Transportation in Contra Costa

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Public Transit

Taking public transit is a great way to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and save money! There are several inexpensive public transit options in Walnut Creek, including bus routes and two BART stations (Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill). In addition, the City of Walnut Creek, in partnership with County Connection and the businesses of the Shadelands Business Park, supports a number of free transportation options for residents and visitors. With regular bus services available, leave the car at home and take advantage of the free public transit options listed below.

Free Public Transit Options

Route 4 Downtown Trolley: The Route 4 Free Downtown Trolley operates seven days a week from the Walnut Creek BART Station and provides complimentary hop-on, hop-off service between various shopping, restaurant, and entertainment destinations in downtown Walnut Creek. The latest schedule and hours of operation can be found on the Route 4 page of the County Connection website.
Route 5 Creekside Shuttle: The free Route 5 Creekside/Walnut Creek BART service operates weekdays from the Walnut Creek BART Station serving destinations along California Boulevard, South Main Street, and Creekside Drive, including destinations downtown. Take this bus for easy access to Kaiser Hospital – Walnut Creek, Los Lomas High School, and neighborhoods on Creekside Drive. The latest schedule and hours of operation can be found on the Route 5 page of the County Connection website.
Route 7 Shadelands Shuttle The Route 7 Shadelands Shuttle offers complimentary weekday bus service between the Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre BART Station and the Shadelands Business Park. The latest schedule and hours of operation can be found on the Route 7 page of the County Connection website.
Route 14 Monument Shuttle: The Route 14 Monument Shuttle offers weekday bus service between the Concord BART station and the Walnut Creek BART station. This bus provides easy access to several different areas, including the Pleasant Hill BART station, the Countrywood Shopping Plaza, the John Muir Health Urgent Care Center, and Walnut Creek Intermediate School. The latest schedule and hours of operation can be found on the Route 14 page of the County Connection website.

Take the Bus and Bay Area Rapid Transit

County Connection : County Connection offers an extensive bus network that serves destinations throughout Walnut Creek and cities in Central Contra Costa County.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART): BART is a convenient, affordable way to travel to other places in the Bay Area, including Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, the Oakland International Airport, and the San Francisco International Airport.

The City of Walnut Creek is currently served by two BART Stations: the Walnut Creek BART Station, which serves downtown Walnut Creek and major employment and shopping areas; and the Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre BART Station, which serves northern portions of Walnut Creek, unincorporated Contra Costa County, the City of Pleasant Hill and the City of Concord. Both BART stations offer secure vehicle parking and bicycle storage lockers available for public use.

Clipper: Clipper makes it easy to ride transit in the Bay Area. Clipper® is the all-in-one transit card that keeps track of any passes, discount tickets, booked rides, and cash value that you load onto it, while applying all applicable fares, discounts and transfer rules.

$25 to Try Transit: Pledge to try transit as an alternative to driving alone to/from work and receive a pre-loaded $25 Clipper card. Whether you make the switch one day out of the week or five days a week, taking transit can make a difference!

Senior and Adaptive Needs

County Connection LINK Paratransit Service

County Connection LINK paratransit service is an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit service. For LINK Reservations, call (925) 938-7433. For fixed-route bus service information, call (925) 676-7500.

Expanded Transportation Programs for Seniors

The Senior Mini Bus Program provides over 3,000 per year to seniors in Walnut Creek. It utilizes volunteer drivers and dispatchers to schedule rides and get seniors where they need to go! Transportation plays a key role in combating isolation among seniors. The mini bus program helps seniors maintain their independence, allows seniors to get to important medical appointments and shop for groceries and other necessities, provides opportunities for socialization, and helps alleviate traffic and parking congestion in Walnut Creek.

The City of Walnut Creek is also utilizing the ride sharing app Lyft to expand its transportation services. In addition to the Senior Mini Bus program, the Lyft pilot program will provide rides outside of regular mini bus hours, allowing members the freedom to get where they need to be within the borders of Walnut Creek.

Mobility Matters

The nonprofit Mobility Matters offers home-bound senior residents of Contra Costa County, free one-on-one, door-through-door rides provided by volunteer drivers. These rides are primarily for the purpose of obtaining medical care, groceries, and other basic necessities.

Rossmoor Shuttle

Rossmoor offers a variety of convenient and easy-to-use transportation options to meet the needs of Rossmoor residents. For more information on the Rossmoor Shuttle, call (925) 988-7670.

Rideshare Programs

Carpooling and ridesharing is a growing trend in both the US and the Bay Area. With over 500 active carpools in the Bay, chances are one is headed where you are! There’s lots to like about getting out from behind the wheel. When you carpool you can:

Save time using HOV lanes and toll booths
Save money by sharing parking costs and electricity (for electric vehicles) or gas (for gasoline-fueled vehicles) costs
Reduce wear and tear on your personal vehicle
Work, read or nap while traveling to and from work

Merge Program

511 Contra Costa offers a program to help commuters connect with each other and get started with a carpool or bikepool.

Drive Less Commuter Benefits Program

Are you an employer looking to create a new Commute Benefit program for your employees? Are you an employee looking to get more information on commute alternative programs? 511 Contra Costa offers great resources and incentive programs tailored to your needs.

Guaranteed Ride Home Program

Contra Costa offers a free Guaranteed Ride Home Program so that commuters can get home in an emergency. All commuters who typically commute to work or school by walking, biking or sharing a ride are eligible.

Free Rides

Route 4 Downtown Trolley

The Route 4 Free Downtown Trolley operates seven days a week from the Walnut Creek BART Station and provides complimentary hop-on, hop-off service between various shopping, restaurant, and entertainment destinations in downtown Walnut Creek. The latest schedule and hours of operation can be found on the Route 4 page of the County Connection website.

Route 5 Creekside Shuttle

The free Route 5 Creekside/Walnut Creek BART service operates weekdays from the Walnut Creek BART Station serving destinations along California Boulevard, South Main Street, and Creekside Drive, including destinations downtown. Take this bus for easy access to Kaiser Hospital – Walnut Creek, Los Lomas High School, and neighborhoods on Creekside Drive. The latest schedule and hours of operation can be found on the Route 5 page of the County Connection website.

Route 7 Shadelands Shuttle
The Route 7 Shadelands Shuttle offers complimentary weekday bus service between the Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre BART Station and the Shadelands Business Park. The latest schedule and hours of operation can be found on the Route 7 page of the County Connection website.

Route 14 Monument Shuttle
The Route 14 Monument Shuttle offers weekday bus service between the Concord BART station and the Walnut Creek BART station. This bus provides easy access to several different areas, including the Pleasant Hill BART station, the Countrywood Shopping Plaza, the John Muir Health Urgent Care Center, and Walnut Creek Intermediate School. The latest schedule and hours of operation can be found on the Route 14 page of the County Connection website.

Biking in Contra Costa

Bicycling provides numerous health, economic, and environmental benefits. It can be a convenient option for all types of trips, including trips to school and work, shopping and recreation trips, and first- and last-mile access to public transit stations and stops.

Bicycle Maps

Walnut Creek Bicycle Map

The Walnut Creek Bicycle Map is a useful guide to anyone making a trip around town. This map contains local resources and contact information to assist in your journey whether local or regional.

Walnut Creek Open Space Trails Map

The Walnut Creek Open Space Trails Map provides useful trailhead information, routes and elevations. If you're planning to walk or bike in the Walnut Creek Open Space Areas, this guide is useful and necessary. Remember, bicycles are not allowed on every trail, so you'll want to confirm the route before the trip.

511 Contra Costa Bike Mapper

511 Contra Costa has developed a bike mapping system that is specially designed to find flat, safe, and fast routes anywhere in Contra Costa (with access to mapping for the entire Bay Area). Just enter your start and finish points, and the mapping system will show you the best bike route options!

Lockers and More Resources

Public Bicycle Locker and Rack Locations

511 Contra Costa has developed a map of secure bike storage locations throughout Contra Costa County.

BikeLink Electronic Lockers in Walnut Creek

In addition to the electronic bicycle lockers at the Walnut Creek BART and Pleasant Hill BART Stations, the City of Walnut Creek currently has four electronic bike lockers located in front of City Hall (1666 North Main Street) and two at the North Locust Parking Garage (next to the N California Blvd entrance). To use these secure, electronic lockers, users must first register and obtain a BikeLink card.

Electric Bicycle Rebate Program

Contra Costa offers a $150-300 cash rebate to residents who purchase a new e-bike. $150 rebates are available for all residents, and $300 rebates are available for income-qualified residents.

E-bikes are a great way to save money on gas, avoid sitting in traffic, and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions-- all while having fun! Check out 511 Contra Costa's website to learn more about e-bikes and the Contra Costa rebate program!

Bicycle Safety Brochure

Learn about the rules of the road or brush up on safety before you ride your bike.

East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) Programs

The East Bay Regional Park District offers trails, interpretive and recreation programs, other activities and indoor/outdoor rental facilities in parks spanning Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The East Bay Regional Park District maintains several facilities in Walnut Creek, including the Iron Horse Regional Trail and Contra Costa Canal Regional Trail. Learn more about rules on the local trails and find a complete list of multipurpose trails in the area.

Bicycle Rack Installation Guide

A useful guide for property owners to assist with the placement and installation of short term (racks) and long term (lockers) bicycle parking.

Bicycle Plans

Walnut Creek Bicycle Master Plan

Walnut Creek's General Plan 2025 includes an action item to develop a bicycle plan for the City of Walnut Creek. On August 2, 2011, the City Council completed the action when they adopted the Walnut Creek Bicycle Plan. This allows the City to coordinate different bicycle-related improvements more coherently towards creating an environment conducive for bicycle use. The 2011 Bicycle Plan also enables the City to request Bicycle Lane Transportation Account (BTA) funds that are provided by the State for projects that improve safety and convenience for bicycle commuters. The adopted plan also increases the City’s eligibility for funding programs such as CalTrans Bike Lane Account, Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transportation Development Act and Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Transportation for Clean Air.

The goal of the Bicycle Plan is to create a comprehensive vision that supports bicycle use in Walnut Creek. The plan emphasizes the policy direction established in the Walnut Creek General Plan 2025 to provide a safe and attractive environment for bicycle travel, promote bicycle use as a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation, and facility guidelines which encourage and support bicycle use for travel and recreation in Walnut Creek.

The Bicycle Plan provides goals, policies and actions which promote cycling as a desirable transportation alternative to cars. The plan addresses the many aspects of planning and infrastructure that affect bicycling in Walnut Creek. The purpose of the plan is to:

Provide recommendations to improve the overall safety of the bicyclist;
Identify and prioritize the needs of the bicyclist;
Promote bicycling as a viable and sustainable transportation option;
Reflect Walnut Creek’s regional importance to the bicycling community to establish consistency with other local and regional bicycle plans;
Establish a set of short and long term goals and policies intended to guide the development of new facilities as well as the maintenance of existing facilities; and
Allow the City to maximize the number of outside funding sources for plan implementation, including the California Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) funds and other state and federal funding programs.

The Bicycle Plan is not intended to be an implementation guide for new bicycle facilities but rather, it is intended to be a general strategy plan that establishes a long range vision for bicycling in Walnut Creek, which can evolve as needs change.

More materials developed as part of the adoption of the Bicycle Plan are available below:

Countywide Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan

In October 2009, the Authority adopted its first update to the Contra Costa Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (CBPP). The 2009 CBPP addresses a number of changes affecting walking and bicycling in Contra Costa that have taken place since adoption of the original CBPP in December 2003.

Olympic Corridor Trail Connector Study

The Olympic Corridor Trail Connector Study is a planning effort that identified feasible alignments and a preferred alternative for a pedestrian/bicycle facility connecting two well-used, paved, multi-use regional trails in Contra Costa County, the Lafayette - Moraga Trail and the Iron Horse Trail. The Study was led by Contra Costa County and included the City of Walnut Creek and City of Lafayette.

Treat/I-680 Bike and Pedestrian Access Study

The proposed project would provide a plan that identifies improvements to serve bicyclists and pedestrians using the Treat Boulevard/I-680 corridor between the Iron Horse Trail, through the Interstate-680 (I-680) over-crossing ("over-crossing") near the Contra Costa Centre/Pleasant Hill BART station area, and extending west to Geary Road/North Main Street in the City of Walnut Creek. The I-680/Treat Boulevard over-crossing is one of the main arteries into the Contra Costa Centre/Pleasant Hill BART station area from areas of Walnut Creek west of the freeway. The Study is currently being developed by Contra Costa County in partnership with the City of Walnut Creek.