SB 960 Fact Sheet – Updated 02.07.24
SUMMARY
SB 960 strengthens requirements that state-owned
surface streets accommodate all road users,
including pedestrians, cyclists, and those using public transit.
The bill does this by codifying the California
Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) existing
Director’s Policy for Complete Streets for the state’s
primary state of good repair program – the State
Highway Operation and Protection Program
(SHOPP).
SB 960 further directs the department to develop a
transit priority policy for state-owned roadways and
expedite internal approvals of transit priority and
complete streets improvements. Together, these
actions will accelerate the development of state
routes that are safe for all people and attract more
riders to public transit.
BACKGROUND/EXISTING LAW
Elements of Complete Streets
The Complete Streets transportation framework is
an approach to planning, designing, constructing,
operating, and maintaining transportation facilities
in a manner that accounts for all road users,
including pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and transit riders. It also accounts for the needs of communities
that have been systematically ignored in the design
of the built environment, including the disability
community, the aging community, those without
access to vehicles, and communities of color.
Complete Streets elements can include sidewalks,
bike lanes, bus-only lanes, comfortable and
accessible public transportation stops, frequent and
safe crosswalks, median islands, accessible
pedestrian signals, curb extensions, narrower travel
lanes, and more.
1 Director's Policy on Complete Streets
Previous Legislation and Current Policy
In 2019, the Legislature passed SB 127 (Wiener),
which required Caltrans to prioritize safe and
connected facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and
transit riders on all SHOPP projects and in the asset
management plan. Such improvements are
consistent with recommendations outlined in the
State’s Climate Action Plan for Transportation
Infrastructure (CAPTI). While the bill was not signed
into law, the Governor directed the administration
through Executive Order N-19-19 and later N-79-20
to implement complete streets elements such as
active transportation and transit improvements to
help reduce congestion and meet California’s climate
goals. Caltrans proceeded to develop a Director’s
Policy for Complete Streets. This policy – which went
into effect in December 2021 – states that “all
transportation projects funded or overseen by
Caltrans will provide comfortable, convenient, and
connected complete streets facilities for people
walking, biking, and taking transit or passenger rail
unless an exception is documented and approved.”1
Additionally, the California Air Resources Board’s
Scoping plan calls for increased transit service in
order to meet emissions reduction goals. Transit
priority improvements help speed up buses,
reducing the per-mile cost of transit service.
New Design Bulletin
In early 2024, Caltrans released a new design bulletin
reflecting updated standards for various complete
streets facilities such as bike lanes.2 The cover letter for the design bulletin states that the bulletin
provides “new flexibility in the design of contextsensitive facilities.” The bulletin further states that “project development teams are encouraged to
continue to…exercise design flexibility and
engineering judgment in the development of
Complete Streets projects.”
Uphill Battle for Complete Streets & Transit Priority
California ranks fifth in the nation for pedestrian
2 Caltrans Design Information Bulletin 94
Senator Scott Wiener, 11th Senate District
Senate Bill 960 – Complete Streets and Transit Priority Policies SB 960 Fact Sheet – Updated 02.07.24
fatalities. In 2022, 1,100 pedestrians died simply
because they dared to walk in California.3 Amidst
transit ridership decline and rising pedestrian
fatalities, Caltrans has been slow to implement
complete streets facilities and transit priority
elements in its asset management program of
projects. The Department continues to use the wide
latitude and discretion afforded it in its policy to
avoid implementation of complete streets elements.
The result is that most SHOPP projects (55%) have no
complete streets elements. Many state-owned roads
currently have no or deficient sidewalks, minimal
crosswalks, no bike lanes, or any safe facilities for
vulnerable road users.
Therefore, legislation is needed to expand and
strengthen the Department's efforts to build
complete streets and transit priority projects.
Additionally, transit is often stuck in traffic, creating a slow, frustrating, and stressful experience for riders and making transit less attractive. Caltrans has
engaged in preliminary stakeholder engagement to
develop a transit priority policy. The timeline for
development of this policy – or its specific objectives – is currently unclear. Amidst a backdrop of transit
ridership struggling to rebound and car ownership
costing more than it ever has, it is imperative that
this process proceed swiftly.
SOLUTION
Strengthening Complete Streets Policy
SB 960 codifies the Department’s commitment to
implement complete streets by requiring Caltrans to
prioritize the implementation of safe, convenient,
and connected facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists,
and transit users on all SHOPP projects.
SB 960 requires Caltrans to set 4-year and 10-year
targets and performance measures reflecting
complete streets assets. SB 960 further requires the
Department to establish a streamlined process for
the approval of pedestrian facilities, traffic calming
improvements, bicycle facilities, and transit priority
treatments at locations where state-owned facilities
intersect with local facilities.
Prioritizing Transit Priority
SB 960 directs Caltrans to develop – by January 1,
2026 – a transit priority policy with performance
3 Governor's Highway Safety Association Report
targets to improve transit travel time reliability,
speeds, reduced transit and rider delay, and
improved accessibility at stops, stations, and
boarding facilities.
Further, the bill requires Caltrans to establish
automatic and expedited design exceptions and a
streamlined approval process for transit priority
improvements.
SUPPORT
Calbike (co-sponsor)
SPUR (co-sponsor)
Streets For All (co-sponsor)
AARP California (co-sponsor)
KidSafe SF (co-sponsor)
Walk SF (co-sponsor)
Natural Resources Defense Council
San Francisco Mayor London Breed
San Francisco Municipal Transportation
Agency (SFMTA)
TransForm
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Raayan Mohtashemi, Legislative Aide
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (916) 651-4011