Mobility
Issue Issue Summary Desired Outcome Strategies Recommendations Public Transit Public transportation in Bakersfield
faces challenges with long car
commutes and declining ridership,
with fixed-route ridership at half its
pre-pandemic level. While most
residents live near a bus route, west
Bakersfield has fewer routes. High-
density areas like Oildale and
Hillcrest are served, but lower-
income areas near Old River Road
lack access to GET Bus routes,
although many households have
vehicles. Several high transit need
areas in west Bakersfield are only
served by a single route, highlighting
gaps in service and the need for
improved accessibility and coverage.
Increased transit ridership
throughout the city
1. Improve Accessibility: Ensure that public
transportation is usable by everyone, including people
with disabilities and those in underserved areas.
Enhanced accessibility can attract more users and
promote equitable, widespread transit use throughout
the city. Expanded frequency as well as bus stop and
bus upgrades will also make public transit more
accessible for residents.
1.A. Incorporate bike-sharing stations and secure bike parking at major transit stops to improve multimodal travel options.
1.B. Prioritize new developments along corridors where public transit routes can support higher frequencies and consider multimodal access when reviewing development applications.
1.C. Coordinate with GET to ensure new routes or increased frequencies are planned for areas with high development potential.
1.D. Collaborate with GET to align funding for the City’s priority traffic signaling system, ensuring integration with the expansion of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network. Identify key corridors for dedicated lanes and priority signal controls to enhance speed and reliability.
1.E. Design bus stops with shelters, seating, lighting, and real-time information displays to enhance passenger comfort and safety.
Coordinate with GET to ensure multilingual transit and service availability information.
1.F. Integrate green spaces and pedestrian-friendly elements in streetscape design to encourage walking and biking to transit stops.
1.G. Ensure new developments are designed to facilitate easy access to nearby transit stops, with pedestrian paths and bike lanes leading directly to them.
1.H. Coordinate with GET Bus to identify key underserved areas and implement shorter, high-frequency bus routes to improve accessibility.
2. Provide incentives: Provide incentives, like
discounted fares or transit benefits, to make public
transportation more financially attractive. This
approach can encourage frequent use, especially
among low-income riders and commuters, boosting
ridership. Incentives also foster long-term habit
changes, promoting a shift from private car use to
public transit.
2.A Identify funding and opportunities to provide amenities for transit users, such as public wi-fi access and charging ports.
2.B. Provide and promote discounted transit passes for students, seniors, low-income residents, and employees of participating businesses.
2.C. Provide and promote discounted transit fares during major community events to promote transit use and reduce traffic congestion.
2.D Work with major employers in the City to establish TDM programs that include transit subsidies or reimbursements for employees, shift Mobility
schedules aligned with transit stop timing, or tax credits for participating businesses.
3. Leverage Technology: Leverage technology, such as
real-time tracking and mobile payments, to enhance
the user experience by providing convenience and
reducing uncertainty. These innovations make public
transit more reliable and user-friendly, attracting more riders and improving overall satisfaction, thereby
encouraging wider adoption of transit services in the
city.
3.A. Identify strategies to transition to zero-emission buses, prioritizing routes in densely populated and high-traffic areas to reduce pollution.
3.B. Explore partnerships and promotion of Token Transit passes and the associated app-based booking systems to integrate regional and microtransit with traditional public transportation, offering seamless transfers and unified payment options. Offer trainings for tech upgrades to ensure a seamless transition for riders less comfortable with technology.
3.C Investigate the feasibility of implementing real-time tracking for transit stops.
Active Transportation Bakersfield faces significant active transportation challenges that
contribute to low rates of active
transportation (walking and biking),
including a lack of connected and
high quality infrastructure, limited
accessibility for seniors, and
frequent road conflicts and traffic
congestion, particularly around
schools.
Expanded active transit
options throughout the city
and increased safety and
accessibility for pedestrians
and bicyclists
4. Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian
Infrastructure: Improve and expand the active
transportation network to provide safe, connected,
and accessible routes for non-motorized travel. This
promotes healthier lifestyles, reduces traffic
congestion, and lowers environmental impact, while
also improving the overall livability and accessibility of urban areas for all residents.
4.A. Review the Bakersfield Active Transportation Plan at least once every five years and update if needed to improve metric tracking and implementation.
4.B Conduct a Bicycle and Pedestrian Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) analysis to include in the Bakersfield ATP, particularly in areas of stress reducing improvements.
4.C. Work with bike-sharing and scooter-sharing vendors to provide options at transit hubs to facilitate seamless first and last mile connectivity, seeking solutions to common barriers of success.
4.D. Create pedestrian-friendly zones around transit stations and commercial and mixed-use hubs that include well-lit, wide walkways and clear signage to encourage walking.
4.E. Identify priority corridors for future creation of bike boulevards with traffic calming measures to prioritize cyclist safety.
4.F. Design crosswalks with high-visibility markings, pedestrian signals, and refuge islands in the middle of wide streets.
4.G. Incorporate green infrastructure and shading options, such as trees, planters, and canopies along walkways to enhance the streetscape and provide shade for pedestrians.
4.H. Introduce rest areas in highly trafficked areas for pedestrians and bicycle riders that include shaded areas, benches, and water fountains for public use.
Mobility
4.I. Improve bicycle and pedestrian safety by developing protected, single-use routes particularly in areas with highest fatality rates in order to lessen the risk of accidents between vehicles, bikers, and pedestrians.
4.J. In consideration of AB 43, evaluate and consider adjustments to local speed limit setting allowances including in areas identified as Business Activity Districts, Senior Zones, School Zones, Safety Corridors, or High Pedestrian or Bicyclists Activity areas to improve traffic safety.
5. Enhance Public Safety Measures: Enhance public
safety measures for active transportation to increase
the security and attractiveness of walking and biking.
Measures such as improved lighting, traffic
enforcement, and safe crossings reduce accidents and
crime, encouraging more people to choose active
modes of transport, thereby promoting healthier
communities and reducing reliance on cars.
5.A Continue to identify opportunities to establish and enhance Safe Routes to School programs that include crossing guards, marked crosswalks, and traffic calming measures around schools.
5.B. Identify streets that require safety improvements to increase accessibility for students, people with disabilities, seniors.
5.C. Implement traffic calming measures such as narrowed lanes, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and curb extensions in residential areas.
5.D. Improve communication with and gather feedback from community organizations, social media, constituents, churches, surface organizations, and local news stations to prioritize improvements and inform the public of street safety project updates.
5.E. Prioritize adding lighting and other visibility features to roadways, pedestrian walkways, and bike lanes to improve the safety of users.
Mobility Innovations Continuously evolving technology is revolutionizing how community
members navigate cities and
interact with mobility infrastructure.
Innovations in self-driving vehicles
and micromobility are enhancing
individuals' travel experiences by
offering more convenient and
flexible transportation choices.
At the same time, smart
infrastructure, Internet of Things
(IoT) technology, big data
management and analysis, and
artificial intelligence are changing
Modern mobility
infrastructure and
information systems that are
adaptable to future
advancements and improve
the safety and travel
experience of all mobility
users.
6. Develop a flexible Transportation Network. Design
the transportation infrastructure to be adaptable and
expandable, allowing for the integration of emerging
technologies such as autonomous vehicles, electric
scooters, and other micromobility options.
6.A. In coordination with GET, identify key growth areas of the city that will benefit from future transit stops, higher frequency routes, and facilities. Prioritize job centers, residential clusters, and mixed-use development areas, connection with the downtown and future high speed rail station, and underinvested areas of the city.
6.B. Seek opportunities and funding to modernize transit stations and stops with improved accessibility features, real-time information displays, and integrated ticketing systems.
6.C. Consider the long-term transportation and development planning in coordination, using updates to the City’s General Plan, Active Transportation Plan, and CIP, as well as updates to GET and other transit providers plans as a time to align efforts.
6.D. Maintain compliance under AB 1236 and AB 970 to streamline permitting for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.
Mobility
how jurisdictions manage
infrastructure and traffic.
• Update land use permitting and design standards to include standards for ZEV infrastructure.
• Align with KernCOG’s electric mobility plan to integrate ZEV infrastructure into building requirements. Coordinate with Public Works to include in the zoning code update.
• Establish economic development as a key objective premised on the longer dwell times for public Level II charging, providing opportunities to spur commercial/retail growth. Shorter dwell times for DC Fast Charging also provide limited economic opportunities for convenience retail, fast food, coffee, etc. • Identify amendments to zoning regulations to streamline ZEV infrastructure.
7. Invest in advanced information systems and smart
infrastructure. Where opportunities arise, integrate
smart infrastructure equipped with Internet of Things
(IoT) devices, sensors, and data analytics platforms to enable real-time monitoring, management, and
optimization of traffic and mobility systems.
7.A. Continually explore and test big data tools that can forecast traffic trends, optimize signal timings, and manage congestion proactively.
7.B. Identify appropriate information systems upgrades that integrate data from various sources to support decision-making and enhance traffic management.
Regional and Local
Goods Movement
While agriculture and food products
will continue to play an important
role in this growth, the SJV is also
becoming a major distribution and
logistics center with expanding
numbers of mega-distribution
centers and even new
manufacturing facilities. This growth
will contribute to the need for
improved goods movement systems
in Bakersfield and the larger region.
Embrace and plan for the
expansion of distribution and
logistics industries by
incorporating future growth
into transportation network
planned improvements and
coordinating with KernCOG
on regional connectivity.
8. Coordinate goods movement regionally, with
consideration to future growth and minimizing
impact on sensitive uses.
8.A. Review existing designated truck routes in Bakersfield and their relation to the existing and preferred future land use development.
Evaluate needed changes to designated truck routes to accommodate future land use and transportation network changes in alignment with AB 98 when developing or expanding logistics facilities.
8.B. Ensure that city employers with 100 employees or more comply with Rule 9410 of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District requiring non-agriculture and military employers to adopt reasonable and feasible measures to reduce ozone emissions via an employer- based trip program that encourages employees to use alternative transportation methods through incentives such as such as transit passes, ridesharing opportunities, or active transportation incentives.
8.C. Upgrade or improve visibility of truck route signage to ensure better compliance. Strengthen enforcement measures to keep trucks on designated routes.