Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan - sacog

1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Vision Statement
The SACOG Regional Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan envisions a transportation system where:
• People can walk and bicycle throughout the region on a network of multi-use paths and
lanes that connect across jurisdictional lines, especially to regional job and activity centers.
• Multi-use paths throughout the region are developed and maintained for walking and
bicycling to provide attractive, natural, and safe transportation corridors.
• People throughout the region can walk and bicycle safely and conveniently to all
destinations, especially schools and employment centers, within reasonable walking and
bicycling distance.
• People can safely walk and bicycle to transit stations and stops and have a comfortable, safe
place to wait or transfer.
• Sidewalk, streets, and roads are designed and laid out according to complete streets
principles to encourage walking and bicycling.
• All transportation projects are designed to safely integrate walking and bicycling as
alternatives to automobiles.
• All commercial and residential developments are designed to make walking and bicycling the
most predominant, attractive and convenient modes of transportation.
• All transportation facilities will be made accessible based on the guidelines of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California Code of Regulations Title 24 (CCR Title 24).
• Adequate, functional, secure and conveniently located bicycle parking facilities are provided
at all regional destinations.
1.2 Why Have a Regional Plan?
The six-county Sacramento region is large, and diverse. In order to capitalize on the assets of each
community it is desirable to provide travel corridors that consistently provide connections between
communities and between jurisdictions. Historically, bicycle and pedestrian planning and policies
have been set at the local level. Given the local focus of bicycle and pedestrian planning, the
development of a regional plan is an opportunity to share best practices, improve coordination and
connectivity between counties and communities. This plan will allow for the coordination of
projects among jurisdictions to ensure that crucial linkages are created in a timely, cost effective, and
efficient manner.
Current low-density suburban land-use patterns mean people travel overwhelmingly by automobile:
82 percent of trips are drive-alone, 10 percent of trips go by auto with two or more occupants, 5
percent are bicycle or walk trips, and 3 percent of trips are by transit (transit use reaches 20% into
downtown Sacramento during commute hours). 1 Projections show that on top of the existing
1 million jobs and 800,000 housing units in 2005, the region is expected to add 535,000 new jobs
and 525,000 new housing units between 2005 and 2035. Since the new jobs and housing are
1 SACOG Metropolitan Transportation Plan for 2035
Regional Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan—Amended June 2011 5