Active Transportation Commission Meeting - November 6, 2018

The Active Transportation Commission met on November 6, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. to discuss several information items including commission rules, active transportation grant applications, updates on the Del Rio Trail and Folsom Boulevard Complete Streets projects, and the city's policy for construction detours. The commission also approved consent calendar items and heard public comment. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the meeting minutes of October 18, 2018.
• Received and filed the Active Transportation Commission Log.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dan Allison (District 4 resident) expressed concern that the city's sidewalk closure policy disproportionately prioritizes vehicle access over pedestrian and bicyclist access. He provided an example from the Bay Area where an adjacent pedestrian route was maintained during construction and urged the city to give equal consideration to vulnerable road users.

Discussion Items

• Commission Rules and Procedures (Information Item): Jennifer Gore, Deputy City Attorney, presented draft rules. Discussion focused on requiring roll call votes, meeting length (suggested 8:30 p.m. instead of 10:30 p.m. for a "heat check"), and annual election of chair in December (per Clerk's office preference). No action was taken.
• 2018 Active Transportation Program Grant Applications (Information Item): Senior Engineer Bill Shunk explained the competitive ATP grant process, criteria (increased biking/walking, safety, disadvantaged communities), and project readiness. The city submitted three projects: Broadway Phase 2 ($5.4M state/$3.6M regional), Franklin Boulevard Complete Street ($9.3M state/$850K regional), and West Canal bike path (state and regional). He noted that the West Canal project is not in a disadvantaged community, making state funding unlikely, but it competes regionally. The grant award schedule expects state recommendations in December 2018 and regional in February 2019.
• Del Rio Trail Project Update (Information Item): Bill Shunk presented a 4.5-mile trail project connecting the Sacramento River Parkway to Freeport Shore bikeways. The design uses existing tracks for a decomposed granite walking path and a separate paved trail where right-of-way allows. Crossing improvements include signals at major roads and RRBs at smaller ones. SACOG tentatively allocated $6 million in construction funding, enough for about half the trail. Staff sought input on starting from the north (connects to existing infrastructure) or south (serves a disadvantaged community, removes a dangerous section on Freeport Boulevard). Commissioners favored starting from the south.
• Folsom Blvd Complete Street Project Update (Information Item): Senior Engineer Philip Vulliet presented recent improvements from 65th Street to Elvis Avenue, funded by a SACOG grant. Features include sidewalk gap closures, a 15-foot pedestrian zone, a realigned Elvis Avenue intersection, and green bike lanes. The Ramona Avenue Extension Project (70% complete, finishing January 2019) provides a new connection under US-50, a roundabout with public art, and improved bike/ped access to Sacramento State campus. Future projects include an Elvis Avenue sidewalk connection and more student housing developments.
• City Policy for Construction Detours (Information Item): Resident Engineer Matt Johns described the governing documents (CA MUTCD, city specs, sidewalk closure policy). He presented examples of closures and alternate routes. Commissioners and public (Dan Allison) requested earlier notification to stakeholders and better bike/ped detours, especially for long-term projects. Staff agreed to explore updating the policy.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar items approved unanimously.
• No formal votes were taken on information items; direction was given for future updates.
• Staff will investigate updating the construction detour policy and report back.
• The commission expressed a preference for starting the Del Rio Trail construction from the south to serve disadvantaged communities and address safety concerns on Freeport Boulevard.
• Commissioner Wardwaller requested that signal timing issues and SABA's convention center bike access plans be placed on a future agenda.
• Commissioner Jezzi requested an update on ATP grant awards once available.
• The next meeting is scheduled for December 20, 2018; staff will check commissioner availability for that date.