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Tag Archive for: Complete Streets

More than 185 Streets Affected by SB 127

September 11, 2019/by Laura McCamy

CalBike research has revealed the broad scope of streets that could be positively affected by the Complete Streets for Active Living Bill (SB 127 – Wiener). The bill requires Caltrans to consider adding features that keep pedestrians and bicyclists safe when they repair or repave a highway that is surface street. SB 127 would bring the public into the Caltrans planning process, for greater transparency and community input. 

Most of the 50,000 lane miles that Caltrans manages are freeways. Freeways are not affected by SB 127. However, Caltrans maintains many surface streets that are state highways and run through neighborhoods where people live. While only about 17% of Caltrans-controlled roadways have been identified as the kinds of local streets addressed in SB 127, these routes are important thoroughfares at the heart of local communities.

CalBike’s research has found 187 state routes that double as local streets in 44 of California’s 58 counties. This list is not comprehensive; there may be additional routes that we have not yet identified. If we missed a state route that runs through your town, please let us know: email policy@calbike.org.

 

https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/kidsonbikes-e1568830330939.jpg 907 1910 Laura McCamy https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/calbike-logo.png Laura McCamy2019-09-11 18:25:572019-09-18 11:25:32More than 185 Streets Affected by SB 127

Tell Your Assembly Member to Vote YES on SB 127 for Complete Streets

August 30, 2019/by Kevin Claxton

The Complete Streets for Active Living Bill (SB 127) passed two tough Assembly committees. Now, Caltrans is pulling out all the stops to defeat what may be the most important piece of legislation CalBike has ever sponsored.

The Complete Streets Bill will require Caltrans to add features that make streets safer for all users, such as protected bike lanes, when it repairs or repaves local streets. It will free thousands of Californians to get around by biking and walking, instead of being trapped in their cars.

The Complete Streets Bill could come up for a vote in the full Assembly any day now. That’s why we need you to tell your state Assembly Member vote YES on SB 127, the Complete Streets for Active Living Bill, today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/thumb-scaled.jpg 1703 2560 Kevin Claxton https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/calbike-logo.png Kevin Claxton2019-08-30 16:00:262019-08-30 17:42:48Tell Your Assembly Member to Vote YES on SB 127 for Complete Streets

CalBike’s Legislative Agenda Moves Toward the Finish Line

August 23, 2019/by Kevin Claxton

The 2019 session of the California State Legislature ends September 13. Three of CalBike’s bills are close to final approval and we hope to see all three signed into law this year.

The Complete Streets Bill (SB 127-Wiener) has made it most of the way through the legislature. This bill will bring Complete Streets to many local roads and streets that Caltrans controls. Caltrans has chosen to fight this bill, which forces it to implement its own policies. However, relentless pressure from CalBike members and brave leadership from our author Senator Scott Wiener and Assembly Appropriations Committee Chair Assembly Member Lorena Gonzalez have, so far, overcome that resistance. But victory is not assured. We’ll need your help to put pressure on your elected officials in the next few critical weeks. Start by signing our Complete Streets petition and we’ll keep you in the loop about additional actions.

Our E-Bike Vouchers Bill (SB 400-Umberg) passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee and swiftly passed the Assembly Floor on Thursday, August 22nd. This bill will expand green mobility vouchers available when low-income Californians trade in their old polluting cars. If it passes, people will be able to trade smoke-belching vehicles for e-bikes and bikeshare memberships. This bill is now on the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature.

A bill that will allow cities to improve bike lane design at intersections with turn lanes (AB 1266-Rivas) has passed both houses of the legislature and is on Governor Newsom’s desk. We expect that this commonsense bill will be signed into law soon.

It’s not time to pop the champagne corks yet to celebrate victory on CalBike’s sponsored bills, but it’s been a good year for bikes in Sacramento. If the Complete Streets Bill passes, that will truly be cause for celebration.

Other legislation

CalBike has also represented your interests on other important legislation.

We supported a bill (AB 1142) by Assembly Member Laura Friedman to require the Public Utilities Commission to help public agencies meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets by providing data about the transportation impact of Lyft and Uber. This important bill, critical to understanding future transportation patterns, is currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

We supported a bill (SB 742) by Senator Ben Alllen to allow Amtrak buses to take passengers on routes that don’t connect to train service. Anybody who’s tried to travel from Bakersfield to Los Angeles on one of the many Amtrak buses that go between those cities only to find that trip is not allowed understands the importance of this reform. That bill has advanced out of the Assembly Transportation Committee and appears likely to win.

Finally, an early victory was the defeat of an attempt (SB 152) to weaken state control over Active Transportation Program funds. This bill would have threatened the gains we made with our allies in ensuring that those funds prioritize the communities that need them most.

These are just a few of the bills we’ve worked on to advance our mission of helping California’s communities become more prosperous, more equitable and more inclusive places where bicycling lets more people live healthy and joyful lives. You can follow the entire (long) list of bills we are engaged with at on our legislative watch page.

 

 

 

https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/thumb-1.jpg 640 480 Kevin Claxton https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/calbike-logo.png Kevin Claxton2019-08-23 17:31:142019-08-23 17:31:14CalBike’s Legislative Agenda Moves Toward the Finish Line

Major Pushback Against Caltrans Over Complete Streets Bill Fiscal Impact

August 21, 2019/by Kevin Claxton

On August 21, Assembly Member Lorena Gonzalez (Dem-80, above right) did something unusual. Gonzalez chairs the Appropriations Committee. She allowed testimony on The Complete Streets for Active Living Bill (SB 127 – Wiener), even though the bill was, by rule, headed for the suspense file. The Chair prefers that members waive testimony for bills going to the suspense file, but Gonzalez took the opportunity to rake Caltrans over the coals for making unfounded claims about the Complete Streets Bill fiscal impact in an effort to sink the bill.

The Complete Streets Bill requires Caltrans to accommodate people walking or biking when it repairs or rebuilds a state route that also serves as a local street. The bill allows exceptions, but will require the agency to explain at a public hearing why Complete Streets additions to maintenance projects are infeasible. The legislation will simply require Caltrans to follow its own stated Complete Streets policy.

Apparently, this is all too much for Caltrans. The agency has issued wildly inflated estimates of the cost to implement SB 127, in an attempt to sink the bill.

In the hearing, Gonzalez called out Caltrans for its inaccurate numbers and incendiary tactics. Senator Scott Wiener who introduced the Complete Streets Bill earlier this year, took to Twitter to call out Caltrans in no uncertain terms.

“I’m authoring #SB127 to ensure state roads that run through cities – eg 19th Ave, Santa Monica Blvd, San Pablo Ave – are safe for pedestrians & cyclists. Caltrans has now issued a grossly inflated, fake cost estimate of >$1B to tank the bill. Here’s my letter pushing back hard.”

I’m authoring #SB127 to ensure state roads that run through cities – eg 19th Ave, Santa Monica Blvd, San Pablo Ave – are safe for pedestrians & cyclists. Caltrans has now issued a grossly inflated, fake cost estimate of >$1B to tank the bill. Here’s my letter pushing back hard. pic.twitter.com/9sMo15ImvD

— Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) August 21, 2019

Weiner attached to his Tweet a copy of a letter he sent to David Kim, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), of which Caltrans is a division. In it, he calls out the inaccurate assumptions behind the sky-high cost estimate for Complete Streets projects presented by Caltrans. According to Wiener’s letter the Caltrans estimate that Complete Streets would add $1.1 billion annually (Caltrans’ estimate was actually $1.3 billion) to state road-building costs was based on the assumption that bike and pedestrian facilities cost $4.5 million per centerline mile. Wiener pointed out that Complete Streets elements are often the least expensive part of a project. He cited costs between $20,000 and $600,000 per centerline mile. The Caltrans figure is 7.5 times the high end of this range.

Many thanks to Senator Wiener and Assembly Member Gonzalez for strongly backing this important bill. The Complete Streets Bill is CalBike’s most important legislation in 2019. Vocal support from elected representatives, our coalition partners, and CalBike members has carried the bill so far.

The Complete Streets Bill has made it through some tough fights. The toughest of all may be ahead, as Caltrans pulls out all the stops to try to block SB 127. We’ll need all hands on deck to make sure this important bill passes and is signed into law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_4960-scaled.jpeg 1920 2560 Kevin Claxton https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/calbike-logo.png Kevin Claxton2019-08-21 17:01:412019-08-21 17:17:54Major Pushback Against Caltrans Over Complete Streets Bill Fiscal Impact

CalBike invites you to a house party fundraiser for our Complete Streets Campaign.

July 2, 2019/by Laura McCamy

Come learn about this exciting campaign and meet our Executive Director, Dave Snyder and special guests. Party with your bicycling community, while you enjoy excellent beer, wine, and tasty hors d’oeuvres in the lovely Loma Portal home of Richard Opper and Ann Poppe.

Thursday, Aug 1, 2019
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Please RSVP to receive the exact location (via email)

Learn more about our Complete Streets Campaign, and show your support for the campaign by signing our petition.

Thanks to our sponsors:

          

This free event is a fundraiser to make California’s streets safer and better for biking and walking. Please bring your checkbook or credit card. Thank you.

https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Copy-of-quickpartycover-1.png 295 784 Laura McCamy https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/calbike-logo.png Laura McCamy2019-07-02 17:19:382019-07-09 16:06:38CalBike invites you to a house party fundraiser for our Complete Streets Campaign.

Complete Streets Bill Passes the Senate

May 24, 2019/by Kevin Claxton

On Thursday, May 23, the Complete Streets for Active Living Bill (SB 127) passed in the full Senate. The vote was 29 to 9. The bill’s co-sponsored are CalBike, California Walks, The American Heart Association, Safe Routes Partnership, and AARP.

The Complete Streets Bill will require Caltrans to add features to improve the safety of people walking, biking, and taking transit when they repair or repave state routes in urban areas and along main streets in more rural communities. Most cities in California have at least one Caltrans-controlled state route that also serves as a local street. These streets are often designed to facilitate speeding traffic and not much else. They may lack safe pedestrian crossings and bike facilities. Streets like these diminish the vibrancy of our cities.

By passing the Complete Streets for Active Living Bill, California’s state senators have taken an important step toward creating livable cities and supporting the clean transportation that California needs. CalBike applauds their foresight and overwhelming support.

This important bill almost died in the Senate Appropriations Committee a week ago. This victory wouldn’t be possible without the calls and emails of CalBike members and other Complete Streets advocates who helped keep the bill moving.

The Complete Streets Bill still has to pass the Assembly before it can be signed into law by  Governor Newsom. We will need all hands on deck to make sure it passes through committee and gets support from a majority of assembly members. Will you raise your voice to support safe streets for everyone, everywhere in California? 

Sign CalBike’s petition to support Complete Streets.

Find out more about Complete Streets.

 

https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/separated-lanes-5491-X2.jpeg 298 640 Kevin Claxton https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/calbike-logo.png Kevin Claxton2019-05-24 11:08:232019-06-11 15:02:16Complete Streets Bill Passes the Senate

CalBike Members Score Complete Streets Victory

May 16, 2019/by Laura McCamy

On May 13, the CalBike Complete Streets for Active Living Bill (SB 127) was going nowhere. It had been placed on the “suspense file” in the Appropriations Committee. The bill would require Caltrans to make state-controlled city streets safe for people to walk and bike, not just places for fast-moving cars and trucks, when they repaired or repaved streets.

Senators Portantino and Atkins had the power to move SB 127 forward or squash it. Questions about the costs of Complete Streets safety improvements threatened to derail the bill.

Then something amazing happened. We asked CalBike members and Complete Streets supporters from the districts of these two senators to call and email them. You responded and your senators listened. On May 16, at deadline, the Senators decided to move the the Complete Streets bill out of committee and to the Senate floor for a vote.

This is an inspiring example of the importance of speaking up for safe streets for everyone. Every one of us has the power to help bring Complete Streets to California state routes.

We can’t take a victory lap just yet. The Complete Streets bill will get a floor vote from the whole Senate in the next two weeks. We need to keep the pressure on all our state senators to support this important legislation. After that, we have to do it all over again in the Assembly, where the bill faces the challenging Transportation Committee.

Sign our Complete Streets petition to show your support and stay informed.

Find out more about Complete Streets here.

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Paul-Krueger2-1.jpg 1276 1920 Laura McCamy https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/calbike-logo.png Laura McCamy2019-05-16 17:46:142019-05-16 17:46:14CalBike Members Score Complete Streets Victory

Don’t Let SB 127 Die: Call Now to Support the Complete Streets Bill

May 14, 2019/by Laura McCamy

The Complete Streets for Active Living Bill (SB 127) has reached a crucial point in its journey through the Senate. It has landed in the Senate Appropriations Committee. This is where the fiscal impact of bills is assessed. Yesterday, SB 127 was placed on the “suspense file,” which means the bill is on hold because of “unknown significant costs.” But, if enough people call and support Complete Streets, we can get this important legislation back on track.

A bill can die in Appropriations, if there is not enough political will to push it through. By Thursday, May 15th, we need to convey to Senate leadership that the benefits of the proposal outweigh the costs. It’s hard to put a price tag on the value of the lives saved and injuries prevented by Complete Streets features. Now is the time to voice your support for Complete Streets on Caltrans-controlled city streets.

The senators responsible for moving bills forward in the Appropriations Committee have the power to move the Complete Streets Bill forward, but the timeline is tight. The bill needs to come off of the suspense file before a hearing this Thursday, May 16th.

Your senators need to hear that you support Complete Streets. Please email or call these two senators today. 

Contact Appropriations Committee Chair Senator Anthony Portantino TODAY

Contact Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins TODAY

 

https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/CompleteStreets-v4-1030x666.jpg 189 1001 Laura McCamy https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/calbike-logo.png Laura McCamy2019-05-14 17:02:012019-05-15 14:57:10Don’t Let SB 127 Die: Call Now to Support the Complete Streets Bill

Complete Streets Clears an Important Milestone

April 26, 2019/by Laura McCamy

The Complete Streets for Active Living Bill is moving forward after a long and contentious hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee. Thanks to unwavering commitment by our team and the bill’s author, Senator Scott Wiener, SB 127 the bill passed on a 9-3 vote and will move to the Senate floor in May with its strongest provisions intact.

SB 127 addresses the safety problems on major streets in cities across California that are owned and controlled by Caltrans. They are considered state highways, but they are very different from separated freeways. They run through residential and commercial districts, past parks and schools. Yet Caltrans manages these streets with the priority of moving cars fast, not the safety or livability for the people in the community.

“This is a very big victory for us,” says CalBike senior policy advocate Linda Khamoushian. “Now, we’re in full forward movement.”

Pacific Coast Highway blocks bikes from beach access

The Pacific Coast Highway is a lovely route along the beach in many Southern California cities. But, since it’s controlled by Caltrans, sections like the bridge over Anaheim Bay give provide bike facilities that are poorly designed and dangerous to ride.

Rock Miller is a bikeway designer who designed some of the first Class IV protected bike lanes in California. When he was tasked with making the bridge more friendly to bike riders, he rode it himself.

“The bridge has bike lanes on it, but the traffic travels at 65 mph+. The bike lanes are very narrow,” Miller says. “It’s about as scared as I’ve ever been bike riding.” Given the constraints of the project, a solution has been elusive.

Miller sees outmoded Caltrans standards as part of the problem. “They still aren’t comfortable with a lane as narrow as a city would implement,” he says. He adds that, while Caltrans is part of groups setting state policies about Complete Streets, “they’re not applying them to their own facilities.”

The Complete Streets for Active Living Bill will fix that.

The goal of the Complete Streets for Active Living Bill

Caltrans’ own policy has long required the department to “consider” including accommodations for bike and pedestrian access. Unfortunately, Caltrans planners routinely consider, and then quickly dismiss, such upgrades. Because there’s no transparency in Caltrans’ planning process, advocates can’t see and respond to the agency’s objections to creating Complete Streets.

SB 127 will bring accountability and transparency to the Caltrans planning and implementation process for the parts of state highways that actually serve as local streets. This important bill will force Caltrans to expand its focus beyond auto and truck traffic at a faster rate than is currently underway. It expands the definition of safety safety to include protection for the most vulnerable road users: pedestrians and bicyclists. It also allows for more stakeholder engagement on each SHOPP project in order to ensure the community’s input is sufficiently accounted for from project scoping and design to implementation.

What’s next for the Complete Streets bill?

“We were able to preserve the strength of the bill through the intensive Policy Committee process,” Khamoushian says. “It’s still uphill. It’s like getting to base camp – now we have to climb the hill.”

As the bill moves on to the Senate Appropriations Committee where the fiscal impact will be assessed, and then onto the Senate Floor for a full Senate vote, CalBike is working with legislators and our advocacy partners, California Walks, Safe Routes to School National Partnership, and the American Heart Association on next steps.

What you can do to support Complete Streets

Getting SB 127 out of committee was an important first step, but there is much more work to do to bring Complete Streets to all city streets. Here’s how you can help:

  • Call your state senator and ask them to support SB 127. Explain why this bill is important to you. You can find your state representatives here.
  • Your experiences help us tell the story of why SB 127 is so crucial. What is it like to ride the state route or routes that run through your city? What changes are needed? How would those changes benefit your city? Send your stories to policy@calbike.org.
  • Sign our petition to support Complete Streets.

Find out more about CalBike’s Complete Streets initiative and read the text of SB 127.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/CompleteStreets-v4-1030x666.jpg 189 1001 Laura McCamy https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/calbike-logo.png Laura McCamy2019-04-26 18:34:322019-05-01 15:30:02Complete Streets Clears an Important Milestone
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