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File ID: 2023-00898 8/29/2023 Discussion Item 11.
Active Transportation Commission 2022 Annual Report Regarding the Status of Walking and Bicycling in the City of Sacramento and Activities of the Commission File ID: 2023-00898
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Receive and comment.
Contact: Jennifer Donlon Wyant, Transportation Planning Manager, (916) 808-5913, [email protected], Public Works Department; Jeff Jelsma, Transportation Planner, (916) 808-5347; [email protected], Public Works Department; David Edrosolan, Engineering Manager, (916) 808-5974, [email protected], Public Works Department Presenter: Jennifer Donlon Wyant, Transportation Planning Manager, (916) 808-5913, [email protected], Public Works Department; Active Transportation Commission Chair Ali Doerr Westbrook
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Active Transportation Commission 2022 Annual Report
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The Active Transportation Commission (ATC) includes seven powers and duties. A Subcommittee on Status of Walking/Biking was established to address the following requirement:
“Annually, report to and make recommendations to the mayor and council regarding the status of walking and bicycling in the city and activities of the commission. (Ord. 2018-0002 § 1)”. Since April 2022, the Subcommittee has met five times to discuss this duty. In January, the draft report and recommendations were shared for review and comment with the full ATC. The Annual Report from the ATC is attached; it includes nine prioritized recommendations as summarized in the “Background” section of this City Council report.
File ID: 2023-00898 8/29/2023 Discussion Item 11.
Policy Considerations: The recommendations in this report will be in alignment with the following City Code:
2.100.030 Powers and duties of commission.
G. Annually, report to and make recommendations to the mayor and council regarding the status of walking and bicycling in the city and activities of the commission.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): This action is an informational report that is an administrative activity and is not a project under CEQA Guidelines (Title 14 Cal. Code Reg. §15000 et seq.) § 15378 (b)(4). Implementation of any recommendations contained in the attached Report would be required to undergo appropriate environmental review.
Sustainability: This report is consistent with the City of Sacramento Climate Action Plan Mobility Element by focusing on improving transportation infrastructure and encouraging walking and bicycling.
Commission/Committee Action: On February 16, 2023, the Active Transportation Commission reviewed the attached report and passed a motion forwarding it to the City Council.
On June 20, 2023, the Personnel and Public Employees Committee reviewed, discussed the attached report, and passed a motion forwarding it to the City Council.
Rationale for Recommendation: Not applicable.
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
Background: On April 21, 2022, the City of Sacramento Active Transportation Commission (ATC) approved the creation of a Subcommittee on the Status of Walking/Biking (subcommittee).
The subcommittee members included:
1. Chair Doerr Westbrook
2. Vice Chair Paullins
3. Commissioner Buenrostro
4. Commissioner Granville
5. Commissioner Carpenter
File ID: 2023-00898 8/29/2023 Discussion Item 11.
The subcommittee met five times and provided an update on the development of the report during the August 18, 2022, ATC meeting. During that time, the subcommittee also sought feedback from the commission and community to help shape the report.
The subcommittee decided to summarize agenda items brought to the ATC in 2022 and to provide nine recommendations that the subcommittee believes will help support walking and biking across Sacramento. At the January 19, 2023, ATC meeting, the subcommittee shared the draft report with the commission. The ATC supported the recommendations and discussed including prioritization.
The subcommittee brought the item back to the ATC at the February 16, 2023, meeting with prioritized recommendations. Below are the nine recommendations in prioritized order with additional detail provided within the attached report:
1. Increase Funding for Active Transportation
2. Expand Speed Management Program
3. Develop a Citywide Safe Routes to School Program
4. Finalize the Construction Detour Policy
5. Develop an ATC Dashboard
6. Create a Sacramento Quick-Build Bikeways Program
7. Pilot an Electric Bike Library & Promote E-Bike Incentives
8. Increase Bike Parking
9. Re-establish Slow & Active Streets
January 31, 2023
To: Mayor Steinberg and City Councilmembers
The City of Sacramento Active Transportation Commission (ATC) was established in 2018 under ordinance 2.100 as a replacement for the City/County Bicycle Advisory Committee. Over the past 4 years, the ATC has worked closely with City of Sacramento (City) staff and the council to improve active transportation safety and mobility for all Sacramentan’s.
The powers and duties of the commission are as follows:
A. Advise staff and the council on the implementation, criteria, and priority of pedestrian and bicycling related policies and projects.
B. Provide input to staff on pursuit of grant funding opportunities.
C. Provide input on program development in walking and bicycle safety, education, law enforcement, and other areas pertinent to walking and bicycling in the city.
D. Review and discuss current walking and bicycling issues and advise staff and council.
E. Advise staff on the need for periodic updates of the pedestrian master plan and bikeway master plan.
F. Provide for public particip ation and involvement with respect walking and bicycling project and program implementation, and other active transportation matters.
G. Annually, report to and make recommendations to the mayor and council regarding the status of walking and bicycling in the city and activities of the commission. (Ord. 2018-0002 § 1)
The goal of this report is to summarize agenda items brought forward to the ATC in 2022 and provide recommendations to the mayor and council.
ATC Meetings
2022 was a busy year for the ATC with many transformative plans, policies and projects presented during our monthly meetings. Towards the start of the year, we solidified our Active Transportation Commission Log (log) which is a running list of items of interest that the Commission would like agendized. Through the log we’re able to submit ideas for future agendas, ask questions, and ensure that topics we discuss connect back to our powers and duties and statement on equity. The log also allows for the commission to track progress that is being made on areas of interest and for more transparency around when items are expected to come forward to the ATC. We discussed many planning and design efforts on key corridors across the City and provided significant input during all phases of the Transportation Priorities Plan.
Below is a summary of the items we discussed this year:
January 20, 2022 Meeting
● Shared-Rideables Over Parking (Review and Comment)
● Active Transportation Commission Log (Pass a Motion)
February 17, 2022 Meeting
● Updates from Transportation Planning (Receive and file)
March 17, 2022 Meeting
● Del Paso Boulevard Road Diet (Receive and comment)
● Commercial Corridors: Northgate Boulevard and Freeport Boulevard Existing Conditions and Emerging Opportunities (Receive and comment)
April 21, 2022 Meeting
● Ninos Parkway Trail (Review and provide comments)
● Two Rivers Trail (Review and provide comments)
● Northgate Boulevard Emerging Design Concepts (Review and provide comments)
● Freeport Boulevard Transportation Plan Emerging Design Concepts (Review and provide comments)
● Active Transportation Program Cycle 6 Grant Application (Pass a Motion) ● Ad Hoc Committee to Report to City Council on the Status of Walking and Bicycling in the City of Sacramento (Pass a Motion)
May 19, 2022 Meeting
● Pocket Greenhaven Neighborhood Transportation Plan Public Draft (Review and provide comments)
June 16, 2022 Meeting
● Parklet and Alfresco Dining Program (Receive and file)
August 18, 2022 Meeting
● Transportation Corridor Program: 34th Street Rehabilitation and West El Camino Avenue Rehabilitation Projects (Review and provide comments) ● Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Application (Pass a Motion) ● Transportation Priorities Plan Initial Prioritization (Review and comment) ● Subcommittee on Status of Walking/Biking (Receive and file)
October 20, 2022 Meeting
● South Sacramento Parkway Trail (Review and file)
● Speed Management Program (Review and comment)
● Freeport Boulevard Transportation Plan Public Draft Concept Review (Review and Comment)
● Northgate Boulevard Transportation Plan Public Draft Concept Review (Review and Comment)
November 17, 2022 Meeting
● Update on Chapter 2.40 of the Sacramento City Code, Relating to Boards and Commissions Generally (Receive and file)
● Sacramento Red Light Photo Enforcement Program (Review and comment)
● SACOG Transportation Grant Applications (Pass a Motion) ● Bikeway Delineator Pilot Community Feedback (Review and comment)
Recommendations
While the City continues to proactively pursue efforts that will improve walking and biking, it is of the opinion of the ATC that we’re not moving quickly enough.
Both the Mayors’ Commission on Climate Change and draft Climate Action Plan express urgency needed around actions that will reduce greenhouse gasses (GHG) and vehicle miles traveled (VMT). This is only possible when our entire community can safely and conveniently access destinations without relying on a private vehicle to do so.
For decades, the City's investments in car centric infrastructure have created a disconnected active transportation network that has left many people, especially our historically underserved communities with limited transportation options. The Transportation Planning section, and offices across the City are working towards fixing this problem, but we need to see an unprecedented level of investment from the City now to ensure we’re able to achieve our goals and create a more sustainable city for everyone, regardless of their District or zip code. In the spirit of progress, we’ve identified 9 ideas below that we believe will improve walking and biking across the City in conjunction with efforts already underway. The ideas below are listed in order of priority for the ATC:
1. Increase Funding for Active Transportation
Over the past two years the ATC and community members have participated in numerous conversations around the development of the Transportation Priorities Plan. This plan estimates that it would cost $5 billion to build all the transportation projects identified in plans created over the last twenty years. The City only has about $42 million each year to do the work which would take 100 years to build what is planned. As City staff continue to apply for State and Federal grants to build this much needed infrastructure, it's imperative that we have the local match needed. The ATC urges the Mayor and Council to declare active transportation a priority and identify funding. With the failing of Measure A, it’s more important than ever that we have sustained and dedicated funding for active transportation so that we can build planned projects quicker. If the City pursues another measure to help fund transportation, the ATC hopes city leaders will prioritize investments in active transportation, transit and maintenance of existing facilities over capacity expansion projects such as new roads and highways.
2. Expand Speed Management Program
The City and County of Sacramento continue to rank among the top cities in California for fatal and serious injury collisions. In 2017 the City’s Vision Zero Resolution (No. 2017-0032) was established which committed to reducing fatality and serious injury collisions. In October of 2022 we received a presentation providing an overview of the different speed management efforts currently deployed across the City. It was shared that staff plan to procure a consultant to evaluate citywide speed limits and prepare an implementation plan to comply with AB 43 and AB 1938.
The ATC eagerly awaits the results of this study and hopes to see a reduction in speeds across the City. We were also provided with background on the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) which was established in the City from 1995-2010. The ATC believes that anything the City can do to lower the speed of vehicles benefits walking and biking and would encourage Council to re-establish NTMP or increase funding for existing programs focused on lowering speeds in neighborhoods specifically. We’re very excited for the future Traffic Calming Toolbox which the City also plans to develop. The toolbox will provide a variety of traffic calming treatments for staff and developers to consider earlier on in the development process.
3. Develop a Citywide Safe Routes to School Program
Ensuring that students have a safe way to travel to school has proven to encourage more walking and biking amongst youth. While there are several organizations in the City that help facilitate Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs, there is not a citywide effort to ensure all schools have this resource. This has led to many parents driving their kids’ short distances that could be done by walking and biking. In February 2021 the City of Sacramento Vision Zero School Safety Study was approved. Creating a citywide SRTS program with staff that could work to implement this plan and provide resources, training and encouragement events for schools would make a lasting impact on the safety and health of youth in our community.
4. Finalize the Construction Detour Policy
We understand that city staff are currently developing a detour policy for bicycle and pedestrian travel around construction sites and have requested that the policy be presented to the commission for input and comments before advancing to the City Council for approval.
Unfortunately, this work has been on hold for some time now till vacant positions are filled. Construction projects continue to negatively impact people walking and biking daily however and this policy desperately needs to be finalized. On multiple occasions staff, commissioners and the public have voiced their frustration around the poorly planned construction detours happening across our City and in abundance downtown. Construction detours that do not properly account for people walking, biking or with disabilities prohibits people's ability to travel safely and often forces folks into high speeding traffic unexpectedly. This is unacceptable and should be addressed immediately by ensuring the construction detour policy is completed in 2023 and monitored to ensure the policy is being properly followed.
5. Develop an ATC Dashboard
Creating an online ATC Dashboard will have a positive impact on the community’s ability to stay updated on efforts underway by our commission. The purpose of this dashboard will be to streamline information so that any member of the public can quickly see all our efforts in one location, and access important data that is collected around walking and biking. Possible information to include on the dashboard could be:
○ Letters from the ATC to the mayor and council
○ City policies updated or under review by the ATC
○ Grants the city has applied for and the outcome of each application
○ Projects reviewed
○ Bicycle and pedestrian counts
○ Bicycle and pedestrian injuries and fatalities
○ Progress on meeting our GHG and VMT targets
6. Create a Sacramento Quick-Build Bikeways Program
The City has proven with corridors like J Street that quick-build projects can and do rapidly transform streets and make them safer and more accessible for all users. Using low-cost materials and a compressed timeline we’re able to meet the mobility needs of the community much faster than ever before. To continue this success, the ATC believes a program dedicated to building more quick-build projects should be created. The City of San Diego recently developed such a program (Sustainable Transportation for All Ages and Abilities Team, or STAT) and has allocated $1.1 million in funding to build nine miles of safe bikeways per year. If the City is unable to dedicate funding in the upcoming budget to create such a program, we highly encourage the City to seek grant funding via the Active Transportation Program Quick-Build Project Pilot Program or other sources.
7. Pilot an Electric Bike Library & Promote E-Bike Incentives Electric bikes are a transformative technology that can greatly increase the range and accessibility of bicycles. Cities such as Oakland have recognized this and sought funding from the State via the Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program to administer the Oakland E-bike Library.
The goal of this program is to provide access to affordable and long-term e-bike rentals. They plan to purchase 500 e-bikes, cargo bikes, adaptive bikes and scooters with the $1 million dollars awarded to them. They are also working closely with local bike shops to perform maintenance and educate folks who take part in this program. A program like this could have a huge impact in Sacramento and help reduce dependence on car ownership. The California Air Resources Board is also in the process of developing a e-bike incentives program that will be launching this year.
The Electric Bicycle Incentives Project is a $10 million program to provide vouchers to California residents to help them afford an e-bike. The ATC strongly encourages the City to seek similar grant funding to create our own electric bike library along with promoting any State, regional or local e-bike purchase incentives eligible to residents.
8. Increase Bike Parking
We appreciate the City’s existing process to allow residents to request new public bike and scooter parking. Residents have also benefited from the bike parking map which is a citywide database of existing rack types, number of spaces and other location information. It’s useful for understanding where future investments are needed as well. With shared- rideables now required to lock up to public bike racks, it has created some conflict and become evident that our existing bike parking does not meet the demand. When overparking takes place by shared-rideable company’s residents and visitors are forced to find alternative locations to park such as adjacent poles and fences. It is our understanding that the City has limited funds to install new bike racks which makes addressing this issue challenging. The ATC is unaware of how many bike rack requests are being denied due to the budget limitations but would appreciate additional funding be secured for this program if possible. Safe and secure bike parking is very important for helping folks feel comfortable biking.
9. Re-establish Slow & Active Streets
From December 2020 through July 2021 the Slow & Active Streets pilot took place in several neighborhoods across Sacramento to create safe, comfortable, low-vehicle-traffic routes. An evaluation of the pilot was provided to Council in September 2021. While the summary and finding section indicates it was not “universally supported”, a survey done by the City showed that 60% respondents were supportive of the pilot. Re- establishing the slow & active streets program and incorporating the lessons learned could ensure the program's original goals continue to be met. Since the cancellation of our pilot, the City of San Francisco has doubled down on their support for slow streets and established a permanent Slow Streets Program. We applaud them for doing so and hope the City will bring back slow & active streets in neighborhoods that want them.
The ATC requests the opportunity to present these recommendations in person to the full City Council in advance of upcoming budget discussions. We would also be happy to coordinate our recommendations with staff working on the draft Climate Action & Adaptation Plan and draft 2040 General Plan if helpful since investments in active transportation are specifically called out within both documents.
Thank you for your support of the Active Transportation Commission.
Sincerely,
Ali Doerr Westbrook (Chair)
Curtis Paullins (Vice Chair)
Ron Brasel
Manuel Buenrostro
Rachel Carpenter
Melissa Granville
Melissa Harris
Nicolas Heidorn
Tamiko Heim
James (Jim) Houpt
Jeanie Ward-Waller