Draft MTP/SCS Comments Received - sacog

Complete Streets Coalition of Sacramento
Statement of Goals
Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) on the
Draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)
January 9, 2012
1. 20% Target for walk and bike trips: The Draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)
estimates that with the current project list, 12.1% of all non‐commute trips will be by
walking or bicycling. We can do better. The plan should set a target of 20% of all trips
by walking and bicycling.
2. Set a timetable Complete Streets by 2024: The Draft MTP has no target for achieving
Complete Streets in the Region. We think the Plan should achieve Complete Streets
throughout the Region including a continuous bicycle/pedestrian network by 2024 – in
the next 12 years!
3. Make safety for walking and bicycling highest priority: The plan has no performance
measures or targets for pedestrian or bicycle safety. We think safety for walkers and
bicyclists is critical and should be integrated into all aspects of the MTP including
performance measures for funding.
We can do this by:
• Investing sooner rather than later: By spending money now for pedestrian and bicycle
infrastructure (frontloading) we can achieve the 20% or more sooner, we will all be
healthier, and the air will be cleaner.
• Integrating Complete Streets into all road maintenance and rehabilitation projects: By
investing our road maintenance money prudently we can make many pedestrian and
bicycle infrastructure improvements with minimal money. SACOG can develop a
template for road rehabilitation programs that build in consideration of changes to the
roadway markings – bike‐lane, pedestrian crossing markings, and even lane narrowing
to achieve Complete Streets.
• Learning lessons from other cities and countries: By finding out how other communities
have achieved greater mode share, we can apply the lessons learned in our
communities.
• Tracking our progress: By keeping a score card of our improvements we can assess our
progress both in infrastructure improvements and in mode change.
• Planning for pedestrian and bicycle improvements: By developing, adopting and
updating pedestrian and bicycle master plans in each of our Region’s jurisdictions, we
can prioritize our investments to achieve Complete Streets jurisdiction by jurisdiction
throughout the region.
Page 120 of 165