton BART station to the Alameda County Fairgrounds during the Alameda County Fair

At this informal workshop, attendees can look at the proposed service change exhibits at their own pace. Staff will be available to answer questions and provide one-on-one assistance. The public is encouraged to attend to learn more about the proposed changes and provide feedback. The public meeting schedule appears below followed by the proposed service changes. For a pdf copy, click here.
Para la información en español, chasque aquí.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
LAVTA Administrative Office
5:00 – 7:00 PM 1362 Rutan Drive, Livermore
Served by Route 12
Monday, June 6, 2011
LAVTA Public Hearing
4:00 PM 1362 Rutan Drive, Livermore
Served by Route 12

PROPOSED SERVICE CHANGES
New Service to the Livermore Library and Civic Center: A new route/route extension is proposed that will provide service directly to the Main Livermore Public Library on South Livermore Avenue in Livermore. The proposed change would begin in August 2011.
Route 8 Temporary Rerouting to the Alameda County Fairgrounds: A temporary Route 8 detour is proposed on Pleasanton Avenue and Rose Avenue to provide direct service to the Alameda County Fairgrounds during the Alameda County Fair each year. During the Fair, direct service would be temporarily discontinued to the Pleasanton Civic Center and Library. Sunday service is also proposed during the Fair. This year, the proposed detour would be in effect from June 22 to July 10.
Rerouting of Route 12 to I-580 from Dublin Boulevard: Proposal recommends that Route 12 service be rerouted to operate on Interstate 580 instead of Dublin Boulevard on weekdays only when the Rapid and Route 1A/1B are operating. The Route 12 would operate on Interstate 580 between Livermore/Las Positas College and the Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station. This would provide faster service to Las Positas College. The proposed change would take effect in August 2011.
Service Changes to Route 12 due to Isabel/580/84 Interchange Project: Route 12 has been subject to extensive delays due to freeway construction. With the project nearing completion, the street network will change and the Route 12 will need to be permanently rerouted. Two service options are proposed which will be available at the public meeting, at Wheels offices, and online. The proposed change would take effect once construction activity is completed or when required due to roadway reconfiguration. The specific date is unknown but will likely occur in early 2012.
Service maps and options are not yet available but will be by mid-April for review.
To submit your comments online, click here. You may also submit your comments in person at the two meetings noted above or by calling 925-455-7555.
More
Transportation authority proposes bus changes (Contra Costa Times)

Las Trampas Perimeter Hike

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It’s wildflower season in the Las Trampas wilderness. The Greenbelt Alliance is hosting a guided, 14-mile hike along the perimeter of Las Trampas Regional Wilderness this Saturday.
This hike is not for the faint of heart. Departing from the Sycamore Valley Road Park and Ride at 10 AM, the group will climb and descend a 2500 foot elevation game. The Greenbelt Alliance site describes the trek as very strenuous, but the brave and the bold will be rewarded with a spectacular tour of one of Contra Costa County’s greatest natural assets.
The park earned its name, Las Trampas, from the Spanish word for The Traps or The Snares because of the traps hunters set to catch the abundant elk. Today, visitors can count the deer in the hill areas adjacent to the parking lot. The park was home to antelope and mountain lions in the last century, and some big cat are still sighted each year. Birdwatchers regard this park for its hawks and golden eagles.
Be on the lookout for black sage, chamise, buck brush, toyon, hybrid manzanitas, elderberry, gooseberry, chaparral currant, sticky monkeyflower, coffeeberry, coyote bush, hollyleaf red berry, deer weed, and creek dogwood.
Photo from pandatub

You Choose Contra Costa

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How do you want Contra Costa County to look in the future? How do you want your neighborhood in Contra Costa County to look in the future? Are your ideas for the region compatible with your local vision?
That’s what the Silicon Valley Community Foundation hopes to answer with the new You Choose Bay Area tool.
Have you seen or played with any of those budget calculators that have been popping up through the recession? They let you pick from pre-determined options and show you what the overall result would be. This is pretty straightforward for a budget (it’s just adding and subtracting, right?). You Choose does the same thing, but with homes, roads, water, and air.
You start by picking your person priorities. Do you want the Bay Area to have lots of large home with big yards? Do you want to ensure we all conserve open space? Maybe you want to see safer access to schools? You can click and drag your priorities, and even rank them by their importance to you.
Next, it asks you to make two choices:

  • Do we focus new homes outside the current Bay Area, or
  • make our current neighborhoods more dense?

And:

  • How much more densely should we grow?

After you make your choices, you can see what impacts your growth strategy would have across the Bay Area. You can conserve up to 490 square miles of open space, 31 thousand tons of air pollution per year, and 26.1 billion miles of auto travel – all through how you design and locate homes. They almost make it look easy.
Plus, you can compare your priorities to your growth strategies. Do your plans for the region match up with your goals for your neighborhood?
Like what you see here?
Join the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Greenbelt Alliance, TransForm and the Bay Area’s regional planning agencies at YouChoose Contra Costa County.
Saturday, May 7, 2011, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle, Concord
At this public event, you can:

    Connect with fellow residents and together explore Bay Area housing and transportation options to see how they will impact your community and the things you care about most.

  • Give immediate input to local and regional leaders who will decide where to direct new development and how transportation dollars should be spent.

RSVP online. A meal will be provided, and childcare and translation services are available upon request.
“The choices being made will determine the future for generations to come. Will you make those choices or leave them to someone else?”

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Pacheco Creekside Park

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PACHECO – Contra Costa County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Pacheco Creekside Park.
During a community meeting for the Pacheco Boulevard median landscaping project community members expressed an interest in building a park. The County Public Works Department in partnership with the Pacheco Municipal Advisory Council has completed Phase 2 of the Pacheco Creekside Park. This phase included the installation of a water meter, irrigation system, plantings, and 2 park entry signs.
The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at the Pacheco Community Center and will be followed by a walking tour of the park. The event is free and open to the public.
When: Saturday, April 16, 2011, 10:00am
Where: Pacheco Community Center
5800 Pacheco Boulevard
Pacheco, CA 94553
For more information please contact Supervisor Mitchoff’s office at (925) 521-7100.