In June 1990 California voters approved legislation which increased funding for California’s transportation system. With the passage of Proposition 111 there were new requirements for the transportation planning process that requires urbanized counties, such as San Joaquin County, to prepare, adopt, and biennially update a Congestion Management Program (CMP).

The 2005 Federal transportation bill, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), also requires the development of a Congestion Management Process (CMP) that is fully integrated into the regional transportation planning process in order to provide for “safe and effective integrated management and operation of the transportation system.” This requirement was carried forward in all subsequent Federal transportation bills including the most recent Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). Of particular note, in counties that are designated as nonattainment of federal air quality standards such as San Joaquin County, federal regulations require certification that any project resulting in a significant increase in SOV (Single Occupancy Vehicle) carrying capacity (with the exception of safety improvements and bottleneck elimination projects) be addressed through the CMP. Before federal funds are advanced, the CMP must demonstrate that the capacity increasing project is warranted by first implementing feasible travel demand reduction and operational management strategies. If, after all strategies have been analyzed/implemented and the capacity increasing project is justified, federal regulations required that the CMP identify strategies to manage the facility effectively.

At the local level, the 2006 Measure K Renewal ordinance included a requirement to support and develop a Regional Congestion Management Program (RCMP). The SJCOG RCMP satisfies the requirements of this local mandate as well as the state and Federal CMP requirements.

The RCMP Network consists of Roadways, Intersections, Bikeways, and Multi-Modal Corridors, described in further detail below: 

Roadway Network
The roadway network is a core network of key transportation facilities that facilitate regional travel within San Joaquin County. At a minimum, state statute requires that all state highways and principal arterials be designated as part of the RCMP roadway network. Local arterials must represent routes of regional significance. Per state statute, once a route is designated as part of the RCMP system, it cannot be removed

Regional Roadways Map

Intersections 
A total of 112 intersections have been designated as part of the RCMP Network. Designation of RCMP intersections adds resolution for congestion monitoring and appropriately focuses attention at locations where operational constraints are typically experienced on arterial roadways. Consistent with state statute, once an intersection is designated part of the system, it cannot be removed. RCMP intersections are subject to the CMP roadway LOS standards and deficiency planning requirements.  

Highways and Intersections Map

Regional Bikeway Network
The RCMP provides a mechanism to track performance and ultimate completion of the designated regional bikeway network. The regional bikeway network includes existing and future Class I Multi-use trails, Class II Bike Lanes, and Class III Bike Route facilities that will comprise a continuous uninterrupted network of facilities across the entire county. Unlike the RCMP roadway network, the designated bicycle network may change over time depending on the presence, quality or connectivity of existing or planned infrastructure (as defined during periodic updates of the regional bikeway network).

Bicycle Network Map

Multi-Modal Corridors
State and federal mandates require the consideration of all major modes of travel as part of a Congestion Management Program (CMP). Additionally, the California Complete Streets Act (AB 1358) requires counties and cities to include policies that take all roadway users into consideration (bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, motorists, children, senior citizens, mobility impaired, and freight movers) as part of their general plan updates. In recognition of these legislative mandates, SJCOG, in coordination with its member agencies identified a sub-set of the RCMP network to be designated as RCMP multimodal corridors. RCMP multimodal corridors are defined as sections of the RCMP roadway network where the operational performance of pedestrian, bicyclist, transit passenger, and motorist is to be considered and analyzed holistically. The concepts and method to compute multimodal level of service (MMLOS) is documented in the 2010 Highway Capacity Manual.

Multi-Modal Corridors Map

Traffic Volume Counts

The RCMP Traffic Monitoring Program provides the mechanism to yield the requisite traffic counts and related data to address the state RCMP vehicular LOS standards and the established multi-modal state/federal RCMP performance measures. The RCMP turn movement and roadway traffic count data base will serve as a countywide resource.

Need to access traffic volume counts on RCMP roadways? Traffic counts are available upon request. Contact Travis Yokoyama at yokoyama@sjcog.org or (209) 235-0451.

RCMP Documents

• View RCMP related planning documents

Relevant Regulations

• CMP Statute (Government Code Section 65088-65089.10 (PDF)
• SAFETEA-LU Federal CMP CFR Title 23 Vol. 1 Section 450-320 (PDF)
• Senate Bill 743 (SB-743) requires replacement of Level of Service analysis with Vehicle  Miles Traveled analysis in CEQA and streamlines RCMP analysis near high frequency transit. 
• Proposed Comprehensive Updates to CEQA Guidelines, including updates to transportation analysis implementing SB 743
• AB-1358 (Government Code 65040.2, 65302) for addressing multi-modal “complete streets” concepts in city/county general plan circulation elements.
• Senate Bill 375 (SB-375) requires Metropolitan Planning Organizations to develop “Sustainable Communities Strategies” (SCSs) to achieve quantifiable targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through more efficient development and better coordination. SB 375 streamlines the environmental review process for certain new development projects located near transit stations.