Active Transportation Commission Regular Meeting - May 21, 2026
Active Transportation Commission Regular Meeting - May 21, 2026
The Active Transportation Commission (ATC) met on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 5:31 p.m. in the Sacramento City Council Chamber. The meeting was called to order by Chair Isaac Gonzalez and adjourned at 6:17 p.m. Ten commissioners were present, two were absent. The agenda included approval of consent items, a discussion of the Del Paso Road Bike Lane Enhancement Project, formation of an ad hoc committee for the 2026 annual report, and commissioner comments.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (10-0) the March 12, 2026 meeting minutes and the Active Transportation Commission Log.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Matt (public speaker) expressed appreciation for the Del Paso bike lane project but urged reconsideration of the design, noting that the road is "ridiculously overbuilt" with only a few thousand cars per day. He cited 60 crashes in the last 10 years, including multiple fatalities, and recommended a lane reduction or more innovative use of limited funds.
Discussion Items
- Del Paso Road Bike Lane Enhancement Project (T15180426) – Staff Ricardo Navarro presented the project, a 0.75-mile stretch between El Centro Road and East Commerce Way. Funding ($350,000 total) comes from multiple sources, including an extra $50,000 from traffic engineering. The design includes a bike lane shift on eastbound Del Paso and green paint treatments with a bike ramp on westbound. Projected construction: spring/summer 2027.
- Commissioners expressed concerns about safety, particularly near the I-5 interchange with three right-turn lanes. Vice Chair Gibson and Commissioner Hodel noted that the road functions as a highway and that the proposed design may not improve safety. They suggested lane reduction. Commissioner Rubinstein requested traffic volume and crash data to assess return on investment. Chair Gonzalez asked about funding ramifications if lanes were removed; staff replied that no federal or state funding would be jeopardized because the project is scoped only for existing bike lanes.
- Formation of Annual Report Ad Hoc Committee – Chair Gonzalez created a committee to draft the 2026 ATC Annual Report. Vice Chair Gibson, Commissioner Banks, and Commissioner Harris volunteered. The committee aims to produce a draft by August to allow commission review in September and council presentation in January 2027. Staff noted that the 2025 annual report was adopted by City Council on April 20, 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar passed 10-0.
- Del Paso Road Bike Lane Enhancement Project: The commission discussed and provided feedback to staff; no formal vote was taken.
- Annual Report Ad Hoc Committee: Established with three members (Gibson, Banks, Harris); additional volunteers may join for review. A timeline was set for August draft.
- Commissioner Comments & Ideas:
- Commissioner Harris proposed a future log item on the process for homeowners to build sidewalks at their own expense.
- Vice Chair Gibson read the names of seven people killed while walking or biking since the last meeting (March 27–May 15, 2026).
- Commissioner Banks noted the Safe Routes to Transit work, urged participation in Bike Month, and opposed any reduction in commission meeting frequency.
- Chair Gonzalez expressed frustration that City Council funded none of the commission's 2026 recommendations, despite 32 deaths in 2025 and 21 so far in 2026. He stated that Slow Down Sacramento sent a letter to council members requesting a public discussion about funding challenges.
- Commissioner Hodel invited the public to a Meadowview neighborhood bike ride on May 24.
- Adjournment at 6:17 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Chair staff is ready when you are. All right. Welcome to the Thursday, May 21st, 2026 meeting of the Active Transportation Commission. This meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the role to establish a quorum? Yes, sir. Commissioners, could you please turn your mics on for the roll call? Commissioner Hodell? Here. Commissioner Harris? Here. Commissioner Gibson. Here. Commissioner Wadwani. Here. Commissioner Horatio Patel is absent. Commissioner Commissioner Haupt? Here. Commissioner Tao. Is absent. Commissioner Rubenstein? Present. Commissioner Moore. Here. Commissioner Amin is absent. And Commissioner Banks. Here. Yes. Would you call the chair right here? And uh Chair Juan Salas. Here. And Vice Chair. My apologies. And Vice Chair Gibson. Here. Thank you. You have a quorum, sir. Thank you. I like to remind members of the public in the chambers that if you'd like to speak on an agenda item tonight, please turn any speaker slip before the item begins. After the item is called, we will no longer accept speaker slips. You'll have two minutes to speak when you're called on. We'll now proceed with today's agenda, and Commissioner Moore will uh lead us through the land acknowledgement. Please rise if you're able to open for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands. To the original people of this land, the Nisan people of the Southern Mayu Valley and Fans Miwak, the Wuki peoples, and the people of the World and Rangeria 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 together in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples, history, contributions, and minds. Thank you. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands. One nation. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all someday.
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