Active Transportation Commission Special Meeting - October 15, 2020

The Active Transportation Commission held a special meeting at 6:00 p.m. on October 15, 2020, via remote broadcast. The agenda included a staff report, a presentation from the Sacramento Police Department's Traffic Section, a report on the Freeport Boulevard Road Diet Project, and the establishment of a Vision Zero Subcommittee. Commissioners also heard public comments on slow streets and Vision Zero.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the meeting minutes of September 17, 2020, and the Active Transportation Commission Log. The motion passed with two abstentions (Commissioners Smith and Brazzle, though Brazzle later arrived).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jeremiah Rohr (Tahoe Park resident) called for permanent slow streets with clear designations (people/pedestrians first, active transportation second, local auto access only, no through traffic). He referenced the CowBikes Quick-Build Bikeway Guide and urged the commission to develop guidelines and legal definitions for slow streets. He expressed support for the downtown al fresco street closures as enhancing livability.
• Patrick Gibbs (District 4 resident) expressed concerns about Vision Zero, specifically the lack of ongoing maintenance for new infrastructure (e.g., potholes in midtown). He asked about plans for maintaining roads, bicycle stop signs, and traffic signals to ensure long-term safety.

Discussion Items

• Staff Report (Jennifer Donlon Wyant, Transportation Planning Manager): Provided updates on: (1) the Broadway Bicycle Master Plan amendment (scheduled for City Council on October 27, 2020); (2) the shared rideables update (City Council directed staff to revise per-trip fee structure, require vendors to pass parking citations to users, incentivize more bicycles, and explore equity pilots in areas like Meadow and Del Paso Heights); (3) the designation of a U.S. Bike Route 50 (official designation achieved, but no special signage is planned yet; a citywide wayfinding policy is expected in winter). Commissioner Ward Waller asked about feedback on the commission's slow streets letter to council; no response has been received.
• Police Department Traffic Section Update (Captain Norm Leong, Lieutenant Hutchins, Sergeant Matt Armstrong, Sergeant Basalo): The department currently has 7 traffic officers (1 sergeant, 6 officers) and 4 detectives for major collisions. In 2017, Sacramento ranked third in traffic collisions among major cities, second in alcohol-involved collisions, and third in bicycle collisions. The 2020-21 OTS grant is $385,000, funding enforcement on distracted driving, speeding, and jaywalking. In 2019, 1,923 distracted driving citations/warnings were issued. Jaywalking citations (2017-2020): 202 total. Fatalities have declined (46 in 2017, 31 in 2019, year-to-date lower in 2020). Officers deploy based on complaints, crime analysis, and collision data; they do not specifically target Vision Zero corridors. The department uses LIDAR for speed enforcement. Commissioners discussed equity, data collection, and the need for automated speed enforcement (not legal in California but supported by the city's legislative platform). The department expressed interest in automated enforcement. The commission requested a follow-up report in six months, including maps of enforcement locations, data on the bait bike program, and an update on Vision Zero actions assigned to PD.
• Freeport Boulevard Road Diet Project Report (David Edrosolan, Interim City Traffic Engineer): The project converted a 2.2-mile segment of Freeport Boulevard (Sutterville Road to Vallejo Way) from two travel lanes in each direction to one lane each direction plus bike lanes, a center left-turn lane, and pedestrian enhancements. The project was driven by community input, including a McClatchy High School student's YouTube video. Key features: 90 parking spaces lost (60 on west side, 30 on east side); installation of vertical curbs (to prevent parking in bike lanes); new crosswalks with pedestrian-actuated flashers at Fifth and Seventh Avenues; radar speed feedback signs; bus pull-outs near McClatchy High School and City College. Post-project speeds remained at 30 mph (85th percentile 37 mph). The intersection at Freeport and 21st Street (near railroad tracks) was reconfigured to accommodate heavy right turns; a T-intersection design was considered but not implemented due to high turn volumes. Connectivity north of the tracks remains a challenge. Commissioners noted the project improved safety but asked about future protected bike lanes (not feasible due to right-of-way constraints).
• Vision Zero Subcommittee (Vice Chair Ward Waller, Chair Heim, Commissioner Berdugo): The commission discussed forming an ad hoc subcommittee to review the Vision Zero Action Plan and explore funding options. Commissioners were urged to participate. After public comment, a motion to establish an ad hoc subcommittee passed with the following members: Chair Heim, Vice Chair Ward Waller, and Commissioners Berdugo, Pollins, and Carpenter. The subcommittee will focus on Vision Zero and Vision Zero funding.

Key Outcomes

• The consent calendar was approved.
• An ad hoc Vision Zero Subcommittee was formed (members: Chair Heim, Vice Chair Ward Waller, Commissioners Berdugo, Pollins, and Carpenter).
• The commission requested the Sacramento Police Department return in approximately six months to report on their traffic enforcement activities, including maps of citation locations, the bait bike program, and coordination with Vision Zero.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for November 19, 2020.