Description
Developing ordinances and/or providing design guidelines for developers and planning staff to improve transit and active transportation access and mobility can promote the use of non-single occupancy vehicle modes. Providing guidance and best practices for developers means the shift will be incremental as the region grows. However, the design guidelines and ordinances can also be used in coordination with General Plans and Active Transportation Plans for obtaining grant funding to make roadway improvements at a corridor level.
Implementation Details
- Develop a regional Active Transportation and Transit Design Toolkit for developers and planning staff that outlines minimum infrastructure requirements for transit facilities, sidewalks, crosswalks, bicycle facilities, bicycle parking, landscaping and storm water facilities.
- Include sample site plans showing how to incorporate Class II/IV bikeways, protected intersections, mid-block crossings, and multi-use trail linkages into housing and commercial developments.
- Align new development review procedures with Caltrans District 4 Active Transportation Design Guidelines and Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) Complete Streets checklist to ensure consistency across jurisdictions.
- Require all Specific Plans and major developments (e.g., over 100 units or 10,000 sq ft commercial) to submit active transportation connectivity plans during entitlement phases.
- Offer technical assistance or pre-application review support to local planning departments, prioritizing infill projects in places where pedestrian network gaps are most severe.
Mitigation Potential
Design guidance supports the implementation of safe and effective infrastructure making sustainable modes of transportation more attractive. While this strategy cannot be quantified it can help expedite the process of land use changes at the local level by removing barriers to implementation.
Linked Strategies
Equity Considerations
Ensure design standards prioritize safe and accessible infrastructure in low-income and underserved areas. Require ADA-compliant curb ramps, crosswalks, and sidewalks in areas with high transit dependency and senior populations. Incorporate multilingual community engagement when shaping pedestrian improvements to address local needs and safety concerns.
Funding Sources
Requires staff time and resources to develop guidelines. Funding sources include the Safe Streets & Roads for All Program (U.S. Department of Transportation), and the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program – Sustainable Communities – Competitive and Technical (Caltrans).
Implemented in TAM Area
Current TDM Implementation
Local bicycle and pedestrian plans provide limited design guidelines for active transportation facilities.
TDM Benefit Locations
Major transit agencies like SMART and Marin Transit can create transit-supportive design guidelines to integrate active transportation facilities and pedestrian interventions into transit station design (similar to those created by other Bay area transit agencies like AC Transit and BART). Developing design toolkits at the city and regional level throughout the county would be beneficial to guide active transportation project development.