City of Sacramento
Personnel and Public Employees Committee Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2024-01879 1/7/2025 Discussion Item 4.
Active Transportation Commission 2024 Annual Report
File ID: 2024-01879
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Review and provide direction on the 2024 Annual Report for the Active Transportation Commission and pass a Motion either:
1) directing staff to forward the Annual Report to the City Council for review; 2) directing staff to update the Annual Report and Workplan based on Personnel and Public Employee Committee recommendations and forward to the City Council for review; or 3) asking the Active Transportation Commission to update the Annual Report and Workplan based on Personnel and Public Employee Committee recommendations and to come back to the Personnel and Public Employee Committee for additional review.
Contact: Jennifer Donlon Wyant, Transportation Planning Manager, (916) 808-5913, [email protected]; David Edrosolan, Engineering Manager, (916) 808-5974, [email protected]; Jeff Jelsma, Transportation Planner, (916) 808-5347, [email protected]; Public Works Department
Presenter: Jennifer Donlon Wyant, Transportation Planning Manager, Public Works Department; Active Transportation Commission Chair Hodell
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Annual Report
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: Advisory bodies of the City are required to provide an annual report and workplan for review by the Personnel and Public Employees (P&PE) Committee as outlined in the City Council Rules of Procedure, Chapter 17. The P&PE Committee shall review advisory body annual reports and give staff direction on those reports’ stated projects, priorities, and recommendations. Before forwarding the report to the City Council, the Committee may request supplemental information from staff or the advisory body.
File ID: 2024-01879 1/7/2025 Discussion Item 4.
The attached Annual Report and Workplan prepared by the Active Transportation Commission is being forwarded to the P&PE Committee for consideration.
Policy Considerations: Chapter 17 of the Council Rules of Procedure outlines the Advisory Body reporting process.
Economic Impacts: Not Applicable.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): This action is not a project that is subject to CEQA because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines §15378(b)(5)).
Sustainability: Not Applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: On October 17, 2024, the Active Transportation Commission reviewed the attached report and passed a motion forwarding it to the Personnel and Public Employee Committee
Rationale for Recommendation: So that advisory bodies may effectively incorporate their important role, voice, and work to provide thoughtful community recommendations to the City Council on a consistent basis, the P&PE Committee shall facilitate the process for advisory bodies to communicate their accomplishments, projects, priorities, and recommendations to the City Council.
Financial Considerations: This item is a report that includes recommendations for additional activities and programs. The report identifies costs to implement recommendations, estimated at $8.4 million in ongoing new resources if fully implemented. See pages 16 to 21 of the Annual Report for detail..
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
915 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 • [email protected] • (916) 808-7200 Sacramento Active
Transportation Commission
Annual Report
January 2024 through December 2024
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 2 of 21 Table of Contents
Introduction: Establishment, Commissioners, and Staff ........................................................................... 3 Current Sacramento Active Transportation Commissioners ................................................................ 4 Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Staff ............................................................................. 5 Purpose, Powers and Duties of Sacramento Active Transportation Commission ............................ 6 Message from the Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Chair ......................................... 7 Highlights & Accomplishments ................................................................................................................... 12 Commission Resources Expended ............................................................................................................ 14 2024 ATC Recommendations to Council ................................................................................................ 15 Increase Funding for Active Transportation Infrastructure Projects ............................................. 16 Expand Speed Management Programs .................................................................................................. 17 Create a Sacramento Quick- Build Bikeways Program..................................................................... 18 Re-Establish Slow & Active Streets ....................................................................................................... 19 Develop a Citywide Safe Routes to School Program ........................................................................ 19 Finalize the Construction Detour Policy .............................................................................................. 20 Recommendations Summary................................................................................................................... 21
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 3 of 21 Introduction: Establishment, Commissioners, and Staff
The Sacramento Active Transportation Commission was established in 2018 by ordinance 2018-0002 and is codified in Sacramento City Code Section 2.100.
The commission consists of eleven members which are nominated by the Personnel and Public Employees Committee or Council Members and appointed by the Mayor with the concurrence of a majority of the City Council.
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 4 of 21 Current Sacramento Active Transportation Commissioners
The following commissioners are currently serving on the commission.
• Melissa Harris
• Dr. Donald Gibson
• Ali Doerr Westbrook
• Dr. Jeffrey Lidicker
• Isaac Gonzalez (Vice Chair)
• Arlete Hodel (Chair)
• Jim Houpt
• David Moore
• Dr. Debra Banks
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 5 of 21 Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Staff
The commission is supported primarily by the following staff members.
• Jennifer Donlon Wyant, Transportation Planning Manager, Public Works • Jeff Jelsma, Transportation Planner, Public Works
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Staff Contact Information
City of Sacramento – Department of Public Works
915 I Street – Sacramento, CA 95814
[email protected]
(916) 916-873-6466
https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/public-works
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 6 of 21 Purpose, Powers and Duties of Sacramento Active Transportation Commission
Purpose of the Sacramento Active Transportation Commission The Commission is established for the purpose of providing advice on strategies related to walking, bicycling, and rolling in the city.
Powers and Duties of the Sacramento Active Transportation Commission
A. Advise city council on the implementation, criteria, and priority of pedestrian , bicycling, and rolling related policies and projects.
B. Provide input city council on the pursuit of grant funding opportunities.
C. Provide input on program development in walking , bicycle safety, and rolling education, law enforcement, and other areas pertinent to walking , bicycling, and rolling in the city.
D. Review and discuss current walking , bicycling, and rolling issues and advise city council.
E. Advise city council on the need for periodic updates of the pedestrian master plan and bikeway master plan.
F. Provide for public participation and involvement regarding the implementation of walking, bicycling, and rolling projects and program s, and other active transportation matters.
G. Annually, report to and make recommendations to the city council regarding the status of walking, bicycling, and rolling in the city and activities of the commission.
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 7 of 21 Message from the Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Chair
Mayor and Councilmembers,
In presenting the 2024 Annual Report of the Active Transportation Commission (ATC) to the Sacramento City Council, we continue our mission to advocate for and guide the development of a more equitable, accessible, safe, and sustainable transportation infrastructure for all our city’s residents. As a collective body representing every district of our vibrant city, the ATC integrates personal experiences and community insights to deliver recommendations that address current needs and foresee future challenges.
Throughout 2024, our commission has worked diligently to promote and improve active transportation modes across Sacramento. While we aim to enhance safety, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage a healthy, active lifestyle among our citizens, we recognize, as do many planning documents at all levels of government, the burden of air pollution, representation of deaths and serious injuries resulting from crashes, and missing infrastructure supportive of the active lifestyles we strive to encourage, are disproportionately located in our City’s Disadvantaged Communities. In this recognition, we consider all project and policy considerations with the intent of eliminating the disproportionate burdens these communities experience. By focusing on these areas, we believe we can contribute significantly to the environmental sustainability and overall livability of our city.
Our efforts are guided by a commitment to inclusivity and effectiveness, ensuring that every recommendation we make is reflective of the diverse voices and experiences within our community. This report outlines our key activities, achievements, and strategic recommendations for the continued growth and support of active transportation initiatives in Sacramento.
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 8 of 21 The Numbers Behind Our Crisis:
Deaths by vehicle collisions outnumber those by homicide by 45% in 2023. 1 2
Since 2014, fatalities in auto collisions outnumbered homicides in Sacramento for 8 of the last 10 years.12
3 1 Ahumada, R. & Desai, I. (2024, Jan 17) “ Sacramento homicides declined in 2023. But shootings, other violence still shook the region”. Sacramento Bee https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article284036683.html#storylink=cpy 2 Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) https://tims.berkeley.edu/ data accessed Sept 21 2024 3 Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Data Explorer https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov accessed Sept 22 2024 20 7
28 38
0 15
30 45
60 Auto Fatalities Homicides
Fatalities
Deaths in Collisions Outnumber
Homicides in 2023 by 45%
Pedestrians Cyclist In Vehicles
0 20
40 60
80 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Deaths
Auto Fatalities Outnumber Homicides in Sacramento Most
Years
Homicides Auto Fatalities
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 9 of 21 Sacramento ranks as one of the highest for traffic collisions per capita compared to peer cities in California.4
Sacramento's disadvantaged communities face a disproportionate amount of traffic violence.5
4 California Office of Traffic Safety “OTS Crash Rankings Results” https://www.ots.ca.gov/media -and-research/crash-rankings/ data accessed Sept 22 2024 5 Vision Zero Sacramento Action Plan, Adopted Aug 14th 2018, https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/pw/Transportation/VisionZero/Vision -Zero- Action-Plan-Adopted-August-2018.pdf accessed Sept 22 2024 0 225 450 675 900
Sacramento
Long Beach
Anaheim
Riverside
Santa Ana
Stockton
Oakland
Bakersfield
San Francisco
San Diego
Chula Vista
Los Angeles
San Jose
Fresno
Irvine
Collision Victims Per 100,000 In Peer Cities in CA in 2021 0%
13%
25%
38%
50%
63%
Road Way Network Fatal Crashes Pedestrian KSI Crashes
Precentage of Sacramento
Disadvantaged Communities Experience a Higher
Portion of Traffic Violence in Sacramento
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 10 of 21 The City of Sacramento adopted Vision Zero in January 2017 to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2027. Ye t has not seen a reduction. 6
6 Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) https://tims.berkeley.edu/ data accessed Sept 21 2024 0 125
250
375
500
625
0 8
16 24
32 40
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Injuried
Fatalities
Cyclist and Pedestrians In Sacramento Saw No Reduction
In Serious Collisions Since Adoption of Vision Zero
Cyclist/Ped Killed Cyclist/Ped Injured
0 1500
3000
4500
6000
0 20
40 60
80 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Injured
Fatalities
All Road Users In Sacramento Have Not Seen A Change In
Serious Collisions Since Adoption of Vision Zero
Killed - All Users Injured - All Users
Vision Zero Adoption
Vision Zero Adoption
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 11 of 21 All Sacramento neighborhoods have experienced vehicles colliding with pedestrians and cyclists; however, it is concentrated in many historically disadvantaged communities. 7 Above is a map of the locations of approximately 3,000 reported collisions between vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists from January 2017 to December 2023. Each dot represents one reported collision. Data provided by SWITRS GIS Map
7 SWITRS GIS Map, Transportation Injury Mapping System, UC Berkeley, Accessed Sept 22 nd 2024.
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 12 of 21 Highlights & Accomplishments
The City of Sacramento, with the help of the ATC, had some notable active transportation accomplishments over the last year.
In 2024, the ATC held ten (10) meetings. In addition to the Commission meetings, the ATC has a Commission log which is a running list of items of interest that the Commission would like agendized. Through the log, Commissioners can submit ideas for future agendas, ask questions, and ensure that topics that are discussed connect back to the powers and duties of the Commission, as well as the statement on equity. The log allows the Commission to track progress that is made in areas of interest and for more transparency around when items are expected to come to the Commission. Below are the items discussed at the ATC in 2024:
January 18, 2024
• Selection of Chair and Vice Chair
• Draft Work Zone and Event Detour Policy
• Log Item Report Back: Sacramento’s Alleys
February 15, 2024
• Truxel Bridge Concept and Feasibility Study
• Dixieanne Neighborhood Clean and Green Alleys
• 2024 SACOG Carbon Reduction Program Grant Applications March 21, 2024
• Downtown Riverfront Streetcar Project
• Draft Parks Plan 2040 Public Release
• T Street Bikeway Gap Closure Rehabilitation Project
• Active Transportation Program Cycle 7 Grant Applications April 18, 2024
• Traffic Signal Safety Project
• Kastanis Way Shared Use Path
• Grand Avenue Sidewalk Infill
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 13 of 21
May 16, 2024
• Folsom Boulevard Safety Improvements Project
• Envision Broadway in Oak Park Project
• Broadway Vision Zero Project
• Draft Sacramento Urban Forest Plan Public Release
June 20, 2024
• Streets for People Active Transportation Plan Phase II Workshop July 2024 – No meeting, summer recess
August 15, 2024
• City of Sacramento Street Design Standards
• Two Rivers Trail Phase III
September 19, 2024
• Morrison Creek Trail Project
October 17, 2024
• Assembly Bill 43 Project
• Fiscal Year 2025/26 Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Applications November 21, 2024
• TBD
December 2024 – No meeting, winter recess
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 14 of 21 Commission Resources Expended
The estimated cost to support the Sacramento Active Transportation Commission in 2024 was $52,554.
In 2024, the ATC held ten (10)* meetings. Table 1 below shows the costs per meeting to support the commission.
The estimated cost per meeting is as follows:
Table 1: Cost per Meeting
Meetings Hours Rate Total
Staff report creation and review – department staff 10 6 $207 $12,420 Staff report review – city attorney staff 10 3 $250 $7,500 Agenda review, preparation, and publishing – city clerk 10 10 $35 $3,500 Meeting presentation preparation 10 2 $117 $2,340
Meeting attendance – department staff 10 4 $207 $8,280
Meeting attendance – city attorney staff 10 2 $250 $5,000 Meeting attendance – city clerk staff 10 4 $58 $2,320
Meeting attendance – IT staff 10 4 $53 $2,120
Meeting attendance – building security 10 4 $33 $1,320
Post meeting tasks: minutes, legislative document processing, attendance tracking
10 5 $35 $1,750
Commissioner stipend processing (quarterly) 12/year $42 $504 Commissioner stipends (11 commissioners) 10 11 $50 $5,500 Total Meetings Cost $52,554
*Only nine meetings completed as of this draft (October 2024) Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 15 of 21 2024 ATC Recommendations to Council
Active transportation is a critical part of our infrastructure and built environment for public health, economic vitality, climate adaptation, and physical safety. In 2017, the City of Sacramento adopted the Vision Zero policy goal to eliminate traffic fatalities citywide. However, Sacramento has been part of a nationwide trend of increased collisions, injuries, and fatalities. The Smart Growth America 2024 Dangerous by Design report elevated the Sacramento -Roseville-Folsom metropolitan area, CA ranking as the 20th top ranked for pedestrian deaths per 100,000 in the nation. Those who are dying in Sacramento are disproportionately people of color and residents of lower -income communities. These conditions are not inevitable, they are the outcome of decades of decision making around policy and prioritization.
Changing the status quo of how Sacramento deals with vehicle traffic and investing in active transportation can reverse this trend. Elevating active transportation to be the top transportation priority can bring about the economic vitality of local businesses by promoting infill and activating vacant parcels, supporting public health, improving physical safety, and meeting our climate goals.
Notable efforts in the last few years by city staff with extensive community input have helped to put together many comprehensive plans to improve our active transportation infrastructure throughout Sacramento. Many studies and plans have laid out excellent ways to reduce traffic speeds, improve access to active transportation, and have the opportunities to revitalize whole communities. Unfortunately, these are often left as plans to sit on the shelf, waiting for outside grant funding, which may never arrive.
If given the City’s commitment and resources, Sacramento can embrace creating world -class active transportation infrastructure by 2040. A robust active transportation network will improve all Sacramentans’ lives, especially those who cannot use a car. For the last 70 years, car-dominated urban design has given us unhealthy communities and helped cause climate change. Yet, we know the solutions, and these can be reversed with investments in the well- developed plans already created.
The ATC proposes six recommendations that, if adopted and funded, would help Sacramento achieve the modal shift to achieve our climate goals, improve public health, encourage economic and infill development, and physical safety. The recommendations are listed in order o f priority for the Commission, starting with the highest priority recommendation.
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 16 of 21 Increase Funding for Active Transportation Infrastructure Projects Details: 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 insufficient funds available through 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 transportatio n, transit, and maintenance of existing facilities over capacity expansion projects such as new roads and highways.
Transportation projects in the City of Sacramento are funded with Federal and State grants, which typically require a local match.
The ATC requests to double the average match amount for active transportation grants in order to make the city more competitive for grant funding in the future. The amount would increase by 10% each year thereafter.
Cost:
Additional Staffing Year 1 Cost
Estimate
Recurring Annual
Cost Estimate
TBD $ 3,000,000 10% increase over
previous year
Year 2: $3,300,000
Year 3: $3,630,000
Year 4: $3,993,000
Year 5: $4,392,300
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 17 of 21 Expand Speed Management Programs
Details: 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 was committed to reducing fatality and serious injury collisions. In October of 2022, the ATC 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 consulta nt 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 people 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.
The ATC requests to increase the current budget for the speed lump program and apply equitable distribution of the treatments citywide. The ATC also requests the application of other traffic calming treatments and tools to be used from the traffic calming toolbox, once developed.
Cost:
Additional Staffing Year 1 Cost
Estimate
Recurring Annual
Cost Estimate
0.5 Senior Engineer
0.5 Associate Engineer
$ 2,018,000 $ 2,018,000
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 18 of 21 Create a Sacramento Quick- Build Bikeways Program
Details: 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.
The ATC requests to create a quick -build bikeways program to implement quick- build solutions citywide.
Cost:
Additional Staffing Year 1 Cost
Estimate
Recurring Annual
Cost Estimate
0.5 Senior Engineer
0.5 Associate Engineer
$ 1,518,000 $ 1,518,000
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 19 of 21 Re-Establish Slow & Active Streets
Details: 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 City 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 c ould 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 an d hope the city will bring back slow & active streets in neighborhoods that want them.
The ATC requests to re-establish the pilot for up to 5 miles of slow streets.
Cost:
Additional
Staffing
Year 1 Cost
Estimate
Recurring Annual
Cost Estimate
0.5 Associate
Planner
$ 866,000 $ 866,000
Develop a Citywide Safe Routes to School Program
Details: 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.
The ATC request for two staff positions for the development and management of a Citywide Safe Routes to School Program.
Cost:
Additional Staffing Year 1 Cost
Estimate
Recurring Annual
Cost Estimate
1 Senior Planner
1 Associate Planner
$ 708,000 $ 708,000
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 20 of 21 Finalize the Construction Detour Policy
Details: 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 until 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 happe ning across our city and in abundance downtown. Construction detours that do not properly account for people walking, biking or with disabilities prohibit people's ability to travel safely and often forces folks into high-speed traffic unexpectedly. This i s unacceptable and should be addressed immediately by ensuring the construction detour policy is completed in 202 4 and monitored to ensure the policy is being properly followed.
Cost:
Additional
Staffing
Year 1 Cost
Estimate
Recurring Annual
Cost Estimate
0 $ 0 $ 0
Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Annual Report Page 21 of 21 Recommendations Summary
Additional
Staffing
Year 1
Cost Estimate
Recurring Annual
Cost Estimate
Increase Funding for Active Transportation
Infrastructure Projects
$3,000,000 $3,300,000*
Expand Speed Management Programs 0.5 $2,018,000 $2,018,000
0.5 Create a Sacramento Quick-Build Bikeways
Program
0.5 $1,518,000
$1,518,000
0.5 Re-establish Slow & Active Streets 0.5 $866,000 $866,000 Develop a Citywide Safe Routes to School
Program
1 $708,000 $708,000
1 Finalize the Construction Detour Policy $0 $0
Additional
Staffing
Year 1
Cost Estimate
Recurring Annual
Cost Estimate
Totals 4.5 $8,110,000 $8,410,000*
* These costs are expected to increase each year.