M.C.P

Transportation Action Team

www.transportationactionteam.blogspot.com

October 16, 2008

Keller House

Present: Virginia Brunk, Cindy Dahlgren, Abdul Hossain, Gabby Castaneda, Adriana De Leon, Bill Miller, Wes Laubscher, Mary Lou Laubscher, Lina Ortiz, Diego Ramos, Bernardo Soto, Abedias Velazquez,

Check In’s

Everyone introduced themselves.

Announcements

Senior Transportation Forum

for small transportation providers in Contra Costa County

October, 26, 2008 1:30 PM 100 Gregory Lane, Conference Room, Pleasant Hill

Mary Lou was appointed to Lifeline Transportation Program Application Review Committee

Community Reports

Cindy Dahlgren reported that County Connection is experiencing four million dollar cuts in state funding. Lifeline applications completed. Route 8 continuance was not included in request. Route 8 will end operating March 2010. County Connection cannot sustain Route 8 after the three year period. Money will be used for operating money for Monument buses 114-115-111-314. Money will be used also for operating money for core routes that serve Martinez 108-116-118. They will be replacing 40 buses next year, 16 of them will be hybrids-diesel-electric buses. County connection will need to cut 75,000 hours of service starting in Spring of 2009. Route 820 Night Owl Route will end December 28. It is now costing $65 dollars a passenger ride. Retired vans will be available in 2010 instead of 2008.

County Connection Workshop

Open House: Workshops for Bus Service Reduction suggestions.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at Keller House 1760 Clayton Rd. Concord. Drop in hours from 4 to 7 p.m. Residents encouraged to come in and express their ideas on how to redesign routes to be more efficient an to get them where they need to go.

www.cccta.org for online flyer

Abul Hussain, Concord Transportation Director presented the large planning maps for the Monument Boulevard - Meadow Lane street improvements. The maps showed the plans for sidewalks, cross walks, wheel chair ramps and street light improvements. The whole group looked at the maps and commented. Money is in hand. The final design has yet to be completed and approved by the engineering and planning departments. Project may be completed by next year at this time.

Next Steps

Get friends to come on November 11, 2008 and bring transportation ideas to Contra Costa Connection Open House

Distribute Open House Information Cards widely.

Start thinking about other ways to transport ourselves to get where we need to go

This Meeting Highlights:

Abdul’s presentation of planning maps and information

Cindy’s County Connection announcements

Diego, Monument Crisis Youth Council representative, attended,

How this meeting could be improved:

More people

Next Meeting: Will be the County Connection Open House, November 11, 4-7 pm, at Keller House

Vision Statement By the year 2015 The Monument Transportation Action Team will have planned and implemented a “local” transportation system that will serve all residents of the Monument area who need it. It will be affordable, sustainable, safe, coordinated, environmentally sound, and get riders where they need to go in a reasonable time

Transportation Action Team August Minutes

M.C.P

Transportation Action Team

www.transportationactionteam.blogspot.com

August 22, 2008

Keller House

Present: Wes Laubscher, Mary Lou Laubscher, Lina Ortiz, Trevor Stack, Harold Kroger, Joan Carrico, Nancy Baer, Cindy Dahlgren, Ray Kazbani

Check In’s

Trevor, doing research in Mexico and is staying involved with meeting in Martinez and Concord. Would like to invite everyone to come to the Martinez Library on August 26^th at 6:30pm to discuss What is Citizenship?

Cindy, County Connection hired a new planner in April, has hit the ground running. Great asset and assistance for the team. Happy to have her on board.

Lina, has a new job opportunities working on web sites for MCP.

Wes, 5^th Annual Celebration for the Monument Community Crisis Center, great celebration over 200, food and cultural dances. Fun!

Nancy, from the county Public Health Department is working with MCP on urban design project for Monument Boulevard. Transportation is a major part of that project..

Joan, Director of Concord, Community and Recreation Services happy to be here

Cindy, County Connection

• In July Route 8 has been at it’s highest rider-ship since last September.
• “Vida Sana”, Ambassador Program and Transportation Services with Gabby Castaneda, show will be on 5 -6 times. It’s in Spanish. On the Concord channel.
• Training for transit ambassadors, Sept. 6^th, 10-4 lunch will be provided County Connection office, Arnold Industrial Way.. The commitment is to give 4 hours of volunteer hours a month, participate in 4 meetings a year. Ambassador pass to ride free while they are working and not.
• Kid Program, will travel to schools by Marie Knutson, County Connection, Class Pass talks about transit, safety on the bus, tour facility, great video. Safety Rex.
• Lifeline program is coming up, Contra Costa Connection applying. Money will go to keep services already in place running. Interested in having a Monument Community Meeting to discuss Route 8. Should we get rid of Route 8 put that money towards Route 114?. Outreach has been very extensive for Route 8 and yet there is not enough rider ship to keep the route. A public hearing will be held probably in October to discuss Possible changes in Route 8.. Kohls will be on the new schedule when it’s printed shopping center great place for the Route 8.
• Rider ship on County Connection Routes have gone up due to gas prices, Particularly on their Express & Martinez Routes.
• Call the County Connection Customer Service line at 676-7500 for more information

Concord Trails Master Plan by Jean and Ray

• Ray Introduced the plan, group looking at actual maps. Excellent maps.

• Trails Master Plan trail shows linkages and connections for recreation and bicycle routes. Deals with the bicycle trail connections..
• Discussed and looked together as a group at Table 2-3 Recommended Bikeways on City Streets
• David Avenue: North side, work with Bart for widenening lane, costly. South side has parking
• We want safe routes for kids getting to their schools when they use Oak Grove.
• Designated area on Meadow Lane to add bike lane or widen bike lane. Upgraded recommendation for Meadow Lane from what is on the table. Class 3b, to Class 2. Widening bike lane to 5 ft.
• Looked At: Monument Corridor Pedestrian Infrastructure Plan 3million dollars, MTC, TLC money and Redevelopment Money (ultimate goal to create a better environment for pedestrians on Monument). Consistency requirements have to be met when using grant money.
• Carey Drive to just East of Oak Grove. Meadow Lane just north Leland and Johnson will be improved
• Carey to Meadow Lane, 4 Corners 10 Ft widen sidewalks on Monument
• Replacing handicap ramps at various sites on Monument.
• Transitions asphalt patches getting fixed
• At Victory Lane Intersection one corner will be extended out
• Pedestrian signals changed out to Count Down pedestrian signals.
• Bike lanes Meadow lane to Johnson/Leland.

Next Steps

Plan interesting Route 8 bus tours/ adventures and have sign ups at Health Fair on October 4th.

Get different Monument Groups to host the tours.

Contact Dan Sequeira, Associate Civil Engineer, City of Concord for future community meetings.

Agenda for Next Meeting:

Focus on walking paths for traveling to and from shopping, schools and health services

This Meeting Highlights:

Having the visual map (aerial photographs), presentations by Ray and Joan

How this meeting could be improved:

More Monument residents attending

Next Meeting: Thursday September 18, 7 pm, at the Keller House

Vision Statement By the year 2015 The Monument Transportation Action Team will have planned and implemented a “local” transportation system that will serve all residents of the Monument area who need it. It will be affordable, sustainable, safe, coordinated, environmentally sound, and get riders where they need to go in a reasonable time

M.C.P
Transportation Action Team
www.transportationactionteam.blogspot.com
June 19, 2008
Keller House

Present: Wes Laubscher, Mary Lou Laubscher, Lina Ortiz, Gaby Castañeda, Silvia Flores, Claudia Vasquez, Luz Sierra

Check In’s and Announcements: New Blog online atwww.transportationactionteam.blogspot.com, visit to read the monthly minutes and for other news and pictures.

Gaby, preparing for First Five Festival
Wes, thinking of all the things to do, Route 8 is not being ridden as much as it should.
Mary Lou, City of Concord interested in redoing old Trail Master Plan
Silvia, interested in walking trails
Lina, moving, busy will be settled in by August 20th
Luz, Queen of All Saints has a new spanish Senior group meeting weekly

Community Reports
July 9, Martha Potts will be on Concord TV to talk about Route 8
Naval Weapons Station Re Design Meeting-Many MCP members there
Gaby’s Picture and article is in new 1st 5 Publication

Monument Riding and Walking Trails
Group looked at old out of date Concord Trails Master Plan
Guy Bjerke, Councilman, is interested in getting more people biking

Joan Carriceo, Community and Recreation Services Dept. will coordinate a group of city personal to look at updating the old Trails Master Plan. A member of the new Internal City Trails Planning Committee/Team will come to meet with our action team on July 17.

The team will include:
Interium Assistant City Manager, Kay Winer,
Ray Kazbari -Transportation Dept.
Member -Engineering Dept.
Member-Planning Dept and
Joan- Parks and Recreation Department Manager.

What we like so far regarding Concord Trails:
-Some trails around the city
-Iron Horse trail

Where We Want to Go or Do:
-Sunday Family Bike/Walk Event
-Guy to lead us on a Bicycle Rodeo, (close one lane, 4 hours at a time on a weekend, all sorts of exercise events)
-Get info from Monument Futures on where their workers ride to work. Many ride in the street where it is not safe. But riding on the side walk is illegal.
-Loma Visa Adult Ed., no side walk by Skate BoardPark
-Dangerous trying to cross Monument
-Over Bart Tracks crossing by Oak Grove Intermediate has fights and tagging

Barriers to Getting Where We Need To Go
-Existing trails not promoted
-Oak Grove Road Bike route not safe dirty and has rocks, uneven around curbs, you have to ride outside of the bike lane
-Have to get out of bike lanes to continue
-Many ride bikes on sidewalks on Monument and Oak Grove
-Bikes using sidewalks
-Bike routes through subdivisions poorly marked, poorly marked routes, signs for cars to read “Beware Bike Trial”
-Meadow Lane has no bike trail there is no place for bike
-Victory Lane, walkers and wheelchairs have to go into the street where the sidewalk stops
-Covered benches along trails and bus stops
- Lack of pedestrian warning signs at local markets for those drivers turning in or coming out of shopping centers.
-Uneven curb gutters bikes can’t navigate
-Most dangerous spot in crossing is intersection of Lacey Lane and Monument
-Bumpy black top covers, sidewalk on end of Eureka Lane
-Dangerous path along side Cambridge School going to park, path is dark, men exposing themselves
-No affordable bike shop to repair on Monument (Monument Futures need a grant to set up; a shop)
-Safe sidewalks –some sidewalks are so bumpy persons in wheelchairs have trouble
Crossing Monument to get to BART
-Suggestion: Trucks on Monument only on non-busy hours, signs that say no driving through Monument from 8am-8pm
-Lacey Lane corner sign needed, No Left Turn on Monument from 7 :30-900am, 2:00-400pm

Next Steps: Group bike rides to explore current bike trails and walking paths around Monument and Oak Grove
Wes will outline trails on a current Concord map

Agenda for Next Meeting:
Interagency Team Report and Discussion
Report from Cindy Dahlgren, CCTA regarding rider ship on Route 8

This Meeting Highlights:
So many ideas
Everyone contributing to the discussions
Good working group

How this meeting could be improved:
Meeting went well

Next Meeting: July 17th, 7pm Keller House


Vision Statement By the year 2015 The Monument Transportation Action Team will have planned and implemented a “local” transportation system that will serve all residents of the Monument area who need it. It will be affordable, sustainable, safe, coordinated, environmentally sound, and get riders where they need to go in a reasonable time

Transportation Action Team Meeting Minutes April 2008

M.C.P
Transportation Action Team
www.transportationactionteam.blogspot.com
April 17, 2008
Keller House

Present: Wes Laubscher, Mary Lou Laubscher, Lina Ortiz, Gaby Castañeda, Cindy Castañeda, Harold Blair, Harold Krogen, Virginia Brunk, Mayra Estrada, Luis Jimenez

Check In’s and Announcements: New Blog online at http://www.transportationactionteam.blogspot.com/, visit to read the monthly minutes and for other news and pictures.

Gaby, teens from the Youth Group took a tour of Route 8 from Meadow Homes Park to the Mall. 20+ students enjoyed the ride and couldn’t believe how easy it was to use. They rode to the mall and took a 30 min. break before getting back on.

Wes, Board Director for the Monument Crisis Center, De La Salle boys wrote and illustrated stories and read them to the kids at the center.

Virginia, April 18th from 10-2pm, Pharmacy Day at the Concord Senior Center so bring your bags of med’s and 4 pharmacists will be on duty make sure your medications are not counteracting. Bring both prescription and nonprescription medicines.

Harold, went to a meeting at Monument Futures, met with Molly Clark and the ten community listners:
There will be a Concord Naval Weapons Station planning meeting for the community May 28th at Cambridge Elementary school at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served. Flyer to come. This meeting is important because it will impact our children’s future for jobs and affordable housing. A Community Center for the Monument could be something that comes from the tax money from this reutilization. At the beginning of the meeting they want to play a game by putting five issues on the board, rating them and then placing them in order.

Mary Lou, Applying for MTC Transportation Forum Funding, Senior Action Team meeting 5th of May at 9:30 a.m. at the Police Substation, speaker on “How to Avoid Senior Scams.”, May 6th Mary Lou will be on TV at 7pm CC Channel, May 19th Senior Mobility Action Committee meeting, County Connection will be there.
Monday, April 21, 12-2pm, Mayores En Accion (for the Spanish speaking seniors)
DMV Community Outreach Ombudsman Driver Safety Manager, Julio Lacayo, 510.563.8998

Lina, the Community Gardens Action Team is preparing for the Monument Pride Community Celebration on June 7th from 11-4pm at 1500 Monument Blvd., our booth will have a kids Garden Discovery Area. Children will plant a seed and take them home. We will also showcase various rolling wagons from our group members.

How do we help people use public transportation?Why people do not use public transportation?
Barriers to using Public Transit
Not a habit
Three kids to load onto the bus and have to depend on strangers to help.
Bus stop too far away and can’t wave down the bus.
Teens shuttled by parents and have no experience riding on the bus.
Teens get licenses to early.
Route 8 1 hour is too long to wait.
Idea: A Bus Passport for Teens, Myra our youth member likes the bus, the drivers are nice, kids to kids approach will work better for teaching bus skills.

Metropolitan Transportation Forum on Monument
15 Invitees and they will get paid $65
Possible invitees: Youth Mayra,Transportation Gaby
Board, Harold, Cesar Silva, Monument Futures Board, Safeway biker
Harold friend Carlos works at Suites in PH
Leonora, from Mayores en Accion and travels by bus everyday
Molly, Anne Allen, left on Paratransit for an hour just sitting their and no air conditioner.

Community Reports
Petition to MCP Board – one week at Cambridge – one week at Meadow Homes.
Use our resources at Cambridge, Meadow Homes, Ygnacio Valley Elementary Schools, use circles of influence.

Senior Transportation Forum-
Metropolitan Transportation Forum – to discuss needs of underserved areas.
First Five offers room for the meeting. Prepare a list of groups in community who care about transportation.

Next Steps: Marketing the Transportation Action Team, this group is the basic transportation planning group.

Agenda for Next Meeting
Myra our youth member will work with Gaby to redesign the Route 8 flyer so that it is more user friendly.
MTC Forum Planning
Free Contra Costa Van, volunteer or paid driver
Invite City Staff for a frank discussion on walking trails and bike paths
Interface with Monument Redevelopment
Design Survey for paths and trails, do surveys in person about 3-5 questions.

This Meeting Highlights
New faces, new people
Fresh energy
Knowledgable youth willing to talk, Mayra is amazing and had so much to say about teens and transportation!
Great flexibility in meeting procedures
Lots of information
Finished on time

How this meeting could be improved
Lack of prepared agenda sheets and fancy name tags
Lack of refreshments

Next Meeting:
May Forum –
June 19th , 7pm Keller House, invite Julio Lacayo from the DMV

Transportation Action Team Meeting Minutes March 2008

M.C.P
Transportation Action Team
www.transportationactionteam.blogspot.com
March 20, 2008
Keller House

Present: Wes Laubscher, Mary Lou Laubscher, Lina Ortiz, Gaby Castaneda, Harold Blair, Patti Sparks Transportation Services Specialist Aging and Adult Services Contra Costa County

Check In’s
Wes, Board Director for the Monument Crisis Center, 1,300 families a month, ton food a day, families come with other problems and have other programs. Promotes Route 8, they have friendly bus drivers.

Gabby, she is from Amigos de Viajar and she took the Lakeside Group – Mayores En Accion on a Route 8 trip from Lakeside to Sunvalley Mall and back. The ride was great and the shuttle was full and is being used regularly!

Lina, she is the new facilitator for the Community Gardens Action Team and recently posted the Meeting Minutes on their blog which is found at, http://www.communitygardensactionteam.blogspot.com/
Cambridge Elementary had a Community Gardening Day on March 15th and will also have one in April will need volunteers.

Announcements
New Blog online at http://www.transportationactionteam.blogspot.com/, visit to read the monthly minutes and for other news and pictures.
Applying for MTC Transportation Forum Funding
Lina Ortiz is the new Co-Facilitator for the Transportation Action Team
Big Redevelopment Meeting May 21 or 28, 2008, date to be confirmed

Community Reports
Monument redesign
Naval Weapons redesign
Bicycle Safety Quiz

Welcome our Guest Speaker:
Patti Sparks Transportation Specialist
Contra Costa County Aging & Adult Services
A Bureau of the Employment & Human Services Department

Patti Sparks spoke:
Blessed to get a phone call about an open position in Contra Costa County, was still working in Pittsburg with low income seniors. Her office at Columbia Park Manor, Senior Living facility. She was there for six years and developed recreation activities and linked seniors to resources. They were funded for five years by John Muir, Mt. Diablo, Soda Foundation, got a case manager to do outreach to find seniors who had not been helped. Exercise instructor, nutritionist, these seniors were appreciative and they started a senior counsel and gave input about senior programs. We need a van not the Pittsburg bus and got a full time bus driver, 4th year got a grant to develop extensive health program. Walk three times a week certain amount of laps and you had a walking coach and each Senior who met their goal got a ten dollar stipend to buy food. 43 seniors involved. Stretch classes and seniors then taught the classes, she taught a disabled person to teach. They felt so good that they continued program although the funding ended. Transportation program for two and a half years bus driver and dispatcher Gated community lots of trees Took seniors to Walnut Creek hospitals from Pittsburg or Brentwood to Martinez to VA, seniors that were too vulnerable to get to hospital using the regular transportation system. Senior Helpline Services, Elaine Welch, they need volunteers, volunteer driver program. Thru Door – Thru Door – free, seniors, mobile enough to walk crutches okay, walkers okay, not wheelchairs, taking their own car. Volunteer will take them to grocery store and go in with them, flu shot stand in line with them, doctors office wait with them. The volunteers drivers will be trained. Monument Corridor is a targeted area a bid out this summer, Elaine’s group, Caring Hands might bid for it. They need to be working with MCP or Senior Action Team 3,000 Seniors on Monument – 75 english speaking, 25 spanish speaking. Younger generation is the opposite. Train drivers on apartment locations, how to get through gates, where to park. Call first that person is there, waiting, come out front for pick up.

County Connection Paratransit Vans are retiring and will be available this summer. Monument Community Partnership if they had a van would have different age groups use it. They will train 4 drivers through laidlaw, and will also provide $5,000 dollars for two years for maintenance, you have to provide the driver and cover insurance, and gas, you have to paint the bus. Requirement transportation, 50 one way adult trips, disability focus. If you apply we can be reached easily at 925-313-1633 to answer any questions.

How can the vans be used in the heart of the partnership. You can use the bus to advertise your community resources, good at relationship building and will help build trust in the community, for people to use.

First need to find the groups then the program.

How to move faster: Start being proactive, where are we going to get our drivers?
Petition to MCP Board – one week at Cambridge – one week at Meadow Homes.
Use our resources at Cambridge, Meadow Homes, Ygnacio Valley Elementary Schools, use circles of influence.

This group is the basic transportation planning group.

Next Steps in Biking and Walking Trails
Invite City Staff for a frank discussion

Senior Transportation Forum:

Metropolitan Transportation Forum – to discuss needs of underserved areas.
First Five offers room for the meeting
List of groups in community who care about transporation.

Next Steps
Design Route 8 Info Sheet both in English and Spanish
Invite ourselves to Resource Network and the First Five
Route 8 and CC Bus
Local Agencies
First 5 Logos on Bus

Marketing the Transportation Action Team
Attend Mothers Day Celebration, Monument Pride, Health Fair, First 5 Fair
Need Transporation Action Team Flyer

Agenda for Next Meeting
MTC Forum Planning
Free Contra Costa Van, volunteer or paid driver
City Staff on trails and paths
Interface with Monument Redevelopment
Design Survey for paths and trails, do surveys in person about 3-5 questions.

This Meeting Highlights
Speaker was knowledgable about our community
Good discussion due to size of group
Great new projects

How this meeting could be improved
More people

Next Meeting
April 17th, 2008, Keller House 7PM