Cal WALKS footPRINTS

February/March 2014

News from Around the Network

Sustainability Now a Key Objective of California's Transportation Future, but Will the State Commit?

In recent weeks, the State has released two high-profile reports outlining the need to reshape California's transportation system, with sustainability now joining the ranks of safety and mobility as key system objectives.

While Cal WALKS is thrilled to see sustainability at the forefront of state transportation investment priorities and policies going forward, we do not want safety-particularly for people walking and biking-left by the wayside. With people walking now comprising nearly 25% of traffic fatalities (despite making only 13.5% of all trips), pedestrian safety is at a crisis point that would benefit from a refocused and increased State commitment. Cal WALKS Executive Director Wendy Alfsen underscores that, "[t]hese deaths are preventable, and the State needs to back up any stated commitment to safety with actual dollar investments."

T-Minus 12 Weeks & Counting!

Our PedsCount! Team is hard at work lining up speakers and sessions to make this year's Summit the best one yet! Get registered now to join 250+ professionals, advocates, agencies, and community members working to make California a safer and more enjoyable place to walk! Early bird registration ends on March 15, 2014. Get Registered Now!

Don't delay! Only 1 week left to submit session proposals! Call for Speakers Ends February 28, 5PM.

We're seeking sponors & exhibors. Download the Sponsor Brochure or Promotional Partner Form Today

San Francisco Leading the State in Vision Zero Campaign

With a long-running, sustained trend of 3 people a day being hit by cars while walking and following a recent rash of pedestrian fatalities--10 over the course of 11 weeks--walk advocates in San Francisco have declared enough is enough! Importing the Vision Zero concept from Sweden, Walk San Francisco and its partners have successfully called on the City to adopt a Vision Zero policy of eliminating ALL traffic fatalities within 10 years.

Both the San Francisco Police Department and Municipal Transportation Agency have formally endorsed the Vision Zero goal, but now comes the harder part of implementation. Advocates and community members are now working to secure the necessary funding to get projects on the ground NOW to prevent any more tragedies from occuring. For a detailed look at Walk SF's asks, check out their Vision Zero flyer.

Cal WALKS has been a strong supporter of the Vision Zero Campaign, and hopes to work with other cities across the state to make Vision Zero a reality for all Californians!

National Open Streets Training Comes to Southern California!

The second National Open Streets Training is headed to Los Angeles April 4-6, co-hosted by CicLAvia! Open Streets present an opportunity for community members to reimagine what our streets can be if they were prioritize for people, rather than cars. Open Streets events close down streets to cars, allowing people of all ages and abilities to walk, bike, roll, stroll, run, skip, hop, hula-hoop, you name it!

The weekend Training will cover what it takes to pull off a succesfull Open Streets event, as well as have plenty of time for participants to network with one another. The Training will culminate with an opportunity to participate in and observe CicLAvia on Sunday afternoon. Register Today

New Resources

FHWA/FTA Announce New Categorical Exclusions for Projects in Existing Right-of-Way

A new federal rule will likely remove previous barriers to funding lower cost walking and biking projects with federal dollars. The final rule adds a new categorical exclusion (CE) from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for projects within an existing right-of-way and projects receiving less than $5 million in federal funds. Projects totaling $30 million with less than 15% of the total estimated project cost are now also excluded from NEPA requirements. Hopefully, this means we'll see more walking and biking projects on the ground more quickly!

Caltrans Releases Main Street, California Guide

Recognizing the unique nature of state highways that also function as small towns' main streets, Caltrans has released a new guide emphasizing a more flexible approach for the roadway design of state-owned roads that serve as main streets.

NYC's Safe Streets for Seniors

Recognizing that seniors are at disproportionate risk of injury and even death while walking, the New York City Department of Transportation proactively developed a Safe Streets for Seniors Program in 2008. The Department has recently updated and expanded its program. Learn more about what NYC has done for its seniors here.

Open Streets Initiatives: Measuring Success Toolkit

This toolkit provides cities, bicycle/pedestrian agencies, academics, and others interested in measuring the success of Open Streets initiatives a framework for capturing physical activity, participant counts, business buy-in, and other relevant measures.

Partnership for Active Transportation Releases Safe Routes to Everywhere Policy Platform

Move This Way: Making Neighborhoods More Walkable & Bikeable

This new toolkit from ChangeLab Solutions explains how to leverage revisions to zoning and subdivision codes to make a community more walkable and bikeable.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Standard, Ver. 2.0

The Institute for Transportation & Development Policy has released its revised Transit-Oriented Development Standard. The Standard is "an assessment, recognition and policy guidance tool uniquely focused on integrating sustainable transport and land use planning and design."