Lafayette advances Mount Diablo multimodal planning; MTC-funded studies to be coordinated

At a Feb. 20 workshop the Lafayette planning team presented a coordinated package of transportation and downtown projects intended to improve safety, connections and grant readiness across the Mount Diablo corridor. Stephanie Cementos and Patrick (planning staff) briefed the council on near‑term construction projects, ongoing design efforts and a newly issued RFP for a multimodal 'm3' study.

Why it matters: staff said aligning multiple studies — BART station access, a downtown parking management study, the Aqueduct pathway design and the multimodal corridor 'm3' study — will let the city pursue grant funding and avoid conflicting investments in the same corridor.

Key points: Patrick described three construction projects (town center/bike station, Connecting Lafayette gap closures, and an Aqueduct Pathway segment) and said MTC is funding several planning efforts with no local match. He told the council the m3 study will "serve as the parent study, establishing a 20 year vision and framework for how walking, biking, transit and vehicle travel function together in our downtown." The staff also proposed two technical substudies (right‑turn‑on‑red restrictions at key intersections, and a Moraga Road redesign concept timed to a future resurfacing).

Coordination and concerns: councilmembers asked whether parallel MTC‑funded work could be streamlined; staff proposed a multimodal mobility advisory committee to oversee consistency, public engagement and to coordinate consultant work. Council also requested the RFP/template used by MTC so members can review the scope and recommend local emphasis where needed.

What’s next: staff will return the RFPs/templates to council, set up coordination steps among consultants, and form a multimodal advisory group to align the BART access, multimodal and parking studies and guide implementation.