Description
Effective management of non-motorized facilities ensures their usability and safety by establishing maintenance protocols and allocating resources for upkeep.
Implementation Details
- Develop interagency agreements for maintenance responsibilities of Class I trails and Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) pathway/Great Redwood Trail link segments across multiple jurisdictions.
- Establish a trail maintenance fund and coordination mechanism to manage trash pickup, surface repairs, and lighting.
- Integrate Class I and Class IV bikeways into regional asset management systems for budgeting and monitoring.
- Include performance metrics for maintenance in TDM funding evaluations and grant scoring.
Mitigation Potential
Maintenance and management of nonmotorized facilities offer a comfortable and reliable mode of transportation that does not rely on private vehicles.
For more details, see Victoria Transport Policy Institute – Nonmotorized Facility Management for VMT reduction quantification.
Linked Strategies
Equity Considerations
Coordinated governance of regional and interjurisdictional trails ensures long-term access and quality for all users, especially those in communities that have fewer recreational or low-cost travel options. Equitable management should include community input and ensure that trail access is maintained near disadvantaged communities and schools. Agreements should fund basic operations such as lighting, maintenance, and shade structures to ensure equitable usability.
Funding Sources
Likely to require additional funding for staffing and equipment. Costs may be shared by many municipalities or partners within the region. Funding sources include the Regional Active Transportation Program, the Statewide Active Transportation Program (California Transportation Commission), and the Surface Transportation Block Grant & Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Programs (Metropolitan Transportation Commission).
Implemented in TAM Area
Current TDM Implementation
Multiple agencies manage non-motorized facilities throughout the county; TAM funds active transportation network maintenance, SMART manages the SMART Pathway, and cities have local asset management programs. Additionally, nonprofits and CBOs like the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Marin Trail Stewards help maintain bikeways, trails, and paths.
TDM Benefit Locations
This TDM Measure can be used to fill gaps in the current non-motorized facility network, like segments along the North-South Greenway, the Cross Marin Bikeway, near the Central Marin Ferry Connector, and bike/pedestrian infrastructure around Highway 101 interchanges.