Active Transportation Commission Meeting Summary – March 16, 2023
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Active Transportation Commission Meeting – March 16, 2023
The Sacramento Active Transportation Commission met on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. to discuss a range of active transportation projects, grant updates, and planning efforts. The meeting included a unanimous consent calendar, an overview of the city’s active transportation work, a recommendation to approve the Airport Road Shared Use Path design, and a discussion on the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program analysis. The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (Feb. 16, 2023) – Approved unanimously (9 yes, 2 absent: Commissioners Buenrostro and Harris).
- Adoption of Active Transportation Commission Log – Approved as part of the consent calendar.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Item 4 (Introduction to Current Active Transportation Efforts):
- Dan (in person) – Asked about the city’s street design standards, noting that multiple documents exist and seeking clarity on which is being updated.
- Vincent (online) – Expressed support for lane reductions in the Pocket Greenhaven plan, criticized the removal of those reductions citing “25 to 30 relatively uninformed comments from motorists,” and asked if further revisions to the Pocket Greenhaven plan are possible. He also inquired about connecting the River Trail through Little Pocket.
- On Item 5 (Airport Road Shared Use Path): No public comments.
- On Item 6 (Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program): No public comments.
- Public Comments – Matters Not on the Agenda:
- Dan Allison (District 4) – Encouraged the commission to take one recommendation from the walking/biking report and develop a detailed, transformative proposal. He noted that the Freeport Plan revealed unwritten policies on ADT criteria, speed limit reductions, and VMT reduction, and urged a strong emphasis on street trees and sidewalk buffers.
- Matt Anderson (District 4) – Echoed the need for a street tree master plan, suggested putting the I-5 decking study online, and proposed tying active transportation improvements to forthcoming street resurfacing funds (e.g., from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law).
Discussion Items
- Item 3 – Commission Staff Report (Oral Report) – Jennifer Donlon Wyant reported that the city submitted four Caltrans planning grant applications the previous week. She also noted that the Safe Streets for All grant application for Marysville Boulevard (a Vision Zero top-five corridor) was not recommended for funding, but received a “highly recommended” scoring from USDOT; staff will strategize for the next round. The report was received and filed.
- Item 4 – Introduction to Current Active Transportation Efforts – Jennifer Donlon Wyant provided an overview of the city’s active transportation programs, including bike parking (over 7,500 spaces), shared micromobility permitting, grant applications (10 in the last 12 months), and the Vision Zero program. She highlighted 15 capital improvement projects and 8 planning efforts, such as the 34th Street bike lanes, Broadway Complete Streets, Del Rio Trail, Downtown Mobility Project, and the Sacramento River Parkway extension. Commissioners discussed project timelines, the process for project selection, the work zone detour policy update, and the street design standards update. The item was received and filed.
- Item 5 – Airport Road Shared Use Path – Leslie Mancebo presented the proposed design for a Class I shared-use path along Airport Road in North Natomas (Council District 3). The project addresses gaps in the Bicycle Master Plan, utilizes existing public right-of-way, and includes a crossing at San Juan Road with a new traffic signal. Commissioners Hodel and Gibson voiced strong support, citing the need for safer connectivity in Natomas and the area’s diversity. A motion to recommend City Council approval of the design passed unanimously (10 yes, 1 absent: Commissioner Harris).
- Item 6 – Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program Analysis – Jennifer Donlon Wyant presented the city’s preliminary research for a grant application to plan for reconnecting communities harmed by transportation barriers (e.g., freeways). Potential focus areas include Oak Park (impacted by Hwy 99 and 50), Del Paso Boulevard (Hwy 160), and Hwy 99 in South Sacramento. The city has started a community roundtable and is seeking input on additional organizations and priority areas. Commissioners suggested adding the Old North Sacramento Neighborhood Association, Sacramento Investment Without Displacement, and Sacramento Public Library to the outreach list. They also recommended early engagement with Caltrans and the county, and discussed the possibility of pursuing multiple corridors if resources allow. No action was taken; the item was for review and comment.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar – Approved unanimously.
- Airport Road Shared Use Path – Motion passed to recommend City Council approval of the design (10 yes, 0 no, 1 absent).
- Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program – Commission provided input; staff will continue community outreach and prepare a grant application expected in late spring/summer 2023.
- Commissioner Departure – Commissioner Manuel Buenrostro announced he is stepping down to join the Community Police Review Commission; his term will end after this meeting.
- Upcoming Reports – The city clerk will present a process for the annual walking and biking report to the PMPE committee next week; the commission hopes to present its report in May (Bike Month).
- Future Agenda Items – The chair requested adding legislation updates to the commission log and exploring the creation of a community award program. Staff will gather information from other commissions.
- Bike Parking – Commissioner Houpt requested that bicycles be allowed inside City Hall for evening meetings; staff will elevate the request.
Meeting Transcript
Chair, staff is ready when you are. Great, thank you so much. And good evening. Welcome to the March 16th, 2023 Active Transportation Commission. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioner Banks. Yes. Commissioner Brassell. Present. Commissioner Buenrostro. Is absent. Commissioner Gibson. Present. Commissioner Harris. Is absent. Commissioner Hodell. Present. Commissioner Haupt? Here. Commissioner Lee. Present. Commissioner Rowe. Present. Vice Chair Granville. Present. And Chair Westbrook. Present. Thank you. We have a quorum. Fantastic. All right. I would like to remind members of the public and chambers that if you would like to speak on agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip when the item begins. For members of the public who wish to join virtually, please refer to the agenda for the Zoom link. Once you have joined the meeting and wish to speak, raise your hand to provide a public comment when the chair confirms the public comment speaking period for your desired item. If you're online, click the raise your hand on the bottom of your screen. In the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping raise hand option in the more tab. And if you're calling in via telephone to raise your hand, dial star nine, then to unmute or mute, dial star six. Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their phone number. You will have two minutes to speak once you are called on. After the first speaker, we will no longer accept speaker slips, and the raised hand feature in Zoom will be disabled. We'll now proceed with today's agenda. Please rise for opening uh acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's Indigenous People and Tribal Lands. To the original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Mi Walk, Papua Nwintu peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History, contributions, and lives. Thank you. And remain standing for us the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
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