Active Transportation Commission 10/19/2023

The City of Sacramento Active Transportation Commission met on October 19, 2023. No contract awards, vendor selections, or purchasing approvals were identified. The commission reviewed a Highway Safety Improvement Program Cycle 10 project proposing pedestrian crossing upgrades at four locations, including rapid-flashing beacons, signs and markings, and ADA curb-ramp improvements; the presentation was for feedback, with no project cost stated. Staff also discussed extending the Jack Rabbit Trail name to its southern segment. The commission voted to recommend the extension, and the motion passed. A discussion of street-closure procedures covered permits, safety reviews, and a recently enacted state law that could enable additional closures; staff noted the city has no program or earmarked funding for that effort at present.

Staff presented cost estimates for active transportation recommendations to be developed for City Council, totaling about $7.5 million in year one and $5.5 million in ongoing annual costs. Examples included roughly $1.9 million annually to expand speed management, $850,000 annually for a slow-and-active-streets program, and an estimated $2.3 million initial cost plus about $525,000 in annual staffing for an expanded e-bike library. These were planning estimates, not approved appropriations. The commission reached consensus to recommend doubling the city’s average grant-match contribution over the previous five years, with a 10% annual increase for five years, and supported the other recommendations with clarifications. Final action on the annual report was expected at the November meeting. Staff also noted the existing slow-streets pilot had relied on one-time COVID funding and that ongoing funding is a challenge.