August 2023

Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) has had a lot to celebrate in the first half of 2023 – and there is more to come! Read on to learn more on how Alameda CTC is continuing to fulfill its promises to voters by delivering programs and projects that expand access and improve mobility to foster a vibrant and livable Alameda County, all with strong financial accountability.

Alameda CTC marks tenth consecutive year securing highest award for financial reporting excellence

Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) has once again been recognized for its excellence in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the year ended June 30, 2022. The award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

Alameda CTC’s ACFR was judged by an impartial panel to ensure the GFOA’s highest standards of the financial reporting program are met, demonstrating a constructive spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate its financial story. Known as the Certificate of Achievement, the award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting and has now been awarded to Alameda CTC for ten consecutive years.

Alameda CTC has an outstanding fiscal leadership and financial transparency track record, securing one hundred percent clean audits since its inception in 2010. The GFOA, founded in 1906, is a major professional association servicing the needs of over 21,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government officials and other finance practitioners.

Leaders from throughout Alameda County and beyond come together to herald milestones for two Projects at the Port of Oakland

In July, Alameda CTC, the Port of Oakland, and the City of Oakland celebrated important milestones for two major transportation improvement projects that the agencies worked closely together on to deliver at the Port of Oakland. The two projects celebrated include:

• A Ribbon Cutting for the Freight Intelligent Transportation Systems (FITS) Project: Installation of state-of-the-art technology to more efficiently manage truck arrivals and goods movement, improve safety and incident response, and reduce vehicle wait times and emissions; and
• The Groundbreaking for the 7th Street Grade Separation East Segment (7SGSE) Project: Improvements to a primary gateway to the Port of Oakland, including roadway reconfiguration and reconstruction; upgrading the current bike and pedestrian pathway to meet today’s ADA and design standards and connect with the waterfront; and a project “green element” with of live plants on the pathway wall at the community’s request.

The following leaders (pictured below from left to right) were in attendance to herald the two projects: Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny W. Wan; Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Executive Director Andrew B. Fremier; Alameda CTC Executive Director Tess Lengyel; County Supervisor and Commissioner for Alameda CTC and MTC, Nate Miley; Alameda CTC Chair and Emeryville Mayor John J. Bauters; Port of Oakland Commissioner Michael Colbruno; Port of Oakland Commission President and Oakland Chamber of Commerce CEO Barbara Leslie; Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao; California Transportation Commission (CTC) Chair and President/CEO of the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation Lee Ann Eager; CTC Executive Director Tanisha Taylor; and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 4 Director, Dina El-Tawansy representing the California State Transportation Agency.

Alameda CTC Chair John J. Bauters noted, “The FITS and 7SGSE projects are bringing critical improvements to the local community as well as to the larger region and supporting goods movement for all of Northern California.”

Groundbreaking event welcomes start of I-680 Southbound Express Lane and Pavement Rehabilitation Project 

In April 2023, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Alameda CTC celebrated the groundbreaking of the Southbound Interstate 680 Express Lane and Pavement Rehabilitation Project. This effort will pave the way for a smoother, less congested ride for thousands of motorists. It will also build a new express lane on I-680 between State Route 84 and Alcosta Boulevard in San Ramon, closing the gap between existing and in-process express lanes to ease the commute for southbound I-680 commuters. The project will also rehabilitate the pavement on this nine-mile stretch of I-680 through Sunol, Pleasanton, Dublin and San Ramon to provide a smoother, more comfortable ride. 

Pictured (left to right): Caltrans Deputy District Director for Program/Project Management Doanh Nguyen; Alameda CTC Vice Chair and District I Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert; Alameda CTC Commissioner and City of Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez; and Pleasanton Councilmember Valerie Arkin.

Commission approves over $200 Million to support local projects and programs throughout Alameda County

In May, the Commission approved Alameda CTC’s 2024 Comprehensive Investment Plan (CIP), with over $200 million in programming countywide for new projects and recommendations related to Commission-approved priorities identified within the 2014 Transportation Expenditure plan. Programming recommendations include funding 35 out of 52 funding requests for bicycle/pedestrian, transit capital, and shuttle projects and programs throughout Alameda County. Furthermore, the CIP investments widely support focus areas of Equity Priority Communities, High-Injury Network, and Priority Development Areas, with a significant focus on deliverability during fiscal years 2023-24 to 2027-28. 

Alameda CTC funds support San Francisco Bay Ferry Fleet Getting Greener

In May 2023, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) completed the Gemini Class Clean Air Conversion Project, resulting in a substantial decrease in air pollution emissions from four San Francisco Bay Ferry vessels serving Oakland, Alameda, and Richmond. Alameda CTC’s sales tax Measure BB provided a portion of the funding for the conversion. Explaining the importance of supporting this project, Alameda CTC Executive Director Tess Lengyel remarked, “Two of Alameda CTC’s top priorities are supporting transportation choices and advancing clean transportation, with special focus on reducing the environmental impact in low-income communities and communities of color. That’s why Alameda CTC is thrilled to help fund the Gemini ferry project through Measure BB funds and deliver on the promises made to Alameda County voters.” 

Leaders including Alameda CTC Chair and Emeryville Mayor John J. Bauters and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao recently came together to celebrate the SF Ferry fleet’s emission reductions.

Photo credit: Bay Area Air Quality Management District

Alameda CTC marks start of innovative Bikeways Academy

Alameda CTC proudly launched its Bikeways Academy earlier this year to advance the Commission’s goals around safety and multimodal transportation by supporting active transportation in Alameda County for all ages and abilities. Designed as a series of quarterly technical trainings and knowledge-sharing sessions for local jurisdiction and agency staff, the series features speakers from around North America on a variety of topics including operations and maintenance, phasing and implementation, and routing and wayfinding. This effort is intended to support the Countywide Bikeways Network, and All Ages and Abilities Policy. Alameda CTC recently hosted the second Bikeways Academy session “Getting to Yes: Phased Delivery Strategies” which included a moderated panel discussion on phased delivery and implementation strategies with speakers from San Leandro, Cambridge, and Portland.



The Bikeways Academy will continue with quarterly sessions through the end of 2024 and will include a Bikeways Workshop on October 19, 2023. This approximately half-day session will provide resources for elected officials on communications strategies that respond to common concerns involved in implementing an All Ages and Abilities network, as well as share project spotlights of recent successful implementation examples throughout the county.

Independent Watchdog Committee issues 21st Annual Report to the Public regarding Measure B and Measure BB Sales Tax Measures

On July 13, 2023, Alameda CTC’s Independent Watchdog Committee (IWC) approved its 21st Annual Report to the Public covering fiscal year 2021-2022 expenditures and IWC activities. The report makes recommendations regarding the delivery of projects and programs funded by Measure B, Alameda County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, and those funded by Measure BB, which augmented the half-cent sales tax to one cent and extended the tax through 2045.

Through its website, Alameda CTC makes the 21st Annual Report to the Public, the Executive Summary in English, Chinese and Spanish, and audited financial statements and compliance reports of Measure B and Measure BB for each agency receiving funds through the direct local distribution program available to the public.