Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

American Discovery Trail Society sponsors ADT Challenge for this year’s National Trails Day, June 1

By Leave a Comment

Source: American Discovery Trail Society

By Ders Anderson, Open Lands

The American Discovery Trail Society announces its second annual trail challenge! In honor of the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day, June 1, the Challenge is an invite to anyone and everyone living near the 6800-mile American Discovery Trail. (See related article)

The goal of the Challenge is meant to be a personal one, a trail challenge that hikers, bicyclists, runners, baby stroller pushers, skaters, and wheel-chair users set for themselves. It could be…adding miles to their personal best so far. It could be…enlisting friends who don’t often exercise. It could be… the first time for a family hike. It could be… a distance hike-bike-or run relay with a group of friends. It could be…a first, really-long-distance hike, whether it’s 20, 50 or 500 miles.

Participants are asked to register at  https://discoverytrail.org/american-discovery-trail-home/trailchallenge/  where ADT trail access and route info, local trail agency contacts, and general trail use guidance will be available

Think…Outdoors…Healthy Exercise…Fresh Air…Inspiration…America’s Beautiful Landscapes…Participating in a national event with thousands of National Trail Day partners.

American Discovery Trail map. Source: ADT Society

California Trails

If you participate in the ADT Challenge, the American Discovery Trail Society will report back to the American Hiking Society on the level of participation in the ADT Challenge. National Trails Day (NTD) is an annual event that has been sponsored by the American Hiking Society (AHS) for the past 31 years. Your experience will be added to this years’ overall NTD national participation. In 2022, over 125,000 people participated in National Trails Day.

About ADT

The American Discovery Trail (ADT) is the nation’s first coast-to-coast, non-motorized recreation trail. The ADT was conceived in 1989 and initially led by the American Hiking Society. In 1996 the ADT Society (ADTS) was created and has been the prime advocate for the completing a continuous trail across the United States. The ADTS considers it the east-west “backbone” of our country’s national trails system, connecting to the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, East Coast Greenway Trail and 50 other national scenic, historic and recreational trails. In the Midwest, two options are possible: either thru Iowa and Nebraska, and northern Illinois and Indiana, or through Missouri and Kansas and southern Illinois and Indiana.

Hit the trails and take a hike on American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® Saturday, June 1

By Leave a Comment

Source: American Hiking Society

32nd annual event brings communities together outdoors to celebrate and give back to trails

Take the 2024 National Trails Day® Pledge by June 8 to be entered to win premium gear prize packs.

East Bay Regional Parks District offers variety of trails to hike

By American Hiking Society

The nationwide celebration of National Trails Day® on Saturday June 1, 2024, will bring together people from across the country, Puerto Rico, and beyond, to celebrate, enjoy, and give back to the trails. American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day®, is an annual event aimed at advocacy, trail service, and encouraging local communities to connect in the outdoors.

Trail users, including hikers, cyclists, horseback riders, paddlers, trail clubs, federal and local agencies, and various organizations, unite on National Trails Day® to improve the trails and outdoor community. This is accomplished through collective efforts toward advocating for, maintaining, cleaning up, and celebrating trails and nature. By working together, this diverse coalition can ensure that these outdoor spaces remain accessible, safe, and enjoyable for everyone now and in the future.

Source: American Hiking Society

National Trails Day® is an event that people of all ages, abilities, and lifestyles can celebrate by participating in a local trail event. Participants can also take the National Trails Day® pledge to commit to leaving the trails and the outdoor community better than they found them. Additionally, individuals can share their trail experience by tagging #NationalTrailsDay and @AmericanHiking on social media.

Last year, more than 700 sites across the U.S. brought people together for various recreational and volunteer opportunities. More than 7,044 trail volunteers built and maintained more than 558 miles of trails as part of the festivities.

 

The East Bay Regional Park District offers multiple trails to hike this Saturday. See list, locations and maps, here: www.ebparks.org/trails.

“National Trails Day® provides a unique opportunity to bring community members of all walks of life together in the outdoors, all with a common goal of enjoying nature and preserving it,” said Heather Klein Olson, Executive Director of American Hiking Society. “This is our 32nd annual celebration of National Trails Day®, and it’s incredible to see how the trails unite us and remind us of the power of our collective action and passion. Spending time on the trails offers us time to reflect on nature’s positive impact on our physical and mental well-being and the positive impact we can have on it, too. This annual event reminds us to appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors and commit to doing our part to protect it for generations to come.”

2024 National Trails Day® Pledge

“In honor of #NationalTrailsDay, I’ll leave the trails and the outdoor community better than I found them.” Take the pledge by June 8 to be entered to win premium gear prize packs.

Source: American Hiking Society

Corporate & Federal Sponsors

American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® is made possible by the generous support of Corporate Sponsors – Exclusive Beer Sponsor Athletic Brewing, Aflac, AKHG by Duluth Trading Company, REI, Osprey Packs, Fjallraven, GORE-TEX Brand, Zevo Insect, and GOES Health. Federal Partners include: National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau Of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Federal Highway Administration.

Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all to enjoy, share, and preserve the hiking experience.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

 

Love Life’s annual LifeRide fundraiser in Antioch June 15

By Leave a Comment

Sponsors needed

By Sophia Martin, Regional Director, Love Life NorCal Antioch

Please support us in our annual fundraiser, LifeRide. We will be riding bikes across the nation to raise awareness and funds to unite and mobilize the Church to end abortion and the orphan crisis.

What is LifeRide?

In 2023, Pastor Jay Stewart at the age of 60, rode his bicycle over 3,100 miles across America to bring awareness to the ministry of Love Life and to raise over a million dollars. Pastor Jay has been a partnering pastor with Love Life from the beginning and his church is also a House of Refuge church. (See video1 and video2)

Locally, our goal is to raise $10,000. If you would like to give $25, $50 or $100 to help us meet our goal and learn more, please visit: https://join.liferideusa.org/team/580862.

“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” – Proverbs 24:11

For more information about Love Life visit https://lovelife.org and to sign up for a 1-Hour Journey visit: https://lovelife.org/1-hour-journey. Get your Love Life apparel and coffee here: https://shop.welovelife.org/?ref=antioch.

South Gate Road to Mt. Diablo closed weekdays for 5 weeks starting May 28

By Leave a Comment

Source: CA State Parks

ROAD CLOSURE STARTS TUESDAY for construction of new bike turnouts

By CA State Parks

Starting Tuesday, May 28 South Gate Road will be closed weekdays to all traffic including cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Each week for approximately five weeks, the road will be closed from Monday 8 a.m. through Friday 2 p.m. It will be open weekends.

All trails and fire roads will remain open, and visitors who walk or cycle to the park will be able to access Summit Trail at the South Gate Entrance.

During the road closure period, camping at Live Oak Campground, and the Buckeye, Wildcat, and Barbecue Terrace Group Camps will only be available Friday and Saturday nights.

This closure is for the construction of additional bike turnout lanes to enhance road safety. This latest phase of the project was made possible by fundraising coordinated by our partner organization California State Parks Foundation.

Yellow circle indicates South Gate Road entrance. Map source: CA State Parks

There are three other entrances to Mount Diablo State Park: Mitchell Canyon Road, North Gate Road and Green Valley Road (Macedo Ranch). Please check under Brochures/Campground Map for more details. There is no vehicle access to the Summit from Macedo Ranch or Mitchell Canyon.

Thank you for your cooperation during this temporary closure.

For more information about Mt. Diablo click, here.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Martinez: Briones Trails Pilot Project Community Dig Day Saturday, June 1

By Leave a Comment

Source: EBRPD

Briones Regional Park, Alhambra Creek Staging Area 9 AM – 2 PM

By East Bay Regional Park District

The Briones Trails Pilot Project is a unique opportunity to give back to the parks you love! Help us maintain and enhance Briones Regional Park and create exciting new recreational opportunities on single-track trails and repair impacted natural resources during our Dig Days. The next one will be on Saturday, June 1, 2024. We will make improvements to the P9 Trail (AKA the Desert Hiking Trail) including establishing a more sustainable trail route and restoring a steep and eroding segment.

The two-yearpilot project is intended to test a variety of trail management strategies. The pilot project is limited to a portion of Briones Regional Park in the northeast corner of the park. See Project Map (or below). The pilot project was launched on Friday April 21, 2023.

The Briones Pilot Project establishes specific rules limiting trail use within the Pilot Project Zone and for two trail segments adjacent to the Pilot Project Zone, such as hiking only, biking only, or biking/hiking only and direction of travel. On weekends, trail use within the Pilot Project Zone will alternate days between bicycle and equestrian use based on even and odd calendar dates (see table). A key component of the Project is the restoration of illegally built “bootleg” trails to protect natural habitat for wildlife.

Please make sure to bring a water bottle and be prepared to work! There is poison oak in the area, so please wear work pants, long sleeves and good close-toed work shoes.

You are welcome to ride in, but you will need to provide your own bike and helmet.

June 1st Dig Day – 9:00 AM meet-up and post-dig lunch at Alhambra Creek Staging Area, 273-181 Brookwood Drive in Martinez.

Registration and Info: ebrpd.samaritan.com/custom/501/opp_details/6729

  • Age Restrictions: Youth under the age of 18 must have a signed permission by parent or legal guardian. Youth under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Description: Join us to maintain and improve select trails and restore habitat! Learn the basics of restoration and trail work during our dig-days lead by Regional Parks staff.
  • What to Bring: water bottle, helmet, mountain bike, gloves, and PPE.
  • What is Provided: Necessary tools. We will have work gloves and protective eye wear for participants.
  • Weather: Heavy rain or unsafe wildfire smoke conditions cancel the program. Please wear layers as Bay Area weather can be unpredictable.

The Briones Pilot Project reached its one-year mark on April 21, 2024. The two-year pilot project was planned and created to test new ways to safely share trails and improve the trail experience for all users while protecting habitat, wildlife, and watersheds. The pilot project is limited to a portion of Briones Regional Park in the northeast corner of the park. Share your thoughts and feedback on the past year of progress at the next in-person check-in meeting on June 15. Members of the community are invited to Briones to discuss the pilot project’s progress and share ideas with District staff and other trail users.

Briones Pilot Project Zone Map. Source: EBRPD

Why a Pilot Project?

Over the last decade, the number of visitors to District parks has increased significantly. The rise in numbers of visitors getting out onto trails has increased the potential for conflict between different types of trail users. Although the Park District is seeking to open new parks and provide more trails to reduce crowding on trails, the trail development process takes time. The pilot project will test some new ways to safely share trails and improve the trail experience for all users while protecting habitat, wildlife, and watersheds.

Project Objectives:

  • Protect Resources, Habitat, Wildlife, and Watersheds: The expansion of illegal bootleg trails is a significant issue for Briones and other East Bay regional parks. These user-built trails are often not built to sustainable trail standards with appropriate drainage and avoidance of sensitive natural habitats. Illegal trails can have negative impacts on wildlife and watersheds. The project will include a robust monitoring and patrol program to document and prevent the expansion of bootleg trails in the pilot project zone.
  • Restore Natural Habitat by Closing Illegal Bootleg Trails in the Pilot Project Zone: A primary objective of the project is to engage with the trail user community to join park staff in restoring natural habitats already impacted by illegal bootleg trails.
  • Enhance the Trail User Experience: The trail management strategies being tested during the two-year pilot project are intended to allow users to safely enjoy trails by providing specific days when certain user types are limited to create more space on trails.
  • Increase Volunteer Engagement in Trail Maintenance and Habitat Restoration: Community volunteers play an important role in helping park staff monitor and maintain park trails. The pilot project provides volunteer opportunities for trail users to join in trail maintenance and habitat restoration activities.

For more information visit Briones Trails Pilot Program or call Volunteer Services at (510) 544-2229.

Orinda: Grand Opening of Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project & Eastport Staging Area Thursday

By Leave a Comment

The newly restored and daylighted Alder Creek flows through the former McCosker property in Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. Photo: EBRPD

Ribbon cutting for largest creek restoration project in East Bay Regional Park District’s history.

At Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve

By Flora Csontos, Acting Public Information Specialist, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District

Join East Bay Regional Park District on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 11 A.M. to celebrate the completion of the Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve – the largest creek restoration project in the Park District’s history. The Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project removed several culverts and opened up 3,000 linear feet of creek to a more natural run. The event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the restoration project and the reopening of the Eastport Staging Area.

Speakers will include East Bay Regional Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth, Board President Ward 1 Member Elizabeth Echols and Ward 2 Board Member Dee Rosario.

The Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project, previously referred to as the McCosker Project, provides natural habitat for special status or protected species, including the California red-legged frog, California foothill yellow-legged frog, Alameda whipsnake, San Francisco dusky-footed wood rat, golden eagle, Cooper’s hawk, loggerhead shrike, northern harrier, and white-tailed kite. Water quality and streamflow were also improved by the project, providing new habitat for rainbow trout.

Stabilizing jute protects the creek’s soil while plants begin to grow in December 2022. Photo: EBRPD

The project (Alder Creek Project), which began construction in 2020, daylights, or opens up and restores to natural conditions, approximately 2,900 linear feet (approximately half a mile) of previously culverted, or buried, creek and restores riparian habitat along portions of Alder, Leatherwood, and San Leandro creeks. The 250-acre site is situated within a deep canyon of dense oak woodland at the bottom of a ridgeline of rolling grassland hills.

The restoration also created habitat for the rainbow trout (a native salmonid species) by creating stream corridors, using a step-pool system that incorporates a mix of cascades and resting and pocket pools in steeper areas. This newly created stream channel with riparian vegetation and pool riffle complexes, allows sediment transport, slows flows and helps reduce erosion to provide benefits to aquatic organisms and provide spawning sites for rainbow trout. In fact, a young-of-year (juvenile) rainbow trout was observed in the channel in spring 2021. Engineers designed the restoration project using fundamental concepts in fluvial geomorphology and engineering principles to meet the goal of creating a dynamically stable and self-maintaining creek channels that require a low level of adaptive management and maintenance practices.

Plants sprout along the newly daylighted creek in January 2023. Photo: EBRPD

The restoration project also increased the carbon sink, flood capacity on site, removed invasive species, enhanced habitat, and added revegetation. In support of inclusive public access, additional enhancement work included new nature trails and future amenity areas.

The restoration area within Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve is now opened to the public. It includes an 11-car staging area along Pinehurst Road, with trail connections for a loop trail (the McCosker Loop Trail) and trails that follow the creeks on the property.

The project was made possible through $4 million in funding secured by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan in the 2019 state budget. Additional funding came from the Park District’s voter-approved Measure WW and other state and federal grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CA Natural Resources Agency, Wildlife Conservation Board, Coastal Conservancy, California State Parks and voter-approved Propositions 1, 84 and 50 allocated by the California Natural Resources Agency.

Source: EBRPD

The Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve and Eastport Staging Area are located at 920 Pinehurst Road in Orinda.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

California State Parks encourages visitors to recreate safely, responsibly during Memorial Day Weekend

By Leave a Comment

Photos from top left: Riders wear helmets while on horseback in Auburn State Recreation Area. Life jacket loaner programs are available in many state parks and other recreation areas. A family practices safe riding in Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area. Hiking with a buddy amongst the big trees on a trail in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Source: CA Department of Parks and Recreation

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California State Parks invites Californians and visitors from around the world to recreate responsibly during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, one of the busiest outdoor holiday weekends of the year. California’s diverse landscape has recreational activities for everyone, from swimming in lakes, rivers, and oceans to hiking among giant redwoods or sequoias to off-highway vehicle riding in deserts and mountains to camping along the coastline. Following simple safety precautions, such as wearing a properly fitted life jacket or proper riding gear, avoiding alcohol, and knowing one’s limits while engaged in aquatic activities, can help save lives.

With 280 state parks, California State Parks manages over 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, and 5,200 miles of trails. There are plenty of outdoor opportunities to spend time with family and friends, reconnect with nature and enjoy the benefits state parks offer to your mental and physical health. But keep in mind, preparing for recreational activities should include simple precautions for safe recreation.

Safety around water is important as people seek cool activities during hot weather, as demonstrated by this swimmer wearing a life jacket at Caswell Memorial State Park. ©2009, California State Parks photo by Brian Baer

Here are some helpful tips to stay safe during this holiday weekend:

  • Wear a Life Jacket Around Water: Water-related accidents can happen suddenly and rapidly. Make sure you and those with you wear properly fitting, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, especially children. Wearing a life jacket is the best way to increase your chances of survival during an incident. View locations where public agencies and private organizations offer to loan life jackets to the public.
  • Prepare an Itinerary: No matter what type of recreational activity you are planning, leave an itinerary of your trip with a family member or friend with information such as the names and ages of all participants, your travel destination, and your expected return date. This will provide law enforcement personnel with essential information if an emergency response may be needed.
  • Know Before You Go: Prior to leaving home, check the statusof the state park you want to visit to find out what current restrictions and guidelines are in place. Have a back-up plan in case your destination is crowded. On arrival, park only in designated spaces.
  • Check the Weather:
    • Plan activities based on temperatures throughout the day.
    • Dress in proper clothing for the activities you are planning.
    • Shield yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
    • Drink plenty of water and avoid alcoholic and caffeinated fluids.
  • Protect Your Loved Ones Around Water:
    • Always supervise children by appointing a designated “water watcher,” taking turns with other adults. Never assume someone is watching your children.
    • Know your limits. Swimming in a lake, ocean, or river is different than swimming in a pool. Waves, tides, strong rip currents, and other water hazards can appear quickly and provide little time to act.
    • If someone is in distress, seek help from a lifeguard or call 9-1-1 if one is not available.
    • Obey posted warnings and swim in designated areas or near a lifeguard tower, if available.
  • Avoid Alcohol: Operating a recreational vehicle, including a boat or an off-highway vehicle (OHV), with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or more is against the law. Impaired boaters can be arrested even with a lower BAC if the conditions are not safe and your boat can be impounded. Some parks do have alcohol bans. Check each specific park website to determine if there are local ordinances concerning alcohol.
  • Ocean Rip Currents:If you get caught in a rip current, stay calm and do not fight the current. Swim or float parallel to the shore until you are out of the current and then swim toward the shore.
  • Learn the Rules of Recreating in Boats and OHVs: There are laws specific to operating OHVs on public lands and boats on California’s waterways. Learn about these laws by visiting the webpage of your state park destination. For boating laws, please visit com. OHV regulationsare also available to review online.
  • Trails: Whether you are hiking, horseback riding, or operating an OHV, stay on designated trails. This includes boardwalks in sensitive ecological areas. You are not only protecting natural resources, but also ensuring you do not get lost. Check with State Park staff or volunteers about trails best suited for your abilities. Make sure to hike with a buddy.
  • Leave No Trace: Leave areas better than you find them by packing out all trash. Put food waste and other waste in the bags until it can be disposed of properly. For human waste, the use of waste alleviation (WAG) gel bags or other portable toilet options is recommended. WAG bags can be safely disposed of in regular trash. Do not disturb wildlife or plants.

You can find additional safety tips and information on backpacking, biking, camping, horseback trails, and laws at parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips.

California State Parks is honoring the service of veterans, and active and reserve military members, by offering free admission to 143 participating state park units on Memorial Day – Monday, May 27, 2024. The list of participating park units can be found at State Parks Memorial Day 2024.

About CA State Parks

The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.

Parks district issues tick season advisory

By Leave a Comment

Source: EBRPD

It’s better to be ticked off than ticked on

By East Bay Regional Park District

Whether you’re hiking in East Bay Regional Parks, venturing into nearby open spaces, or simply relaxing in your own yard, it’s important to be wary of ticks, which are often present in tall grass, brush, and wooded areas. Visitors are encouraged to keep tick safety precautions in mind when visiting East Bay Regional Parks throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Ticks carry germs that can cause a number of diseases, including Lyme disease. Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted by the bite of a tick. It may be treated and cured with early diagnosis, but if not properly treated, it may persist in the body for years. Visit www.bayarealyme.org for more information.

What Does a Tick Look Like? In California, the western black-legged tick is the major carrier of Lyme disease. The adult female is reddish brown with black legs, about 1/8 inch long. Males are smaller and entirely brownish black. Both are teardrop shaped. Most ticks can’t fly or jump. They wait on the tips of grasses and in shrubs along well-used paths. With their front legs outstretched, they easily climb aboard unsuspecting hosts when they brush by.

Tick Safety Tips

  1. Wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes.
  2. Tuck shirt into pants, and pants into socks.
  3. Use insect repellent on shoes, socks, and pants.
  4. Check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks thoroughly and frequently.
  5. Keep children and pets nearby. For maximum safety, consider keeping your dog on a leash.
  6. Stay on trails. Avoid brush and grassy areas.

What To Do If Bitten By A Tick

  1. Pull the tick gently from the skin using a tissue or tweezers (not with bare hands).
  2. Scrape to remove any mouthparts left behind. An item such as a credit card can be used.
  3. Wash hands and the tick bite with soap and water; apply antiseptic to the bite. Prompt removal of ticks may prevent disease transmission.
  4. See a physician immediately if you think you have found a tick attached to your skin and you have any of the above symptoms. Early symptoms may include a spreading rash accompanied by fever, aches, and/or fatigue.

Download the Park District’s Living with Ticks brochure. Additional information is available at ebparks.org/safety/wildlife-encounters.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Opening of Mokelumne Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing in Brentwood celebrated

By Leave a Comment

Pedestrians and a bicyclist cross the recently completed Highway 4 Mokelumne Trail Overcrossing in Brentwood on March 20, 2024. Photos: CCTA

Transportation, city officials were joined by dozens of cyclists and pedestrians to cut the ribbon, make the inaugural walk over new $13 million bridge 

BRENTWOOD, CA – Almost two years to the day of the groundbreaking, as of today, Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the Mokelumne Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing in Brentwood is officially open to the public.

Officials of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), City of Brentwood, State Route 4 Bypass Authority, Contra Costa County and Metropolitan Transportation Commission cut the ribbon to ceremonially open the recently completed bridge across Highway 4 between Lone Tree Way and Sand Creek Road.

Transportation and city officials, and former Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor (in yellow) who first proposed the project, cut the ribbon for the opening of the Mokelumne Trail Overcrossing on March 30, 2024. Photo: CCTA

They were joined by dozens of eagerly awaiting bicyclists and pedestrians to make the inaugural bike and walk on the overcrossing. The bridge now provides safe access to bicyclists and pedestrians for commuting and recreational travel and as part of the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail which includes the Delta de Anza Regional Trail that runs through Antioch and Oakley..

The 850-foot bridge structure includes a wider trail-width of 16 feet to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians using the trail or accessing a potential future transit station. The bridge also meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards to support use by all community members. The overcrossing will also provide access to the future Brentwood Transit Center and BART Station

“The opening of the Mokelumne Pedestrian Overcrossing marks a significant milestone for alternative and innovative transportation in Contra Costa County,” said CCTA Board Chair Newell Arnerich. “The bridge was designed for the future in mind: access to future development in Brentwood as well as creating a wider pathway to someday accommodate many forms of environmentally friendly travel, including autonomous shuttle vehicles.”

Bicyclists, including advocate Bruce Ohlson (grey beard) and CCTA Executive Director Tim Haile (in blue vest) prepare to ride across the Mokelumne Trail Overcrossing following the ribbon cutting on Wed., March 20, 2024. Photo: CCTA

The overcrossing also provides a connection to the planned Innovation Center at Brentwood, a 200+ acre parcel that city officials have zoned for employer and development partners to create a workplace community.

“The City of Brentwood is proud to have partnered with CCTA on this important project, which brings greater connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians in Eastern Contra Costa County,” said Mayor Joel Bryant. “The project complements the City’s emphasis on innovation, safety and being financially wise – no city funds were used to construct the overcrossing.”

The cost to design and build the bridge was approximately $13 million, with funding provided through Measure J taxpayer dollars, the State Route 4 Bypass Authority, and Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) bridge toll funds.

“Closing the gap between the Mokelumne Trail by constructing a bridge to span Highway 4 was a priority project for CCTA as the overcrossing allows safe access to cyclists and pedestrians for commuting and recreational travel,” said CCTA Executive Director Tim Haile who spoke while wearing a helmet as he said  rode his bike to the event and rides his bike to work every day. “This project represents CCTA’s commitment to improving mobility and furthering safe and accessible transportation for all.”

Learn more about the overcrossing by clicking here: Mokelumne Trail Bicycle/Pedestrian Overcrossing.

Mokelumne Trail Overcrossing partner agencies.

About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority: 

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. With a staff of 23 people managing a multi-billion-dollar suite of projects and programs, CCTA is responsible for planning, funding, and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Contra Costa Health awarded state grant for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program

By Leave a Comment

Graphic source: OTS

$202.7K from Office of Traffic Safety

Contra Costa Health (CCH) announced today that it has received a $202,692 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support its Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program. This grant will allow CCH to promote safe practices for pedestrians and bicyclists and provide education about the importance of sharing the road.

Local data show an increase of nearly 30% in fatal crashes involving pedestrians over the past 10 years in Contra Costa County, and that pedestrians and bicyclists are 2.4 times more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a traffic crash compared to drivers. The OTS grant funds multiple efforts to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.

“Everyone deserves a safe environment to travel, regardless of how people get to places,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “The safety of people walking and biking on our roads is a high priority. Education plays a pivotal role in creating a strong road safety culture that prioritizes traffic safety, especially for our most vulnerable road users.”

Grant funds will support a variety of activities focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety:

  • Support for local jurisdictions to include public health in road safety plans and address the community conditions that create unsafe environments for non-motorized road users.
  • Local bicycle and pedestrian safety campaigns.
  • Community bicycle and walk “audits” of streets with high rates of pedestrian or bicyclist fatalities and serious injury crashes.
  • Bicycle training courses that teach youth on how to stay safe on the road.
  • Community events that promote bicyclist and pedestrian visibility and the importance of sharing the road, slowing down, and staying alert to bicyclists and pedestrians while driving.

Area Goals for the OTS program include:

  • Reduce the total number of pedestrians killed.
  • Reduce the total number of pedestrians injured.
  • Reduce the number of pedestrians killed under the age of 15.
  • Reduce the number of pedestrians injured under the age of 15.
  • Reduce the number of pedestrians killed over the age of 65.
  • Reduce the number of pedestrians injured over the age of 65.
  • Reduce the total number of bicyclists killed in traffic related crashes.
  • Reduce the total number of bicyclists injured in traffic related crashes.
  • Reduce the number of bicyclists killed in traffic related crashes under the age of 15.
  • Reduce the number of bicyclists injured in traffic related crashes under the age of 15.
  • Increase bicycle helmet compliance for children aged 5 to 18.

The grant program will run through September 2024.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.