Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Special Meeting: September 17, 2020

The Sacramento Active Transportation Commission held a special virtual meeting on September 17, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. to discuss several transportation initiatives, including the 2020 SACOG funding round, the Pocket Greenhaven Neighborhood Transportation Plan, a Vision Zero update, and a letter to the City Council regarding Slow Streets. The commission voted on three action items and received public comments. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Approved the meeting minutes of August 20, 2020.
• Item 2: Received and filed the Active Transportation Commission log.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ally Dora Westbrook (District 4 resident): Reminded the commission about the Sacramento County Transportation Plan update and Caltrans District 3 active transportation plans, encouraging outreach to community members.
• Bo Chemin (e-comment): Expressed support for funding the Sacramento River Bike Trail and opposition to further funding for the Del Rio Trail, citing a recent court case. Suggested that no additional Del Rio Trail funding be approved until the river trail is completed.
• Craig Siegel (District 4 caller on Vision Zero): Praised staff for the Vision Zero report but criticized the council for underfunding safety efforts. Urged the commission to push for budget changes, including pricing residential parking and congestion pricing, to fund active transportation.
• Abigail Jackson (e-comment, Midtown Neighborhood Association Vice Chair): Expressed strong support for the Slow Streets letter and noted that the association is developing a slow streets proposal but needs city funding.
• Ali Gore Westbrook (caller on Slow Streets): Supported the letter but recommended adding a specific cost estimate and suggested forming working groups as done in Oakland (Essential Streets program).
• Craig Siegel (caller on Slow Streets): Criticized the council for prioritizing other street closures (e.g., restaurant patios, police actions) over slow streets, and urged the commission to send the letter and hold the council accountable.

Discussion Items

Staff Report (Jennifer Donlon Wyant)

• Reported that the West Broadway Specific Plan was approved by council in August; the Broadway Bicycle Master Plan Amendment and Vision Zero School Safety Study have no council dates yet.
• Provided an update on shared rideables: Jump bikes returned at the end of August, with about 200 bikes initially (80-100 in Sacramento), ramping up to 600. Vendors must provide PPE for employees and sanitize devices twice daily.
• Announced a new workshop format for corridor design projects to allow more commission engagement, and promised to summarize previous comments when items return for recommendation.
• Commissioner Haupt inquired about construction impacts on pedestrians/bicyclists; staff is developing a policy to address detour impacts.

Action Item: 2020 SACOG Funding Round (Jesse Gothan)

• Presented a draft list of projects totaling $35.8 million, including Meadow View Complete Streets ($1.55M to close funding gap), Broadway Complete Streets Phase 3, Sacramento River Parkway (federal pivot), Ice Bridge Replacement ($15M), R/29th-30th Street intersection safety improvements, sidewalk gap closures on El Camino ($2M), and combined HSIP projects on various streets.
• Prioritization based on council’s interim transportation priorities (safety, maintenance, GHG reduction, technology, youth mobility, equity) and project readiness.
• Commissioner Pollins asked about eminent domain for the river parkway; Jesse Gothan noted that federal funds would follow the Uniform Act but that was not a determining factor.
• Vote: Motion to forward the recommendation to City Council passed unanimously (10-0, with 2 absent).

Information Item: Pocket Greenhaven Neighborhood Transportation Plan (Leslie Mancebo)

• Overview of the plan, called “Moving Forward Together,” initiated by community and Councilmember Jennings. It holistically addresses transportation in the Pocket Greenhaven neighborhood, which was planned in the 1950s with an auto focus.
• Existing conditions show wide roads, long crossing distances, and collision hot spots. Community engagement includes an online map (nearly 500 interactions) and listening sessions. Next steps: existing conditions report in November, community meetings in March 2021, plan completion by end of 2021.
• Commissioner Jackson asked about triggers for neighborhood plans; Mancebo noted this was community-driven. Commissioner Berdugo suggested partnering with community organizations (e.g., AARP) for older adult engagement.

Information Item: Vision Zero Update (Jennifer Donlon Wyant)

• Highlighted the City’s goal of zero traffic fatalities/serious injuries by 2027, adopted in 2017. The 2018 action plan includes 41 actions.
• Accomplishments: Lowered speed limits to 15 mph on 225 streets near schools; installed 116 pedestrian countdown heads downtown; implemented a class IV bikeway on Meadowview Road (award-winning); installed pedestrian hybrid beacons; launched education campaigns and community engagement efforts (e.g., bus rides, food giveaways).
• Challenges: Funding gaps due to COVID-19 impact on gas/sales tax; many actions are unfunded. Upcoming efforts: Northgate and Freeport Boulevard corridors.
• Vice Chair Wardwaller and Commissioner Pollins expressed support for increasing funding; discussion of a subcommittee to draft a letter to council on Vision Zero funding (not an action item that night).

Action Item: Slow Streets Commission Letter to Council (Chair Haim, Vice Chair Wardwaller, Commissioner Berdugo)

• The subcommittee presented a draft letter urging City Council to fund a Slow Streets program, with recommendations to prioritize equity, community engagement, and partnerships.
• Public comments supported the letter but suggested adding a budget estimate and referencing Oakland’s 70-mile program. Commissioner Haupt noted typos and proposed replacing “can help prioritize” with “should make it a priority to address.”
• Vote: Motion to approve the letter with corrections passed unanimously (10-0).

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent calendar (minutes and log).
• Forwarded SACOG funding round recommendation to City Council (unanimous).
• Approved and sent Slow Streets letter to City Council (unanimous).
• Received and filed staff report, Pocket Greenhaven plan update, and Vision Zero update.
• Next regular meeting scheduled for October 15, 2020, via virtual platform.
• Commissioner Wardwaller reported ongoing conversations among commission chairs/vice chairs on shared issues and procedural improvements.