The City of Orinda, along with the Town of Moraga and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), have applied for a grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Funding will go towards study of improvements along Moraga Way, and to the planning level study of area trails included in the MTC Active Transportation Network. A potential new trail is also included in the application.
A bike lane could be in the works for Moraga Way, though cyclists shouldn’t start counting the days any time soon.
The process for adding improvements to the primary access road to south Orinda and parts of Moraga has just begun with a joint application filed by the City of Orinda and the Town of Moraga.
An auxiliary lane for bicyclists and pedestrians is first on the list, especially as such a lane could help residents evacuate in the event of an evacuation.
Orinda and Moraga have partnered with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) to apply for a planning grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). The grant would be used to study the Moraga Way corridor, as well as a planning level study of the Wilder pedestrian and bicycle trail in Orinda and the Camino Pablo trail in Moraga.
“We’re hoping to get the grant, and if we can get the grant, we can start working on the feasibility analysis,” said Orinda City Manager Linda Smith.
She explained that the feasibility study will reveal whether there is enough room within Orinda and Moraga’s current right-of-way for an additional lane.
If there isn’t, Smith said there will be recommendations on the acquisition of land from adjacent property owners, and finally, an estimated cost for the improvements will be made.
The potential funding for the project along Moraga Way originates from the Safe Routes to Transit and Bay Trail Program Grant (SR2TBT), which itself comes from funding provided by Regional Measure 3. The measure, passed by voters in 2018, raised bridge tolls incrementally, increasing funding for transportation projects that reduce congestion and improve travel along toll bridge corridors.
The SR2TBT grant would also complement the CCTA’s Countywide Emergency Evacuation Plan Project funding, going toward improvement of the Orinda and Moraga Active Transportation network – which is part of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Active Transport network.
“I understand that, of course, concern is very high right now in the community about evacuation,” said Orinda Mayor Latika Malkani. “And that’s a valid concern. We all are concerned about the fact that Moraga Way is a single artery [and] would be needed in the event of an evacuation.”
“We are doing what we can to explore an opportunity to increase use [of the road] in the event of an emergency.”
Malkani said that enabling and encouraging additional bike and pedestrian activity along the road could also help alleviate traffic and be more environmentally friendly on a day-to-day basis.
“So there’s a lot of benefits to it,” she said. “I think it would be a really worthwhile project. I hope we get the grant.”
Contraflow, or turning a two-way road into a double-lane evacuation route, is also a possibility for Moraga Way. Miner Road in Orinda – between Lombardy Lane and Camino Pablo – is already designated as a contraflow route to ease traffic in the event of an evacuation.
The evaluation of possible contraflow on Moraga Way is “definitely on the list” of considerations, said Smith.
The CCTA recommended Orinda and Moraga provide matching contributions for the SR2TBT to be competitive. If the grant is awarded, the next steps include an approval of the partnership between Orinda, Moraga and the CCTA for the improvement project and an authorization for Orinda and Moraga’s split-funding commitment.
The Moraga Way work, as well as the planning level studies of the two Lamorinda trails and a feasibility study of a potential Orinda-Moraga Regional Trail, is all within the scope of the Multi-Jurisdiction Lamorinda Regional Trails-to-Transit Plan.
An ongoing SMART Signal program, funded with grants sponsored by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier and the CCTA also aims to make area roads safer for everyone. They’ll optimize traffic flow and ease emergency evacuation response and procedures.