San Pablo Avenue Redesign Survey Extended to December 14

WEST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, Calif. — Residents, commuters and business owners have until Monday, December 14, 2026, to weigh in on possible changes to San Pablo Avenue, one of the East Bay's major transportation and commercial corridors.

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is studying ways to improve traffic safety, bus reliability, pedestrian crossings, bicycle access and connections to local businesses along approximately 5.5 miles of San Pablo Avenue, from the Alameda County line to Contra Costa College.

The public survey was initially scheduled to close November 22. CCTA subsequently announced an extension to December 12 before extending the deadline again to December 14, according to Matt Kelly, the agency's director of planning, in a November 13 response to Bay Area News Network.

The agency's project and survey websites had not yet been updated to reflect the latest extension as of November 13.

No final roadway design has been selected, and officials say community feedback will help shape recommendations expected in 2027.

Why officials are studying San Pablo Avenue

Safety is a central concern.

According to collision data cited by CCTA, six people were killed and 35 were severely injured along the project corridor between July 2020 and June 2025. Four of the six people killed were walking or bicycling.

Transit reliability is another concern. San Pablo Avenue serves several AC Transit routes, including the 72 and 72L, which CCTA says travel at average speeds of approximately 10 to 11 mph in some portions of the corridor.

During commute periods, bus trips can take as much as three times longer than comparable car trips, according to the agency.

The planning effort is intended to identify improvements that could reduce collision risks, make public transit more reliable and provide safer access to businesses, schools, BART stations and neighborhoods.

What changes are being considered?

Transportation planners are evaluating a range of possible improvements, including dedicated or priority bus lanes, upgraded pedestrian crossings, bicycle facilities, intersection changes, bus stop improvements and traffic signal upgrades.

Among the concepts under examination are center-running bus lanes, which place buses toward the middle of the roadway, and side-running bus lanes, which operate closer to the curb.

Those arrangements could have different implications for passenger boarding, traffic movements, bicycle facilities, curbside loading and access to local businesses.

In response to questions from Bay Area News Network, Kelly clarified that an earlier proposal for a near-term bus rapid transit demonstration is no longer under consideration.

"The BRT demonstration project is no longer being considered in the near-term," Kelly wrote.

He said the agency expects to revisit potential demonstrations or quicker-build bus-priority improvements after selecting a preferred long-term corridor alternative.

CCTA also provided illustrative renderings of center-running and side-running transit configurations. The agency emphasized that the images are intended to gather public feedback, not depict approved construction plans.

What about parking and local businesses?

Potential changes to parking, loading areas and vehicle access remain important questions for merchants along the corridor.

Kelly said the project team has visited approximately 50 businesses across El Cerrito, Richmond and San Pablo as part of its outreach.

The agency is documenting concerns about customer and employee parking, deliveries, loading areas and access for businesses and nearby destinations.

According to Kelly, some businesses have expressed general support for improvements, while others are concerned that changes could make customer access more difficult.

The project team will consider that feedback as it develops recommendations and evaluates possible roadway designs.

No specific parking removals, lane conversions or curbside changes have received final approval through this planning process.

How residents can participate

CCTA is asking people who live, work, shop or travel along San Pablo Avenue to share their experiences and priorities.

The survey asks how participants currently use the corridor and what improvements they would like to see.

Residents can also use an interactive map to identify particular intersections, crossings or roadway segments where they have encountered safety or accessibility problems.

Online survey: https://fp.mysocialpinpoint.com/SPA-safetyaccess-survey

Interactive feedback map: https://fp.mysocialpinpoint.com/SPA-safetyaccess-survey/SPA-interactive-map

Latest deadline confirmed by CCTA: Monday, December 14, 2026.

The agency has also scheduled in-person outreach opportunities at two BART stations:

• Tuesday, December 1, 4–6 p.m.: El Cerrito Plaza BART station.
• Thursday, December 10, 4–6 p.m.: El Cerrito del Norte BART station.

Kelly said the additional outreach events contributed to the decision to extend the survey period.

What happens after the survey?

CCTA and its partner agencies will review community comments, technical findings and potential design alternatives before developing draft recommendations in 2027.

The planning process will consider safety, transit operations, traffic flow, business access, parking and loading needs, costs and construction feasibility.

Future construction would require additional decisions about funding, project phasing and implementation schedules.

For now, officials emphasize that the study is an opportunity for residents and businesses to influence the direction of the project before a preferred design is selected.

Additional project information is available through the Contra Costa Transportation Authority at https://ccta.ca.gov/projects/san-pablo-safety-and-access/.