This week the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) announced a public-private partnership that could lead to a future Dynamic Personal Micro Transit (DPMT) Project in East Contra Costa County.
DPMT is a cutting-edge technology providing on-demand and autonomous transportation for up to four passengers, who ride in Jetson’s like capsules. These zero-emission electric vehicles travel in narrow, dedicated guideways – minimizing the space needed to operate the system.
As East Contra Costa County prepares for extensive population growth and an increasingly overburdened and congested SR4, transportation officials say DPMT offers an opportunity to relieve congestion on SR4 and local arterials.
While CCTA and Tri Delta Transit will need to pursue regional, state, and federal funding to pay for the project, the announcement of this partnership is the first step in the process, officials said.
This release was issued in conjunction with Contra Costa Transportation Authority and Tri Delta Transit’s announcement of a Public-Private Partnership with East County Connection Partners, LLC to Offer Dynamic Personal Micro Transit:
WALNUT CREEK, CA – The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and Tri Delta Transit are marking another milestone in the innovative East Contra Costa County Dynamic Personal Micro Transit (DPMT) Project. Today, CCTA and Tri Delta Transit are announcing a partnership with East County Connection Partners, LLC (ECCP), made up of transportation innovators Glydways and Plenary Americas; and lead construction contractor Flatiron.
The DPMT Project is a multi-city, on-demand transit option designed to meet the diverse mobility needs of people in Eastern Contra Costa County. ECCP will help bring the vision of a safe, on-demand, single-party, transportation system into reality with its zero-emission, autonomous, four-person Glydcars. These electric vehicles travel in narrow, dedicated elevated or at-grade guideways, making more efficient use of space, substantially cutting operational costs, and providing a sustainable option that aligns with local, regional, and state emission reduction goals. The Glydcars are designed with convenience in mind, with enough space for passengers to easily travel with their luggage or bikes. The vehicles are also fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide enough room to comfortably fit a wheelchair.
This new, fare-based transit solution will help alleviate the increasing congestion on State Route 4 (SR-4) and major highway in East County. The project also aims to enhance transit accessibility in East County by improving connections to existing options such as BART and local bus services.
In Spring 2021, the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley and Pittsburg completed the East County DPMT Feasibility Study (Study) to support a potential micro-transit deployment with Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) in East Contra Costa County. Subsequently, the CCTA and Tri Delta Transit partnered to evaluate the potential deployment of the East County DPMT project.
ECCP specializes in a revolutionary on-demand public transportation system. CCTA in partnership with Tri Delta Transit, selected ECCP as the preferred vendor for the DPMT project after a comprehensive evaluation process. CCTA, Tri Delta Transit, and ECCP will work together to deliver an initial viable segment of the larger project through a unique public-private partnership (P3).
“We’re very excited about this project and believe it will significantly improve the quality of life in our community,” said CCTA Board Chair Federal Glover. “It’s a bold step towards a more sustainable and accessible future for Contra Costa.”
To actualize that future, CCTA and Tri Delta Transit determined last year that engaging a private sector partner to collaborate with would be the most beneficial strategy. The P3 approach has proven to be a highly efficient agreement, allowing for smoother delivery and deployment of transportation projects. P3s unlock the ability to quickly mobilize the resources required for state-of-the-art, effective, and sustainable transportation solutions, such as the DPMT project.
“This partnership is a significant milestone for us,” said Tri Delta Transit Board Chair, Lamar Thorpe. “By working with ECCP, we can leverage their expertise in innovative transportation technologies to better serve East County residents.”
The partners will also collaborate to pursue funding for implementation of the initial segment.
More information about the DPMT project is available at https://ccta.net/projects/east-county-dynamic-personal-micro-transit-project/