1 Atha, Roberta
From: Eris Weaver <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 5, 2022 2:24 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment for Agenda Item #2: Why isn't the City applying for Active Transportation funding?
Attachments: Santa Rosa ATP non-application.pdf
Dear Climate Action Subcommittee:
It has come to my attention that the city of Santa Rosa is NOT planning to apply for the upcoming Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 6. This Caltrans program will be dispersing $440 million of federal and state funding for projects and programs to promote safe walking and cycling. When asked why during the most recent meeting of the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, transportation planning staff replied that the City has “limited capacity” to deal with grants.
I was flabbergasted. Many of our smaller jurisdictions are applying for ATP funds; I can't believe that our county's largest city doesn’t have the capacity. The City hired an Active Transportation Planner a year ago in order to expand capacity for just this sort of thing.
Santa Rosa has been successful in previous ATP cycles, and there is nothing in the grant guidelines that disadvantages jurisdictions who’ve been previously funded.
The City has passed a Climate Emergency Resolution and has set ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions; with transportation accounting for 60% of Sonoma County's emissions, reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and increasing the number of residents choosing active transportation is incredibly important. 30% of local trips are within two miles – a perfect distance for cycling – but too many residents won’t ride due to safety issues. Improving our bike infrastructure is crucial to making the necessary mode shift.
The City set some admirable goals when updating its Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan in 2018. However, progress has been slow. Only 7.8 miles of improvements have been made since then; all but ONE of those miles was accomplished just with striping, the least effective intervention one can make. Clearly, the City’s current approach of implementing bike projects by piggybacking on repaving projects isn’t delivering the needed changes fast enough. Applying for ATP funding for a quick-build of the bicycle network would make meaningful progress toward the City’s goals.
3 Eris Weaver, Executive Director
Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition
[email protected]
www.bikesonoma.org
- 2 -
improvements have been made since then; all but ONE of those miles was accomplished just with striping, the least effective intervention one can make. Clearly, the City’s current approach of implementing bike projects by piggybacking on repaving projects isn’t delivering the needed changes fast enough. Applying for ATP funding for a quick-build of the bicycle network would make meaningful progress toward the City’s goals.
Source: Santa Rosa Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan Annual Report 2021 I urge you to reconsider this decision, NOW. Caltrans will issue the call for projects in just two weeks, with the grant application due June 15th. Don’t leave this opportunity lying on the table! If Santa Rosa is to achieve its active transportation and climate goals, the City must aggressively pursue ALL viable funding opportunities.
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Lynn Valentine <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 6, 2022 7:24 AM
To: Atha, Roberta
Cc: _CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
Dear council members,
I understand the city of Santa Rosa is not going to apply for funding from the 440 million active transportation program.
I have been a resident of Santa Rosa for nearly 30 years and am an avid cyclist. Our children rode their bikes to & from school and now we are encouraging our grandchildren to do the same. Fortunately, we live in a residential
neighborhood with only one heavily trafficked street to navigate between home & school. Most children in Santa Rosa do not have that advantage. All children should have the option of safely riding their bikes to school. It’s a better option for their health, the health of our community & the healt h of our environment.
This funding is a opportunity to move us closer to our bike infrastructure & climate goals. Why will you not actively pursue it?
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Andrew Leonard <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 1:14 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
Good afternoon,
All avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals set in 2018. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6.
Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
If you are unable to utili
ze your own limited staff for this grant, I recommend working with organizations like the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition in order to share resources and complete this grant.
Best regards,
Andrew Leonard
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Dave Townsend <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 1:24 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item #2
[This sender might be impersonating a domain that's associated with your organization. Learn why this could be a risk at http://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification.]
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to voice my concern about the fact that the city of Santa Rosa is not planning to apply for access to the $440 million dollars available for the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. ALL avenues for bike infrastru cture funding must
be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
Sincerely ,
Dave Townsend
Sent from my iPhone
Dave Townsend, MPT
Santa Rosa Physical Therapy
www.SantaRosaPT.com
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Rob Schwartz <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 1:28 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation. 1 Atha, Roberta
From: Marjorie Stein <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 1:49 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
Please apply for the upcoming Active Transportation Program Cycle 6.
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals.
Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation. It’s a terrible shame to leave potential funding for promoting safe walking and cycling on the tabl e.
Regards,
Marjorie Stein
Santa Rosa 95404
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Pablo Romero <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 2:05 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
Good afternoon,
Please apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6.
Separated bike lanes throughout the city would actually get my family to ride rather than drive. Painting ‘bike lanes’ on busy/fast streets with significant speed differential (Fulton/Stony Pt. Rd) does not make us a bicycle friendly city! Respectfully,
Pablo Romero ‐
This message is intended only for the confidential use of the intended recipient(s). If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail, and delete the original message and any attachments. Any unauthorized disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message (including the attachments), or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited.
1 Atha, Roberta
From: The Rich <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 2:29 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick-build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
The Rich
I'm riding my bicycle for Diabetes. Click to support!
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Olivia Rathbone <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 2:35 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
Hello,
As a low-income earner and bike commuter, I would like there to be a lot more $ and effort put into creating safer streets for bikes and pedestrians. Biking and walking is great for our health and our wallets, but only if the streets are safe to do so - otherwise the opposite is true as we put our lives at risk on dangerous roads. I think a lot more people across all walks of life would choose to bike or walk if there were more safe, interconnected options, especially paths SEPARATED from the street (not striped onto existing roads which mostly just causes more dangerous confusion.)
Santa Rosa is notoriously devoid of culture because a highway cuts right through the middle of the city and cars rule. Aside from all the urgent climate reasons to stop planning our lives around cars, it's time to prioritize human scale, human powered development and transportation if Santa Rosa is to have any soul.
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick-build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
Sincerely,
Olivia Rathbone
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Marcin Whitman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 2:37 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2 Caltran grant for bikes I regularly cycle to and through the streets of Santa Rosa, mostly on either side of the 101 or 12 corridors.
While I realize staff is stretched in many directions, especially in the last couple years, we cannot pass up the chance of grant money from Caltrans. Our state tax dollars go to Caltrans and getting some on the ground to help safe and easier bike transport in Santa Rosa is a long ter
m goal that needs to be pursued now and in the future. Cyclists put in effort everyday with their bodies to reduce traffic, carbon output and improve the health of the community. The City should also go the distance.
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be
pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
M. Whitman
===========
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Colin Thomas <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 2:38 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
It seems counter intuitive to set lofty goals
for climate reduction and a pedestrian and bicycle master plan using only striping on roadways dominated by cars and distracted drivers. Lets work on creating safe environments for people to commute and for recreation by building better infrastructure for bicycles.
Colin Thomas
Pedego Electric Bikes Santa Rosa
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Marianne Tamm <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 4:21 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
I support the Bike Coalition in pursuing street safety for cyclists. If there are funds available (which it seems there are),
the city should make it a priority to apply for them.
Cyclist and concerned citizen,
Marianne Tamm
Sent from my iPad
1 Atha, Roberta
From: David Flanary <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 4:34 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
Please help us cyclists out. People are dying out here, we need protected lanes
David Flanary
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Pamela Haworth <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 4:43 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick-build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle
6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation. 1 Atha, Roberta
From: David Lightfoot <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 5:32 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
Dear Sirs,
As one who commuted downtown by bicycle for over 20 years before retiring, I am familiar with the safety issues the City faces. All avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6.
Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active form s of transportation. I can't believe you
would not apply for this money.
Sincerely,
David V. Lightfoot, M.D.
Sent from Outlook
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Vanessa Wyser-Pratte <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 8:28 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation. I very much wish to use my bike to get to the store, but the roads are terribly unsafe for bikes.
Thank you.
1 Atha, Roberta
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 8:47 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
Dear Climate Action Committee,
It was alarming to hear that the City of Santa Rosa staff opted not to apply for a sizable grant for bicycle infrastructure funding as other cities in the county are doing. This funding is a critical opportunity to help Santa Rosa meet its climate reduction goals from transportation. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. In
creasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation that reduce the need to drive. The pursuit of grant funding to build safe bicycle infrastructure must be prioritized by city staff.
Thank you for your time.
Jenny Bard
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Diane Snelling <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 9:01 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item #2
We must be at the forefront of climate change to preserve the natural beauty, agriculture heritage, and wine industry.
We need to proactively apply for ANY AND ALL federal and/or state funds that can help us do that INCLUDING better accessible for bikes, ebikes, scooters, etc. Don't be short sighted! Costs will undoubtedly go up along with gas prices and supply chain issues.Act now!
Respectfully,
Diane Snelling
Santa Rosa
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, an AT&T 5G Evolution capable smartphone Get Outlook for Android
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Joyce Chang <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 9:35 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Transportation money that you're leaving on the table Why not apply for the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6 to help build cycling and pedestrian infrastructure? The city of Santa Rosa is willing to squander $55 million per year to move a perfectly well‐located County Offices to the old Sears building, and yet you're not willing to apply for FREE MONEY? Give me a break. You guys are either too lazy, unable to write well enough to receive grant money or likely, BOTH.
Incompetence at the top runs the show.
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Terri Moon <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 11:53 PM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public comment regarding Agenda item #2 at 3/9/22 meeting Members of the Santa Rosa City Council,
Is the city of Santa Rosa is NOT going to apply for funding from the $440 million Active Transportation Program (https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local‐assistance/fed‐and‐state‐programs/active‐transportation‐program)? It’s hard for your constituents to trust that you take the climate action goals you have set seriously when your actions don't match your words. Given that transportation contributes to 60% of our carbon footprint, as well as the urgency of these concerns, I’m surprised that more actions are not being taken in this area.
Grant application are due by 6/15 so action needs to be taken in this regard sooner than later!
People in Sonoma County do not feel safe bicycling within the County. It would take so little funding to make the needed changes and the benefits would make such a tremendous difference in the health and well‐being of those who live here as well as all who visit this location we call home.
I don’t know the details of the requirem
ents for receipt of these federal and/or state funds, therefore I ask that you only accept Federal and/or State grant monies if there are no “strings” attached, as there were during the COVID‐19 plandemic that played out over the last two years. Fed eral funding of hospitals required doctors to murder patients by requiring protocols of remdesivir and ventilation
(https://www.bitchute.com/video/Chf8zg6Fl1fS/?fbclid=IwAR1jpmZ0B szitqZlihgDxfhK ‐ THMulbASMnTeFktpj0BH57oj5svMggaTw), causing loss of loved ones and horrific suffering, decreased trust in western medicine as well as our federal government. I”ll spare you the requirements that public schools were required to meet in order to receive federal and/or state funds and the harm those requirements had on students.
With gratitude for your consideration and support,
Terri Moon
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Brad Morrison <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 5:57 AM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
Thank you,
Brad
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Melanie Charter <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 5:59 AM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to you to let you know that my family and I will absolutely put bicycle routes to use in our everyday life. We live near Montgomery Village and would utilize biking more except that the streets are unsafe for cyclists.
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Sant a Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge
you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
Please act on this quickly as we have no time to waste in decreasing emissions. Improving bike lanes will make an impact.
Thank you,
Melanie Charter
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Doug Purvis <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 6:38 AM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
Hello,
I am a teacher at Santa Rosa High School and I commute to work on my bike most days. There are big improvements that can be made in Santa Rosa to improve the safety of our bike routes. This will encourage more people to ride to work and other errands which decreases car traffic and pollution while improving the health of our population.
In addition to the improvements to bike infrastructure that have been made in the past few years, all avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick-build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
Thank you,
James Purvis
1 Atha, Roberta
From: emwiig <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 6:58 AM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
Hi,
I'm a Santa Rosa resident who relies on a bicycle for most of my local travel needs, doing what I can to reduce traffic and greenhouse gas emissions. I think more people would do likewise if only the city had more bike and pedestrian infrastructure that made them feel safer and more acknowledged.
So I'm writing to urge th
e city to pursue ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding, especially if Santa Rosa is to meet its goals of reducing climate change impacts as well as encouraging city‐centered growth. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Incre asing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
Thank you,
Evan Wiig
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Mario <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 8:58 AM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
Hi,
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
An excuse of “limited capacity to pursue grants” is a lame excuse at best.
Cheers, Mario
Live and let live...
1 Atha, Roberta
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 9:25 AM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursued if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
Steve Saxe
President, Santa Rosa Cycling Club
[email protected]
mobile
1 Atha, Roberta
From: Kelsey Murphey <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 10:48 AM
To: Atha, Roberta
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment: Agenda Item #2
Hi there,
I’m emailing about agenda item #2 ‐ the ATP funding. This is a missed opportunity if we skip applying for it. Accessible bike trails, routes, and bike friendly roads are hugely instrumental to Santa Rosa’s environment and carbon reduction goals. As a Santa Rosa resident, I firmly believe that investment in bicycle infrastructure will create a more cohesive, inclusive, thriving co
mmunity. I specifically moved from West Sonoma County to Santa Rosa because I wanted to be able to bike easily between places and have found bicycle inaccessibility a hinderance despite my dedication to greener transportation. Please, please don’t pass this up.
ALL avenues for bike infrastructure funding must be pursu ed if Santa Rosa is to meet its climate reduction goals. I urge you to direct staff to apply for quick‐build funds through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6. Increasing street safety is the only way to get more people to choose active forms of transportation.
Regards,
Kelsey Murphey
she, her