schools | 511 Contra Costa

Field Trips with Capitol Corridor's 'Train Treks'

Capitol Corridor’s Train Treks for Kids program offers discounted train travel for student and youth groups of 20 or more. With access to destinations between Sacramento and San Jose, groups can visit sites like the State Capitol in Sacramento, Pier 39 in San Francisco and the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose.
Screen Shot 2015-11-16 at 4.08.14 PMTrain Treks takes advantage of open seats to provide groups a substantial discount. Pricing is broken into three fare zones with groups paying for each zone traveled. All members of the group, both adult chaperones and children, pay the same discounted price.
For more information on the Train Treks program, read their FAQ or visit the Train Treks webpage.

The 2015 Summer Youth Pass Is Back – 3 Months of Unlimited Rides

The Summer Youth Pass is back for 2015! Youths 17 and under can get 3 months of unlimited rides on Tri Delta Transit and WestCAT fixed-route buses for just $50.
WestCAT, Tri Delta Transit and 511 Contra Costa have teamed up to offer this year’s Summer Youth Pass. Passes are available to anyone 17 years of age and under for just $50 each.
Tri_Delta_Transit_logoThe pass is in the form of a waterproof wristband and is good for 3 months of unlimited rides (June 1 through August 31) on all Tri Delta Transit fixed-route buses and all WestCAT fixed-route and express buses (including the 30Z Martinez Link)*.
Passes are currently on sale and can be purchased any one of three ways:
In Person: Pick up a Summer Youth Pass at the Tri Delta Transit administrative office (801 Wilbur Ave, Antioch) or at WestCAT (601 Walter Ave, Pinole) during business hours
Online: Click here to order the Summer Youth Pass via the Tri Delta Transit website
Mail/Fax/Phone: You can fax or mail in a completed order form to Tri Delta Transit (download here), or place your order by phone (credit card orders only) by calling 925-754-6622
summeryouthpass
For more information about the promotion or either transit agency, please visit WestCAT.org or TriDeltaTransit.com, or call WestCAT at (510) 724-3331 or Tri Delta Transit at (925) 754-4040.

*Summer youth passes not valid on Dial-a-Ride or WestCAT LYNX Transbay service. Summer Youth Passes are non-refundable, non-redeemable, and non-transferable.

 

Rancho Medanos Junior High School: Bike & Roll to School – April 29, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-03-23 at 2.14.34 PM
Rancho Medanos Junior High School parents & students, it’s time to get ready to Bike and Roll to School!
As a lead-up to National Bike to School Day on May 6, Street Smarts Diablo is teaming up with Contra Costa middle schools for a series of individual Bike & Roll to School events. On April 29, Rancho Medanos Junior High School students will be accepting the challenge to get to school on wheels by riding their bikes, skateboards and scooters!
To celebrate the challenge, Street Smarts Diablo will have some free helmets on hand to provide to Rancho Medanos Junior High School students who arrive to school with wheels and need a properly fitting helmet. Parents are welcome to bring students’ bikes to school by car, so that any child starting the day without a helmet can get to school and roll home safely.
Motorists are reminded to drive with extra care and be especially aware of school zone speed limits and children walking and biking to and from school on Wednesday, April 29, particularly around the vicinity of Rancho Medanos Junior High School in Pittsburg (West Leland Rd, Range Road and surrounding streets).

Free Teen Driving Safety Classes: Concord, San Ramon, Antioch (Apr. 2015)

Bring your teen to one of the CHP’s Start Smart classes! Spending just two hours with them can make them a safer driver. This program is for new and future licensed teenage drivers and their parents. All are invited to attend!
There are three classes happening soon:

Presented by the California Highway Patrol, Streets Smarts Diablo and Street Smarts San Ramon Valley the events are free but registration is requested. Click any of the class listings above to register or get details.
If you can’t attend any of the listed events, the CHP offers the Start Smart class twice a month at their Martinez offices. For more information, call 925-646-4980.

Walnut Creek Intermediate School: Bike & Roll to School – April 28, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-03-23 at 2.14.34 PM
WCI_HallWalnut Creek Intermediate School parents & students, it’s time to get ready to Bike and Roll to School!
As a lead-up to National Bike to School Day on May 6, Street Smarts Diablo is teaming up with Contra Costa middle schools for a series of individual Bike & Roll to School events. On April 28, Walnut Creek Intermediate School students will be accepting the challenge to get to school on wheels by riding their bikes, skateboards and scooters!
To celebrate the challenge, Street Smarts Diablo will have some free helmets on hand to provide to Walnut Creek Intermediate School students who arrive to school with wheels and need a properly fitting helmet. Parents are welcome to bring students’ bikes to school by car, so that any child starting the day without a helmet can get to school and roll home safely.
Motorists are reminded to drive with extra care and be especially aware of school zone speed limits and children walking and biking to and from school on Tuesday, April 28, particularly around the vicinity of Walnut Creek Intermediate School (Ygnacio Valley Rd, N Civic Dr, Walnut Blvd, Homestead Ave and surrounding streets).

Free Teen Driving Safety Program: April 20, 2015 (Concord)


If you live in or near Concord, help your teen be a safer driver by bringing them to the CHP’s Start Smart program on April 20! This two-hour driver safety class at Clayton Valley Charter High School is for new and future licensed teenage drivers and their parents. All are invited to attend!
Presented by the California Highway Patrol, Street Smarts Diablo and Clayton Valley Charter High School, the event is free but registration is requested. Click here to register.
The class will be held at Clayton Valley Charter High School (at 1101 Alberta Way) in Concord from 6:30-8:30pm. For more information, call Street Smarts Diablo at 925-969-1083.

Antioch Middle School: Bike & Roll to School – April 23, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-03-23 at 2.14.34 PM
Antioch Middle School parents & students, it’s time to get ready to Bike and Roll to School!
As a lead-up to National Bike to School Day on May 6, Street Smarts Diablo is teaming up with Contra Costa middle schools for a series of individual Bike & Roll to School events. On April 23, Antioch Middle School students will be accepting the challenge to get to school on wheels by riding their bikes, skateboards and scooters!
To celebrate the challenge, Street Smarts Diablo will have some free helmets on hand to provide to Antioch Middle School students who arrive to school with wheels and need a properly fitting helmet. Parents are welcome to bring students’ bikes to school by car, so that any child starting the day without a helmet can get to school and roll home safely.
Motorists are reminded to drive with extra care and be especially aware of school zone speed limits and children walking and biking to and from school on Thursday, April 23, particularly around the vicinity of Antioch Middle School in Antioch (10th St, L St, 18th St, D St, G St and surrounding streets).

Pine Hollow Middle School: Bike & Roll to School – April 2, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-03-23 at 2.14.34 PM
Pine Hollow Middle School parents & students, it’s time to get ready to Bike and Roll to School!
As a lead-up to National Bike to School Day on May 6, Street Smarts Diablo is teaming up with Contra Costa middle schools for a series of individual Bike & Roll to School events. On April 2, Pine Hollow Middle School students will be accepting the challenge to get to school on wheels by riding their bikes, skateboards and scooters!
To celebrate the challenge, Street Smarts Diablo will have some free helmets on hand to provide to Pine Hollow Middle School students who arrive to school with wheels and need a properly fitting helmet. Parents are welcome to bring students’ bikes to school by car, so that any child starting the day without a helmet can get to school and roll home safely.
Motorists are reminded to drive with extra care and be especially aware of school zone speed limits and children walking and biking to and from school on Thursday, April 2, particularly around the vicinity of Pine Hollow Middle School in Concord (Pine Hollow Rd, Kaiser Quarry Rd, Mitchell Canyon Rd, El Camino Dr and surrounding streets).

Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High: Bike & Roll to School – April 15, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-03-23 at 2.14.34 PM
Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High parents & students, it’s time to get ready to Bike and Roll to School!
As a lead-up to National Bike to School Day on May 6, Street Smarts Diablo is teaming up with Contra Costa middle schools for a series of individual Bike & Roll to School events. On April 15, Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High students will be accepting the challenge to get to school on wheels by riding their bikes, skateboards and scooters!
To celebrate the challenge, Street Smarts Diablo will have some free helmets on hand to provide to Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High students who arrive to school with wheels and need a properly fitting helmet. Parents are welcome to bring students’ bikes to school by car, so that any child starting the day without a helmet can get to school and roll home safely.
Motorists are reminded to drive with extra care and be especially aware of school zone speed limits and children walking and biking to and from school on Wednesday, April 15, particularly around the vicinity of Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High in Pittsburg (California Ave, Loveridge Rd, Harbor St, E 14th St and surrounding streets).
For more information visit 511 Contra Costa’s Bike to School resource page or contact Street Smarts Diablo at 925-969-1083.

Street Smarts Diablo Bike & Roll to School Events: March 31 – May 6, 2015

National Bike to School Day is Wednesday, May 6. As a lead-up to the big day, Street Smarts Diablo is teaming up with select middle schools in Contra Costa for a series of individual Bike & Roll to School events. Middle school students will be accepting the challenge to get to school on wheels by riding their bikes, skateboards and scooters!
Drivers are advised to exercise extreme caution from late March through early May as bicycling and walking events will mean an increase in school-aged children walking & bicycling to and from school.
NBM2014_Web_Site_Header_editNational Bike to School Day is a one-day event occurring in May that encourages and celebrates biking to school. Bike to School Day events can include bicycle safety education, parent-led bike trains, and other bicycle-related education and encouragement activities. Street Smarts Diablo’s Bike & Roll events build off of the energy of National Bike Month, encouraging student health and fitness, biking safety, and concern for the environment while decreasing traffic congestion around campus.
As part of the Bike & Roll to School celebrations, Street Smarts Diablo will have some free helmets on hand to provide to students who arrive to school with wheels and need a properly fitting helmet. Parents are welcome to bring students’ bikes to school by car, so that any child starting the day without a helmet can get to school and roll home safely.
If your child is planning on biking school, these two guides from the National Center for Safe Routes to School will help get both of you ready:

Schools participating in the 2015 Bike & Roll Challenge – click any event for more information:
streetsmartsdiabloFoothill Middle School, Walnut Creek – Tuesday, March 31
Pine Hollow Middle School, Concord – Thursday, April 2
Martin Luther King Jr. Junior High, Pittsburg – Wednesday, April 15
Antioch Middle School, Antioch – Thursday, April 23

Walnut Creek Intermediate School, Walnut Creek – Tuesday, April 28
Rancho Medanos Jr. High, Pittsburg – Wed., Apr. 29

For more information on Bike & Roll to School events, contact Street Smarts Diablo at 925-969-1083.

Schedule & Services Changes: County Connection, Wheels, Tri Delta Transit (Feb. 2015)

WHEELSWheels (LAVTA) – The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority is making minor changes to several of its regular and school-focused bus routes effective Saturday, February 21:

  • Route 2 – The afternoon schedule has been modified to improve timings for Fallon Middle School students; trips now depart E Dublin BART at 30 minutes past each hour instead of at the hour.
  • Route 9 – Trips that previously operated as Route 70X now operate as Route 9 in the Hacienda Business Park. The Inglewood/Chabot loop has been discontinued.
  • Route 10 – The morning starting time of service has been modified; westbound service now begins
    approximately 30 minutes later, while eastbound service starts approximately 30 minutes earlier than in the
    previous schedule.
  • Route 11 – The previous 5:57am trip has been discontinued, and a new 8:12am trip added to the morning service. In the afternoon, all trips now depart the Transit Center 15 minutes later compared to the previous schedule.
  • Route 70X – See notation for Route 9 above; passengers will continue to be able to travel between the Walnut Creek and Hacienda areas and vice versa without the need to transfer buses.
  • Route 605 – The route has been extended to Martin Avenue, and now operates the segment similar to Route 608.
  • Minor timing adjustments have been made to the schedules of routes 10, 12, 15, and Rapid.

Click here to see the full press release.
Tri Delta TransitTri Delta Transit – Tri Delta Transit will have a new schedule taking effect on Sunday, March 8. The new schedule will include:

  • Time Changes: Routes 201, 300, 380, 385, 387, 388, 391
  • NEW morning run on Route 385 EB. Service for Liberty High School Students

MTC's 2015 High School Internship Program: Now Taking Applications

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is offering opportunities for Bay Area high school students to get hands-on experience in the transportation field through paid summer internships. They are currently accepting applications for positions in 9 Bay Area counties, including Contra Costa. This year 511 Contra Costa is proud to offer two internship opportunities as part of the program, in our El Cerrito and Pleasant Hill offices.
Screen Shot 2015-02-13 at 1.27.10 PM
Interested students are encouraged to apply for positions in their home county. A current list of available positions is available on the MTC website.
Qualified applicants must:

  • live and go to school in the county they are applying for;
  • have completed the 10th grade; and
  • be at least 16 years of age by date of hire (Thursday, June 18, 2015)*
*NOTE: If you are offered an internship, are under 18 years of age and will not be graduating prior to the start of the program, you will be required to obtain a work permit. Graduating seniors are eligible to apply.

The program is the creation of the MTC’s Minority Citizens Advisory Committee, designed to encourage young people who might not otherwise consider a career in transportation to do so. Students of all races and ethnic backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
To apply or to get more information, visit: mtc.ca.gov/jobs/high_school or contact the MTC Internship Coordinator by phone at (510) 817-5807 or by emailing them at InternCoordinator@mtc.ca.gov. The application deadline is Sunday, March 22.
 

This article has been edited to reflect the MTC’s application deadline change.

 

Free Teen Driving Safety Program: November 17, 2014 (Walnut Creek)

If you’ve got a teenage driver in the house, or a teen who’ll be driving soon, a great way to help them stay safer behind the wheel is to bring them to the CHP Smart Start Driving Safety Program. This two-hour driver safety class targets new and future licensed teenage drivers and their parents. On the evening of Monday, November 17, all are invited to attend the Smart Start class at Las Lomas High School.
Presented by the California Highway Patrol, Street Smarts Diablo and Las Lomas High School, the event is free and open to all students and parents, but registration is requested. Click here to register.startsmart
The class will be held at Las Lomas High School (at 1460 South Main Street) in
Walnut Creek from 7-9pm. For more information, call Street Smarts Diablo at 925-969-1083.

Free Teen Driving Safety Program: October 28, 2014 (Oakley)

If you’ve got a teenage driver in the house, or a teen who’ll be driving soon, a great way to help them stay safer behind the wheel is to bring them to the CHP Smart Start Driving Safety Program. This two-hour driver safety class targets new and future licensed teenage drivers and their parents. On the evening of Tuesday, October 28, all are invited to attend the Smart Start class at Freedom High School.
Presented by the California Highway Patrol, Streets Smarts Diablo and Freedom High School, the event is free and open to all students and parents, but registration is requested. Click here to register.startsmart
The class will be held at Freedom High School (at 1050 Neroly Rd) in
Oakley from 7-9pm. For more information, call Street Smarts Diablo at 925-969-1083.

Free Cycling Festival in Antioch on October 23, 2014 – Free Helmets & Lights

SSD & ABC Cycling Festival Oct 23
Street Smarts Diablo and the Antioch Bike Club invite you to a free Cycling Festival at Antioch High School on Thursday, October 23 from 3-5pm. It’s the perfect afterschool activity!
Bring your bike and take advantage of free tune-ups and repairs. Need a helmet or bike lights? We’ll be giving away free bike lights and helmets (while supplies last). One lucky attendee will even win a brand-new cruiser bike!
Not only can you watch the action of the BMX stunt show, you can be part of it by racing on a bike blender! Mark your calendar and join us for this fun community event.

Free Teen Driving Safety Program: October 2, 2014 (Antioch)

If you’ve got a teenage driver in the house, or a teen who’ll be driving soon, a great way to help them stay safer behind the wheel is to bring them to the CHP Smart Start Driving Safety Program. This two-hour driver safety class targets new and future licensed teenage drivers and their parents. On the evening of Thursday, October 2, all are invited to attend the Smart Start class at Deer Valley High School.
Presented by the California Highway Patrol, Streets Smarts Diablo and Deer Valley High School, the event is free and open to all students and parents, but registration is requested. Click here to register.startsmart
The class will be held in the Theater of Deer Valley High School (at 4700 Lone Tree Way) in
Antioch from 7-9pm. For more information, call Street Smarts Diablo at 925-969-1083.

Free Teen Driving Safety Program: September 17, 2014 (Martinez)

If you’ve got a teenage driver in the house, or a teen who’ll be driving soon, a great way to help them stay safer behind the wheel is to bring them to the CHP Smart Start Driving Safety Program. This two-hour driver safety class targets new and future licensed teenage drivers and their parents. On the evening of Wednesday, September 17th, all are invited to attend the Smart Start class at Alhambra High School.
Presented by the California Highway Patrol, Streets Smarts Diablo and Alhambra High School, the event is free and open to all students and parents, but registration is requested. Click here to register.startsmart
The class will be held in the Performing Arts Building of Alhambra High School (at 150 E Street) in
Martinez from 6-8pm. For more information, call Street Smarts Diablo at 925-969-1083.

County Connection and BART Offer Free Passes for School Trips

BART School Field Trip ProgramBoth BART and County Connection have announced the return of programs offering free passes for school trips.
Thanks to funding from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Free BART Rides for School Field Trips’ program is back and will offer 40,000 free trips for students, teachers and chaperones traveling with their schools to cultural and educational destinations. Bay Area schools in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties are eligible to apply and applications are currently being taken on a first-come, first-served basis through December 31st, 2014. Each school will have a limit of six free trips per year. Interested schools can find more information on the ‘Free BART Rides’ page and make a reservation using the program’s online form.
County Connection offers the ‘Class Pass Program’, designed to help familiarize students with public transportation. Teachers are invited to take students on free trips twice per school year using County Connection’s ?xed-route bus system—Monday through Friday, during off-peak hours. In addition to free passes, participating groups will be provided s a specially designed ‘Class Pass’ to use when boarding as well as a personalized trip plan with system maps and schedules. Full program details and an application form are available on the County Connection Class Pass page.

Participate in Walnut Creek's Pedestrian Master Plan (2014)

You are invited to participate in the development of the Walnut Creek Pedestrian Master Plan

The Pedestrian Master Plan is the first citywide planning effort focused on making walking in Walnut Creek safer, easier and more popular. The Plan will assess existing conditions for walking; develop goals and policies to guide the implementation of walking facilities; recommend programs and activities to promote walking; and formulate guidelines for the implementation of sidewalks, crosswalks and footpaths. Particular attention will be paid to improving access to schools and transit within the Downtown, as well as to parks, trails and neighborhood shopping centers.
The City is relying on the public’s involvement and your input to help shape the Pedestrian Plan. The first major opportunity for Walnut Creek residents and others to provide input and feedback on the Plan is a public stakeholder workshop taking place on Tuesday, April 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the 3rd Floor Conference Room of Walnut Creek City Hall, located at 1666 N. Main Street.  At the workshop, the public will have the chance to learn more about the project; find out about potential types of pedestrian improvements; and provide their input on all aspects of walking in Walnut Creek.
To give the public more opportunities to provide input on the Pedestrian Plan, the City is also conducting an online survey. The survey is available at www.surveymonkey.com/s/WCwalks; it will be open through April 30, 2014.  For more information about the Pedestrian Plan, visit www.WCwalks.org or contact Jeremy Lochirco, Senior Planner at the City, at (925) 943?5899 ext. 2251 or email: lochirco@walnut-creek.org
 

What is Safe Routes to Schools?

511CC has been assisting adults with information on ways to minimize the use of the car for errands and commutes for 20 years.  However lasting behavior change starts at a young age and with Safe Routes to Schools, walking, bicycling, and alternative transportation education is being implemented in the primary schools.
Safe Routes to Schools programs across the country educate school-aged children and their parents on ways to bike and walk to school safely with practical hands-on training.
In Contra Costa County,  students at participating schools enjoy a range of similar activities through Peace on the Streets: Ride On!, including:

  • Road simulations and bike rodeos in Physical Education classes
  • Parent Education Meeting with local police, health professionals, and city staff
  • Commute Alternative Challenge Day
  • A stunt and safety assembly.

In October 2010, 511 Contra Costa staff developed the first week-long Peace on the Streets; Ride On! course. The program had two principle goals in five schools:

  1. To educate and inspire middle school students to bike and walk safely to school
  2. To identify existing barriers to biking and walking at each particular school site while also assessing the school’s various transportation-related needs

Thanks to strong community support, each Peace on the Streets: Ride On! school was able to lower its single-occupancy vehicle trips by 44 percent on Commute Alternative Challenge Days. Since that enormous success, 511 Contra Costa continues rolling out the program to other middle schools through 2013.  Martinez Mr. High and Douglas Adams Jr. High School will have host Peace of the Streets: Ride On! events later this fall.  Would you like Peace on the Streets: Ride On! at your child’s middle school? Contact Street Smarts Diablo.
International Walk to School Day is October 3, 2012.  On top of that  511 Contra Costa will celebrate International Walk to School Day in Central and East Contra Costa by supporting with posters, banners, tally sheets, and incentives to participating schools.  Do you want to celebrate  International Walk to School Day at your school? Contact Kayla Jossey.  *Peace on the Streets; Ride On! and support for International Walk to School Day is offered to schools located in Antioch, Bay Point, Brentwood, Byron, Clayton, Concord, Knightsen, Oakley, Martinez, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek.
 

511CC wins Safe Routes to School Mini Grant

saferoutes511CC wins Safe Routes to School Mini Grant.  The National Center for Safe Routes to School announced today that 511 Contra Costa was one of 25 national applicants to receive a $1000.00 mini grant for Spring 2010. The National Center received 247 Safe Routes to School applications from across 44 states and the District of Columbia.
511 Contra Costa will be working with Dallas Ranch Middle School in Antioch, California to craft a social marketing campaign to educate fellow students about the pedestrian and bicycle safety and health benefits as part of its “Walk and Roll 2 School”  program. Selected proposals distinguished themselves through originality of efforts to help lead local community efforts to promote safe walking and bicycling to school.
National Center for Safe Routes to School Press Release

Walk to School Day 2009 is Approaching!

iwalkglobe
This year’s Walk to School Day, which is organized by the National Center for Safe Routes to School, is coming up soon! October 7 to be precise. You can register for the event here. Walking to school is not only fun, but also great for the environment and your kid’s health. The more people we can get on foot, the safer walkways, crosswalks, and bike paths will become!
Visit the Walk to School USA website for more information about setting up your own walk to school event, ensuring your child’s safety, or customizing your route.