Congestion Relief Alternative for SR99

SJCOG, in partnership with the City of Ripon, San Joaquin County, Stanislaus County, and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is soliciting proposals from qualified consulting firms to evaluate and develop implementable near-, mid- and long-term solutions to address recurring cut-through traffic congestion in the City of Ripon. This congestion is caused by vehicles exiting the state highway system to bypass congestion on SR 99 and SR 120. Significant congestion on SR 120 and SR 99, combined with the widespread use of navigation applications such as Waze and Google Maps, routinely diverts regional commuter traffic through the City of Ripon. As traffic is dynamically routed to the fastest available path, local streets are increasingly used as cut-through routes. The local streets were not designed to accommodate sustained regional traffic volumes, resulting in localized congestion and community impacts. Mark Thomas was previously retained to evaluate near-term mitigation measures, Attachment A; however, as documented in prior studies, those measures were not well suited to addressing ongoing commuter diversion. Also, a persistent challenge with any localized mitigation strategy is that it may provide temporary relief in one location by merely shifting traffic issues to other locations. This RFP seeks to identify solutions that are practical, effective, and capable of advancing toward implementation. The study will begin after the completion of the SR 99/120 Connector Project Phase 1A, which is anticipated to be completed in summer 2026. This study will address congestion relief strategies across multiple time horizons: Near-term (0–2 years) Mid-term (2–7 years) Long-term (beyond 7 years) A key alternative requiring particular emphasis is the evaluation of a regional transportation bypass that would provide an alternative route for through-traffic, particularly long-distance commuters and freight movement. This bypass would allow vehicles to avoid the most congested segment of SR 99 between Austin Road interchange in Manteca and Main Street interchange in Ripon. The conceptual regional transportation bypass includes the following corridor alignment: A new SR 99 interchange, developed in coordination with the City of Manteca, located between the Jack Tone Interchange and the SR99/120 Interchange. The City of Ripon’s proposed Ripon Olive Avenue Expressway, which would allow southbound travel to a proposed Stanislaus River crossing. The Olive Avenue Expressway is included in the City of Ripon’s General Plan and currently located within unincorporated San Joaquin County. An extension of the bypass corridor through Stanislaus County to reconnect with SR 99. No planning has been conducted to date for this portion of the corridor. While the Olive Avenue Expressway is identified as a key long-term component of the City of Ripon’s General Plan, the study must examine alternative or complementary strategies, with the Olive Avenue Expressway bypass as an essential lynchpin that can provide meaningful congestion relief within each time horizon previously identified. The study must also include evaluation of a corridor solution for travel over the Stanislaus River and potential impacts to key roadways in Stanislaus County. While this RFP presents a generalized scope, proposing firms are encouraged to propose innovative, creative, and/or alternative approaches if there is a “better way” to examine the problem and develop solutions. The selected consultant will enter into a contract with SJCOG. An example contract is provided as Attachment B.