HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.4 ACTIA Active Transport Pgrmor~DU~~~ CITY CLERK
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AGENDA STATEMENT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: October 21, 2008
SUBJECT: Letter of Support for the Alameda County Transportation
Improvement Authority's Active Transportation Program
Report Prepared by: Melissa Morton, Public Works Director
.ATTACHMENTS: 1) Alameda County 2010 Campaign Case Study
2) Resolution
3) Letter of Support
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the resolution endorsing the Alameda County Active
Transportation Campaign and authorizing the Mayor to sign the
letter in support of the Campaign.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: There is no cost associated with this item.
DESCRIPTION: In 2007, the Alameda County Transportation Improvement
Authority (ACTIA) joined the non-profit Rails to Trails Conservancy's (RTC)'s national Active
Transportation campaign. The Active Transportation Campaign was formed to promote Alameda County
as a recipient of $50 million in funding from the federal Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program
(NTPP). The funding will be used to increase walking and biking support in the next federal
transportation bill, which is scheduled to be adopted by 2010.
ACTIA has formed the Alameda County 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation Steering Committee
comprised of local elected officials, transit agency directors and the Public Health Department, to provide
guidance and input on the effort. A case study was prepared that described the need for additional funding
for bicycle and pedestrian projects and outlined the planned use for the funds (Attachment 1). The
Steering Committee has requested that all participating cities submit a letter of support endorsing the
efforts by the Steering Committee to promote Alameda County as one of the 40 recipients of federal
funding from the NTPP.
The Citywide Bikeways Master Plan approved by the City Council on July 17, 2007, includes a section
that supports the consideration of funding strategies. On page 72, it directs Staff to "prepare joint
COPY TO:
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ITEM NO.
G:\CIP\City Bikeways Master Plan\Staff Reports\ACTIA endorsement\agst ACTIA Support Lettecdoc ~ ~
applications [for multi-agency bikeway projects] with other local and regional agencies... for competitive
funding programs at the State and Federal levels." One of the projects proposed in the Alameda County
2010 Campaign Case Study is the completion of the Iron Horse Trail extending from the
Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station to Livermore. The completion of the Iron Horse Trail will greatly
increase the availability and uses of the inter-county 28-mile trail to Dublin residents.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council approve the resolution
endorsing the Alameda County Active Transportation Campaign and authorizing the Mayor to sign the
letter in support of the Campaign.
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2010 Active Transportation Campaign -Alameda County
Case Statement
"Active Alameda- Kids, Commuters £~ Community"
Published June 30, 2008
Executive Summary
Alameda County is on the move. As the second most populous county in the San
Francisco Bay Area, with 1.5 million people, we have over 700,000 walk trips and almost
100,000 bike trips everyday. We also have six of the ten most heavily congested freeway
corridors in the Bay Area, and delays are on the rise.
With our local active transportation funding sources, our adopted planning documents,
and our extensive transit systems, we are committed and ready to close the gaps in our
bicycling and walking networks, and increase these active modes.
We are ready to take bold action to address skyrocketing fuel costs, global warming,
increasing auto congestion, and the poor health of our community, by shifting people
from cars to walking, biking and an array of transit.
Our Active Transportation Plan will:
ADVANCE Pedestrian & Bicycle Access to Transit by...
^ Making it easy and safe to get to transit by walking or biking, which will at the same
time increase transit ridership.
CONNECT Communities with Urban Greenways by...
^ Filling the gaps in existing inter jurisdictional multi-use trails, like the stellar Bay Trail
and the Iron Horse Trail to connect people to jobs, shopping and schools, along with
nature.
^ Building a new East Bay Greenway through the heart of the county which connects
communities to each other and to transit, work, and schools, and provides a new
green space for communities sorely lacking it.
INSPIRE the Community to Walk and Bike by...
^ Expanding the current successful Safe Routes to Schools program to inspire even more
students to become more active.
^ Develop a new Safe Routes for Seniors program to inspire seniors to feel empowered
to walk, and even bike, especially as they transition out of driving.
Campaign Partners
Our Active Transportation Plan is the result of over a year of collaborative planning with
four separate committees, involving partners from mayors to non-profit staff to
community members.
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Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
^ The Organizing Committee plans and oversees the entire campaign, representing
interests of children, seniors, transit, and all transportation users. We are: the
Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority (ACTIA); the
Transportation and Land Use Coalition, a regional non-profit with deep roots in
Alameda County; United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County, anon-profit
working to improve walkability for seniors; and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
^ The Steering Committee, made up of mayors, councilmembers, transit district
directors, county supervisors and high-level public health department staff, provides
direction on the case statement, campaign strategy and outreach.
^ ACTIA's broad-based Pedestrian/Bicycle Working Group, made up of
bicycle/pedestrian local agency staff and non-profits serves as our Technical
Advisory Committee. They assist with research and provide input on the
development of the case statement, along with coalition building.
^ ACTIA's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), which includes
eleven community members from throughout the county, enthusiastically participates
as our Community Advisory Committee, reviewing and providing input on the case
statement, and outreach.
Along the way, ACTIA, as the lead organization, has brought this campaign and its
vision to its Board, made up of all five county supervisors, mayors and councilmembers,
who have endorsed and strongly support the effort.
Table of Contents:
1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3
2. We're committed and ready .......................................................................................... 4
3. Our commitment is great, but so is our need ............................................................... 7
4. Priority #1: ADVANCE Pedestrian c~ Bicycle Access to Transit ............................... 9
S. Priority #2: CONNECT Communities with Urban Greenways ............................... 11
6. Priority #3: INSPIRE the Community to Walk and Bike ................:........................ 13
7. Making it happen -the Financial Plan ..................................................................... 15
8. Alameda County is ready to roll! ................................................................................ 16
9. Taking the Next Step ................................................................................................... 17
For more information, please contact:
Tess Lengyel, Programs and Public Affairs Manger
Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority
Tel: 510-267-6111
Email: tlengyel@actia2022.com
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Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
1. Introduction
Active Alameda- Kids, Commuters & Community
Alameda County is on the move. As the second most populous county in the San
Francisco Bay Area, with 1.5 million people, we have over 700,000 walk trips and almost
100,000 bike trips everyday. We also have six of the ten most heavily congested freeway
corridors in the Bay Area.
Our community is clamoring for safe, healthy and inexpensive ways to get where they
need to go - to school, to work, to shop and to play. Gas prices are soaring, obesity is on
the rise, and our streets have been built for cars, not people.
The infusion of $50 million, through a proposed new federal transportation funding
program, "2010 Active Transportation," matched by significant local investments, will
make Alameda County alive with walking and biking.
Alameda County developed this Active Transportation Plan to invest in:
Kids -teaching and inspiring children to safely walk and bike to school; linking
multi-use pathways to schools; instilling healthy habits early in life to reverse the
diabetes and obesity epidemics.
Commuters -changing habits; making it easy and attractive to walk and bike to
transit; building new multi-use pathways to transit; leveraging the county's significant
investments in transit and nearby development; promoting transit for all trips, not just to
get to work.
Community -supporting all ages through convenient, affordable access to schools,
businesses and recreation; creating opportunities for healthy, active lifestyles; providing
infrastructure and targeted education that support safe walking and biking by youth,
teens, adults and seniors, including people with disabilities.
What will the results be?
^ More people walking and biking
^ Reduced auto congestion
^ Improved air quality
^ Lowered carbon emissions
^ Connected communities
^ Changes that preserve and enhance our quality of life
Highlight:
^ Thirty percent of trips in the San Francisco Bay Area are one mile or less, making
biking and walking a healthy alternative for a significant portion of daily trips.'
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Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
2. We're committed and ready
Alameda County is committed and ready to make active transportation a primary,
not alternative, way to travel.
We've done the planning
Our county's highest priority
projects and programs are laid out
in our up-to-date adopted
Countywide Pedestrian and
Bicycle Plans. Access to transit,
connected countywide bikeway
and trail networks, and educational
programs are all at the top of the
priority lists. This active
transportation plan builds on these
adopted plans.
Thirteen of our 15 local
jurisdictions have also adopted
their own local bicycle, pedestrian
and/or combined plans. Even our
largest transit agencies, BART and
AC Transit, have developed plans
to promote walking and biking.
Local Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans
JURISDICTION PED PLAN BIKE PLAN PEDBIKE
COMBINED
_
North Planning Area ......_ W__._ _._
_...
Alameda (City ofl
_ Underway
_~ /
Albany Underway /
Berkeley Underway
_.. ... /
.
Oakland / /
Piedmont
.
_
Emeryville _
.. _ __.
/
Central Planning Area
_
... . _..
San Leandro
_ /
_ __
Hayward /
Unincorporated / /
South Planning Area
Fremont / /
Newark
Union City
East Planning Area
Pleasanton
__ __
_~ Underway
_.e_........__._......_........
Dublin /
Livermore /
Total 6 9 4
We're committing local dollars - $100 million for walking and biking
Our community showed its tremendous support for active transportation in 2000 when
81.5% of voters approved a $100 million investment in improving walking and biking
as part of the passage of a twenty year local sales tax measure (Measure B). With these
funds and plans in place, our county has already begun the groundwork of training its
staff, creating programs and building infrastructure which will enable new funding to
quickly show results.
In addition, our county has supported transit, parks and transportation infrastructure
through various bond measures. The Regional Park District is preparing a re-
authorization of Measure AA for the November 2008 ballot. Many new walking and
biking facilities would be implemented with this $500 million bond measure.
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Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
Highlights:
^ Over half a million walk
trips are made each day in
Alameda County.
Additionally, about
200,000 walk trips are
made to transit each day.
Current mode split for all trips:
12% walk + 2% bike + 8% transit = 22% active transportation
Goal for 2016:
30% active transportation (wa11c, bike, transit)
Alameda County Bicycle and Pedestrian Work Trips Compared to All Trips
(note: walk/bike to transit trips not included):
Walk to work trips = 3% of all work trips
All Walk trips = 12% of all trips
Bike to work trips = 2.3% of all work trips
All Bike trips = 2.1% of all trips
We're investing in transit and smart growth
To make walking and biking viable transportation options for more than just short trips,
they must be combined with transit. And; similarly, good walk and bike access is
essential for transit to be successful and flourish.
Alameda County already has a robust and well-used transit network with 19 BART
stations, 187 miles of major bus transit lines, 10 rail stops, and 3 ferry terminals. AC
Transit, the largest bus transit provider in our county, has outfitted each of their buses
with bicycle racks.
As gas prices have
sky-rocketed,
BART ridership has
increased by 4.5%
in the first three
months of 2008
alonez. Transit
ridership will
increase even
further once new
transit investments
coming online in
the next eight years
1 td
Alameda County is the second most populous and second
densest county in the San Francisco Bay Area. Oakland, the
third largest city in the Bay Area, Fremont and Berkeley are
all located here.
^ 1.5 million people and growing. 1.9 million expected by
2030. '
^ 15 jurisdictions
^ Academic and research excellence: UC Berkeley .and
are imp emen e ,
such as Bus Rapid Transit, BART extensions, new BART stations (such as West Dublin,
Warm Springs), and new ferry terminals.
Placing a mix of land uses close to housing and transit is key to increasing biking and
walking. Alameda County has 25 adopted Priority Development Areas - communities
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Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
which welcome more residents and are committed to creating more housing choices in
locations easily accessible to transit, jobs, shopping and services.3
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Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
3. Our commitment is great, but so is our need
Huge funding gap for Pedestrian and Bicycle Plans
Even with $174 million in anticipated revenue, less than 20% of the Countywide
Pedestrian Plan priorities can be implemented. With available revenue, just over a third
of the Countywide Bicycle Plan priorities could be constructed.
Global Warming is happening now
Fifty percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the Bay Area are due to transportation, and
auto trips are the biggest contributor.
Driving alone isn't getting us there
Congestion in the Bay Area is the second worst in the country.. And, Alameda County
has 6 of the top 10 most congested corridors in the Bay Area. As a mostly built out
community, simply widening roads is not a solution, and it's expensive. With gas prices
rising towards $5 per gallon, people want and need other options.
An exploding population of seniors needs a spectrum of mobility options
The senior population (those over 65 years) in Alameda County will almost double
between 2000 and 2020. Providing good infrastructure that is comfortable and safe for
seniors gives them the ability to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.
The health of our community is suffering.
Our community is living with the myriad health impacts of an auto-oriented society. High
rates of driving have led to less physical activity, which increases the rates of
cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes. The growing number of vehicle miles
traveled has increased air pollution, increasing the rates of asthma, especially in the
poorest areas, which tend to be closer to major transportation corridors. And, more cars
on the road, driving at higher speeds, results in an increased risk and severity of bicycle
and pedestrian collisions. Lowering auto use overall and increasing opportunities to
access services via walking, biking and transit, will improve the health of our residents.
Highlights:
^ In Alameda County today, over half of adults are considered obese or overweight.
Of the county's school children in three grades tested, 68% were not considered
physically fit.
^ The majority of deaths in our county are from heart disease, cancer and stroke, all
of which can be reduced with modest increases in physical activity.
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Active Transportatipn Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
^ Asthma hospitalization rates in Alameda County exceed California rates and
national objectives for all age groups, most notably for children under five years
old.
^ Pedestrians make up 23% of all people killed in Alameda County motor vehicle
collisions, while just 12% of all trips are by foot.
Social Equity
Transportation systems must serve all of society equitably, but too often this isn't the
case. Moreover the negative impacts of our transportation system disproportionately
impact the poor and people of color.
^ Households earning less than $20,000 per year spend over half of their income on
transportation.
^ Overall, 11 % of Alameda County households have no vehicle. In Oakland, the largest
city in the county, that number is 20%.
^ Only 69% of low income households own cars, making access to jobs difficult, and
access to transit essential to compete with others for work.
^ West Oakland residents breathe air that contains three times more diesel particles than
in the rest of the Bay Area.
^ Our low-income neighborhoods have a disproportionately high rate of pedestrian and
bicyclist injuries, and the diseases that are linked to low levels of physical activity.
^ The doubling of our senior population leads to more frailty and a greater number of
people on fixed incomes.
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Active Transportation Campaign
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
Alameda County Case Statement
4. Priority #1: ADVANCE Pedestrian & Bicycle Access to Transit
Combining transit with walking and biking, can make traveling without a car feasible,
time efficient and inexpensive. In Alameda County, most residents live within a
quarter-mile of a bus transit line. Safe, direct and comfortable routes to transit are
needed to encourage more people to walk and bike to transit.
Seamless walking and bicycling connections to major transit stations and stops can
decrease congestion, increase transit ridership and increase opportunities for physical
activity. Alameda County is spending millions of dollars to expand transit and to promote
mixed-use development, and is focusing transportation investments near transit.
What we'll do:
1. Make "last mile" improvements around key transit stations/stops, including
safety and personal security improvements. The county's adopted Pedestrian and
Bicycle Plans prioritize safe access to transit, and specifically identify the type and
extent of investments needed. We'll select the priority areas based on where new
transit investments are occurring, and what our existing countywide plans, and transit
agency plans, recommend. Investments will go to areas with the greatest potential for
increasing bicycle and pedestrian access.
2. Invest in secure bike parking at transit stations, and expanded capacity for bikes
on buses and rail transit.
Highlights:
^ Eighteen of our county's 20
existing or soon-to-be-opened
BART stations have active
Transit Oriented Development
projects in place or in the
planning stages.4
Current walk/bike to transit mode share:
Walk access to transit - 90% to bus, 22% to BARTl
Bike access to transit - 3% to bus, 3% to BARTi
^ Transit is active transportation: People who use transit spend a median of 19
minutes a day walking to and from transit.
^ Residents in highly walkable neighborhoods engage in about 70 more minutes per
week of moderate and vigorous physical activity than residents in low-walkability
neighborhoods.s
^ Since most public transit trips begin and end with walking, increased access to
public transit can provide more opportunities for people to be physically active.
^ With 11.2% of work trips made via transit, Alameda County ranks high (23`d )
among over 7001arge counties in the nation. In California, only San Francisco
ranked higher.
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Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
Investing in Transit
There are 25 adopted Priority Development Areas (PDAs) in Alameda County, where
new housing and jobs will be focused. Recently, six cities in Alameda County were
awarded close to $2,000,000 through the region's Station Area Planning grant program to
make sure local standards, guidelines and policies are in place to maximize transit use,
and to ensure that walking and biking to transit will be safe and convenient.
Potential for Change:
^ 39% of BART riders live within 1 mile of the BART stationb, easy walking or biking
distance, yet many still drive. Access improvements will raise the percentage of
people walking and biking to BART above the current 22% and 3%, respectively.
^ Of BART riders who drove alone to a station, 23% said it was "very possible" to
bicycle to BART with 21% responding it was "somewhat possible."~
^ With an increasing amount of resources going to support Priority Development Areas,
investing in walking and biking to transit has the potential to have an even greater
impact.
^ Cities and transit agencies are eager to make improvements to bicycle and pedestrian
access. A regional "Safe Routes to Transit" grant program has only been able fund
25% of the total amount requested.
Benefits:
1. Increased transit ridership.
2. Reductions in peak commute hour auto congestion, which creates the heaviest load on
the roadway network.
3. Improvements will benefit everyone in the vicinity, not just transit riders.
4. And, since densities are higher around transit, more of the community benefits from
the infrastructure improvements.
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Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
5. Priority #2: CONNECT Communities with Urban Greenwavs
Greenways connect cities to each other and connect people to where they want to go.
They provide vital transportation and they create opportunities to be active and play. Our
vision in Alameda County is to create a network of urban greenways that connect the
community to schools, transit, jobs, and parks.
Alameda County has already made significant progress on building major inter-
jurisdictional, multi-county trails, such as the Bay Trail which will circle the entire San
Francisco Bay, and the Iron Horse Trail in eastern Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
This funding will allow us to build a continuous urban greenway network by eliminating
gaps and building new trails.
The newest trail: East Bay Greenway
A visionary new countywide urban greenway, extending from the northern to southern
county borders, is being planned to run through the heart of western Alameda County,
along the Union Pacific Railroad and BART rights-of--way. Ultimately, it will link twelve
communities, including very low income neighborhoods, and connect to eleven or more
BART stations, multiple trunk bus lines, other rail stops, schools, and more. The final
project will be a wide urban greenway with neighborhood amenities, such as parks and
open space.
With this funding, we will be able to complete the first phase of this countywide trail -
the East Bay Greenway. This 12-mile multi-use trail is envisioned as a short term,
implementable project that focuses on creating a transportation link between five BART
stations. Along the way it will transform an eyesore into a vibrant, useful, pathway that
connects people to jobs, parks, schools, transit and shopping. Easy, safe access
connecting the greenway to the surrounding communities will be prioritized. The
Concept Plan is complete and the four cities along this trail, along with the regional and
countywide agencies, are all on-board and ready to move ahead.
What we'll do:
1. Complete the signature Bay Trail from Fremont to Albany. With over 60% of the
Bay Trail built, completion is becoming anear-term reality. Just over 110 miles are
built in our county, and this would complete another 35 miles of trail. We'll put our
investment into completing the spine and the connections from the spine to the
residential areas and transit.
2. Build the East Bay Greenway, Phase 1 of a countywide urban greenway. When
completed, this new 12-mile multi-use pathway will provide an inland spine, parallel
to the Bay Trail, passing directly through residential, commercial and industrial areas.
3. Finish the vision of the Iron Horse Trail. Building the trail from its current
southern terminus at the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station to Livermore will complete
this well-used inter-county 28-mile trail.
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Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
4. Complete the network with connectors. On and off-street connections will be built
to connect these trails with each other, and with transit, local and regional
destinations.
Potential for Change:
^ One third of the trips on the Iron Horse Trail are utilitarian: people getting to work,
school or doing errands.
^ All of these trails, but especially the new East Bay Greenway and Iron Horse Trail pass
through heavily populated areas, and connect to transit, jobs, schools and shopping,
making mode shift to biking and walking likely.
^ Children and adults new to riding are often not comfortable bicycling with cars, but
will try riding on a separated pathway. After a few recreational rides, they are likely
to try riding for other purposes.
Benefits:
1. Multi-use trails are transportation corridors that can be used for short or long trips.
2. New green space and meeting places which builds community.
3. Increased open space in urban areas with limited access to parks.
4. More opportunities for being active.
5. Direct connections to BART stations and many trunk transit lines.
Highlights:
^ Studies show that 43% of people with safe places to walk within ten minutes of home
meet recommended activity levels, compared to only 27% of those without safe
places to walk.8
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Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
6. Priority #3: INSPIRE the Community to Walk and Bike
New trails, bike lanes, sidewalks and bike racks will attract people to them, but capital
projects are most effective when combined with promotional and educational campaigns.
Alameda County is already leading the region in developing innovative, broad-based
programs to inspire people of all ages to walk and bike. These programs can begin to
permeate our culture if they are dramatically expanded.
^ Our county has instituted a coordinated countywide safe routes to schools (SR2S)
program, currently targeting 50 schools. SR2S programs inspire children to walk and
' bike to school, and give them the tools to do it safely, including lessons in dealing
with crime and "stranger-danger". After starting to walk and bike to school, children
tend to become more active in their day-to-day lives in general, and therefore .more
healthy overall.
^ We're .implementing individualized transportation marketing campaigns. Locally,
TravelChoice provides individuals in a targeted area with the specific transportation
information they want, encouraging realistic mode shift.
With this new funding, we'll expand our current programs to reach even more of the
community. And, we'll take the lessons learned from SR2S and apply them to a new Safe
Routes for Seniors campaign, which will coordinate safety information, walking clubs
and travel-training throughout the county. Our current community of seniors often don't
feel safe walking, either because of a broken sidewalks, or a fear of crime. And, as the
baby boomers age, they will be demanding more mobility choices. Just like for SR2S,
this new program will give seniors the tools to safely walk, bicycle and access transit, so
they can accomplish daily tasks and participate more fully in life.
The county will also provide technical assistance to local agencies, and encourage the
local adoption of complete streets policies to ensure that all new infrastructure meets the
needs of seniors and children, and ultimately everyone.
What we'll do:
1. Bring SR2S to every elementary school in the County. Right now Alameda
County's program cannot respond to all of the schools that request programs. With
this funding, the program will become much more extensive and reach approximately
100,000 children at 226 schools each year.
2. Create Safe Routes for Seniors program. This new program will coordinate the
many existing local walking clubs, safety programs and travel training for seniors,
providing a coordinated program, similar to our SR2S program.
3. Provide technical assistance to local agency staff. Engineering experts will provide
assistance to local agencies which may not have the internal capacity tb develop fixes
for the more difficult biking and walking facility challenges. This is particularly
important in a built-out, mostly urban, community like ours.
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Active Transportation Campaign -Alameda County Case Statement
4. Promote the adoption of local Complete Streets policies. Communities are eager to
make walking and biking integral to all new projects, and well-designed and
implemented Complete Streets policies can be a tool to do this.
5. Expand campaigns that promote walking, biking and transit use. New programs,
such as bicycle safety education for adults and individualized transportation
marketing programs make it possible for people to see another way to travel.
Potential for Change:
^ Our countywide Safe Routes to School program anticipates a 10% mode shift to
walking and/or biking by parents and students. This modest goal is based on the
experience of other SR2S programs, such as Marin County, California, where car
trips to school went down by 23%, and bike and walk trips increased by almost 40%.9
^ The proposed expanded SR2S program could result in almost 26 million fewer vehicle
miles traveled each year, according to a recent analysis.lo
^ Children, and parents, who walk or bike to school are more likely to use these modes .
for other trips.
^ Our local TravelChoice program, an individualized transportation marketing campaign,
has seen 20% increases in walking and 40% increases in biking.
Benefits:
1. Biking and walking skills are lessons that children take with them as they grow.
2. Increased walking and biking safety skills.
3. Highly utilized facilities.
4. Social activities and opportunities for seniors to participate fully in life.
5. Less isolation from the community, as seniors spend more time outside and on the
streets.
6. Longer lives, through increased physical activity.
Highlights:
^ Travel to school accounts for 25% of all morning traffic.
^ Only one in ten children walks to school today, down from 50% in 1969.
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Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
7. Making it happen -the Financial Plan
Making change is not cheap. The total cost to implement the three priorities outlined in
this Active Transportation Plan is over $135 million.
ActiveTrans orfation Plan -lm lementation Costs
Advancin Access to Transit $ 60,000,000
Connectin Communities with Urban Greenwa s $ 57,000,000
Ins irin Walkin and Bikin $ 18,000,000
Total Cost $135,000,000
Alameda County will leverage the new $50 million in 2010 Active Transportation
funding with an additional $85 million coming from a combination of its own local sales
tax revenue dedicated to bicycle and pedestrian safety ($15 million), plus other local,
regional, state and federal sources projected to come to the county through 2016.
Active Traus ortation Plan-Fundin
Local Sales Tax Revenue Measure B $ 15,000,000
Other Antici ated Fundin Local/Re Tonal/State/Federal $ 70,000,000
2010 Cam ai n Fundin $ 50,000,000
Total Cost $135,000,000
*Funding Estimates for 2008 through 2016
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Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
8. Alameda County is ready to roll!
^ Local agencies are on board - We have already involved local and transit agency staff,
and non-profit staff in the development of this case statement.
^ Public Health is on our team. Our county has established collaborative working
relationships between public health, city planning and transportation planning. We are
supporting each other's efforts to create healthier communities for all.
^ Local elected officials are continually supportive, advocating for funding for transit,
walking and biking.
^ A history of collaborative efforts -We're highly functioning at the citizen, government
and non-profit levels. For example, the UC Berkeley Traffic Safety Center and many
local agencies have collaborated on bicycle/pedestrian research projects.
^ Projects, programs and funding are in place -We've already started many great
programs, and are ready to expand them to bring the benefits to more people.
^ We're preparing now for this new infusion of funds. We're:
o Funding local Pedestrian Plans in each jurisdiction by 2012.
o Starting a technical assistance program.
o Providing trainings for local agency staff.
o Collecting data through a partnership with UC Berkeley.
^ We are testing out innovative solutions. Alameda County is a transportation leader in
the Bay Area in establishing new successful walking and biking projects and
programs. Now more than ever, our country needs replicable innovative solutions to
combat global warming, reduce obesity rates and address auto congestion.
Highlights:
^ As a founding member of the "Cool Counties" initiative, Alameda is committed
to working with our communities to reduce countywide greenhouse gas emissions
80% by 2050.
^ Walking is the one transportation mode that everyone uses at some point for each
and every trip, so everyone benefits when walking is safer and more convenient
and attractive.
^ Communities with good walking and biking conditions can expect a five to 15
percent reduction in overall vehicle miles traveled. ~ 1
Page 16 of 18
179~~~/
Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
9. Taking the Next Step
The choices we make are shaped by the choices we have.
Right now, Alameda County residents -especially those most in need: those who are
poor, elderly and disabled -don't have good choices to live healthy, active lives.
Our communities are asking for more active transportation options, and high gas prices,
combined with the threat of global warming, are pushing people to try them.
Investing in Alameda County's Active Transportation Plan will:
^ Create a truly multi-modal transportation system.
^ Address social equity.
^ Increase economic vitality and access to jobs.
^ Improve all areas of the county.
^ Create opportunities for physical activity and access to parks.
^ Create a package of projects and programs that is more effective than capital projects
alone.
The Plan will:
^ Build on our many existing innovative and proven efforts, such as the countywide Safe
Routes to Schools program and the Bay Trail.
^ Build on established local and countywide planning priorities and goals.
^ Support our Regional Transportation Plan goals and Countywide Transportation Plan
projects.
^ Build on our established and growing regional and countywide focus on transit
oriented development.
Page 17 of 18
i~ ~~~~
Active Transportation Campaign Alameda County Case Statement
Endnotes
' Regional Pedestrian Planning for the San Francisco Bay Area [DRAFT, 5-Jun-08], p.17
z http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-
bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/03/MN2S 111 RJT.DTL&hw=transit+ridership&sn=004&sc=425
s http://www.bayareavision.org/initiatives/prioritydevelopmentareas.html
a Kenya Wheeler, BART, email 6/20/08
5 Alameda Countywide Strategic Pedestrian Plan , p. 31
e From Table P3 in the appendix of MTC's Station Area Residents Survey (STARS), which was part of
BATS-Bay Area Transportation Survey.
htt~p://hart.gov;does/BAR'T' Bicycle Access Parking_Plan.pdf, p. 13
$ Alameda Countywide Strategic Pedestrian Plan, p. 31
9 http://transcoalition.org/c/sus_rtp/bringing_safe_routes_to_scale.pdf
10 http:.'/transcoalition.org.c-sns ,rt~'briii~ing„safe routes to scalea~df: 258 fewer VMT/year/student. (see
footnote #21 in report) ~~-
" Litman 2007, from RTC issue paper on Mobility
Page 18 of 18
i~ a~
RESOLUTION NO. - 08
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
ENDORSING THE ALAMEDA COUNTY ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION CAMPAIGN AND
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE CAMPAIGN
WHEREAS, Alameda County's Countywide Bicycle Plan and Countywide Strategic Pedestrian
Plan include the following goals that support active transportation:
• Increase the number and percentage of walking trips with the intention of reducing motor
vehicle use, preserving air quality, and improving public health.
• Improve pedestrian safety, especially for the young, elderly, and disabled.
• Ensure that essential pedestrian destinations throughout Alameda County -particularly public
transit -have direct, safe and convenient pedestrian access.
• Complete the San Francisco Bay Trail and paved inter jurisdictional East Bay Regional Park
District trail systems that serve populated areas in Alameda County.
• Maximize the amount of funding for pedestrian projects, programs and plans in Alameda
County, with an emphasis on implementation,
• Create and maintain an inter-county and intra-county bicycle network that is safe, convenient
and continuous.
• Increase the potential for bicycle transportation by closing gaps in existing bikeways.
• Encourage policies and actions that foster bicycling as a mode of travel; and
WHEREAS, nearly half of all trips for personal transportation in the United States are three miles
or less in length, and thirty percent of all trips in the San Francisco Bay Area are one mile or less, making
biking and walking a healthy alternative for a significant portion of daily trips; and
WHEREAS, bicyclists and pedestrians represent 9% of all personal trips nationwide (14% in
Alameda County), and 14% of all traffic fatalities in the United States (almost 25% in Alameda County),
yet receive less than 1 % of all federal road spending; and
WHEREAS, the above disparity indicates an opportunity to produce a substantial shift to these
healthy, non-motorized transportation modes; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, .federal legislation, SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users), created the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot
Program for construction of a network ofnon-motorized transportation infrastructure facilities in four
urban communities to demonstrate the extent to which bicycling and walking can carry a significant part
of the transportation load and play a major role in transportation solutions; and
WHEREAS, the four communities were selected to each receive grants of $25 million over four
years to participate in the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program; and
ATfAE~YEIIf ~
~~ay
WHEREAS, a national non-profit multi-modal transportation advocacy organization, the
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, is leading a national campaign to expand this program in the next federal
transportation reauthorization to include at least 40 communities, with $50 million per community over
six years, to promote "active transportation" (walking, biking and access to transit) for mobility; and
WHEREAS, Alameda County joined this effort to expand the federal program, called the 2010
Campaign for Active Transportation, and seeks to be one of the communities to receive $50 million; and
WHEREAS, an Alameda County Active Transportation Plan was developed in 2008 with the
input of a Steering Committee, Community Advisory Committee, Technical Advisory Committee and
Organizing Committee, representing all areas of Alameda County; and
WHEREAS, this Active Transportation Plan, which will benefit the entire County, will create
active transportation opportunities for children, commuters and community by investing in three priority
areas:
1. Advancing pedestrian and bicycle access to transit,
2. Connecting communities with urban greenways, and
3. Inspiring the community to walk and bike through education and promotion programs; and
WHEREAS, the overarching goal of this Plan is to increase the number of people walking, biking
and using public transit in Alameda County from 22% today, to 30% by 2016; and
WHERAS, the Citywide Master Bikeways Plan approved by Council on July 17, 2007 supports
the preparation of joint applications for multi-agency bikeway projects with other local and regional
agencies to compete for state and federal funding opportunities; and
WHEREAS, one of the projects proposed for funding in the Alameda County 2010 Campaign
Case Study is the completion of the Iron Horse Trail extending from the Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station
to Livermore, which will increase the availability and uses of the Trail for Dublin residents; and
WHEREAS, Alameda County showed tremendous support for active transportation in 2000 when
81.5% of the voters approved a $100 million investment in improving walking and biking as part of the
passage of a twenty-year local sales tax measure (Measure B); and
WHEREAS, in 2006, Alameda County adopted a Countywide Strategic Pedestrian Plan, a Toolkit
for Improving Walkability in Alameda County, and a Countywide Bicycle Plan; and
WHEREAS, the East Bay Regional Park District Master Plan, as updated in 2007, encompasses
an extensive system of multi-use trails in Alameda County; and
WHEREAS, municipalities in Alameda County continue to plan and develop active transportation
infrastructure to:
• Create safe transportation routes,
• Promote healthy lifestyles,
• Invigorate the sense of community,
• Promote economic diversity and vitality,
1 Zu
• Improve air quality,
• Relieve motorized traffic congestion,
• Improve the efficiency of transportation infrastructure,
• Decrease dependency on carbon fuels, and
• Reduce the burden of infrastructure maintenance;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Dublin strongly supports and
endorses Alameda County's participation in the 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation, which has
a goal of doubling federal funding for trails, walking and biking in the next federal transportation
reauthorization and attracting $50 million of this funding to Alameda County to implement its Active
Transportation Plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Mayor is authorized to sign a letter stating the City's
support of the Alameda County Active Transportation Campaign.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of October, 2008, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST:
City Clerk
G:\CIP\City Bikeways'Master Plan\Staff Reports\ACTIA endorsement\reso ACTIA support Letter.doc
Mayor
-3-
a~ v~ z 4
CITY OF DUBLIN
"Celebrating 25 Years Of Cityhood 1982-2007"
100 Civic Plaza, Dublin, California 94568
October 21, 2008
Alameda County 2010 Campaign for
Active Transportation Steering Committee
Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority
1333 Broadway, Suite 300
Oakland, CA 94612
ATTN: Tess Lengyel, Programs and Public Affairs Manager
Dear Members of the Committee:
Website: http://www.ci.dublin.ca.us
Our organization strongly supports and endorses Alameda County's participation in the
2010 Campaign for Active Transportation which has a goal of doubling federal funding
for walking, biking and trails in the next federal transportation bill and attracting $50
million of this funding to Alameda County to implement its Active Transportation Plan.
There is a tremendous need for more investment in Active Transportation infrastructure
in Alameda County, and nationwide. We know that nearly half of all trips for personal
transportation in the United States are three miles or less in length, and thirty percent of
all trips in the San Francisco Bay Area are one mile or less, making biking and walking a
healthy, convenient transportation choice for a significant portion of daily trips.
We also know that, in order to significantly increase bicycling and walking, we need to
make our facilities safe, especially in our low-income neighborhoods which have
disproportionately higher rates of pedestrian and bicyclist injuries. Currently, bicyclists
and pedestrians represent 9% of all personal trips nationwide (14% in Alameda County)
and 14% of all traffic fatalities in the United States (almost 25% in Alameda County); yet
receive less than 1 % of all federal road spending. This disparity indicates an opportunity
to produce a substantial shift to these healthy, non-motorized transportation modes.
In 2005, federal transportation legislation created the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot
Program (NTPP) for the construction of a network of non-motorized transportation
infrastructure facilities in urban communities. The NTPP Program is intended to
demonstrate the extent to which bicycling and walking can carry a significant part of the
transportation load and play a major role in transportation solutions. Four communities
were selected to participate in the NTPP, and they are already demonstrating positive
results.
Area Code (925) City Manager 833-6650 City Council 833-6650 Personnel 833-6605 I
Finance 833-6640 Public Works/Engineering 833-6630 Parks & Community Services f ~~~~~~~~ ~'
Planning/Code Enforcement 833-6610 Building Inspection 833-6620 Fire Prever
~.
Prinforl nn o~,~rln.-! D.,
October 21, 2008
ACTIA Campaign for Active
Transportation Steering Committee
Page 2.
~3 ~ ~y
To build on this success, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a national non-profit multi-
modal transportation advocacy organization, is leading a national campaign to expand
this program in the next federal transportation authorization to include at least 40
communities, with $50 million per community over six years, to promote active
transportation (biking, walking and access to transit) for mobility. Alameda County has
joined this campaign, called the 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation.
In 2008, an Alameda County Active Transportation Plan was developed, which will
benefit the entire county and will create active transportation opportunities for kids,
commuters and community by investing in three priority areas:
1. Advancing pedestrian and bicycle access to transit,
2. Connecting communities with urban greenways, and
3. Inspiring the community to walk and bike through education and promotion
programs.
The overarching goal of this Plan is to increase the number of people walking, biking and
using public transit in Alameda County from 22% today, to 30% by 2016. The result will
be a healthier community with more mobility choices, and greater access to essential
everyday destinations such as school, work, shopping, and parks through safe and
accessible walking, biking and transit connections.
Alameda County has already demonstrated a serious commitment to improving
conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians. In 2000, the voters of Alameda County
approved a $100 million investment in improving biking and walking as part of the
Measure B local sales tax renewal. In 2006, a Countywide Strategic Pedestrian Plan, a
Toolkit for Improving Walkability in Alameda County, and a Countywide Bicycle Plan
were adopted. One of the key goals of these plans is to increase the number and
percentage of walking and biking trips, with the intention of reducing motor vehicle use,
preserving air quality, and improving public health.
In 2007, the City of Dublin approved the Citywide Bikeways Master Plan, which
contains goals to "provide a viable transportation alternative to the automobile and thus
improve transportation choices for Dublin residents, improve safety for bicyclists, and
provide residents with access to open space, trails, and other recreational amenities."
Included in the Bikeways Master Plan is a section that supports the consideration of
funding strategies and directs City staff to "prepare joint applications [for multi-agency
bikeway projects] with other local and regional agencies... for competitive funding
programs at the State and Federal levels."
October 21, 2008
ACTIA Campaign for Active
Transportation Steering Committee
Page 3.
~~ ~~ ~~
We believe it is imperative for Congress to include a substantial Active Transportation
program in the next federal transportation bill, and that Alameda County is an excellent
candidate for Active Transportation investment: we are committed, ready and poised for
success.
Sincerely,
Janet Lockhart, Mayor
City of Dublin
JL/el
cc: City of Dublin Councilmembers
Joni Pattillo, City Manager
G:\CIP\City Bikeways Master Plan\Staff Reports\ACTIA endorsement\Active Support Endorsement Mayor LETTER.doc