Caltrans Releases Plan to Make Roads More Accessible for All

Caltrans is refocusing its efforts to make California roadways safe and accessible for all users--motorists, transit riders, bicyclists and pedestrians.

The agency has just released the “Complete Streets Implementation Action Plan 2.0”, an updated strategy on how the department will work to continue to address the safety and mobility needs for all modes of transportation.

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“This plan illustrates and details all the current efforts underway at Caltrans to further integrate ‘complete streets’ into everything we do, from the earliest stages of system planning through project delivery and maintenance and operations,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “However you choose to travel, Caltrans’ complete streets policy ultimately means you will have more safe and convenient choices for getting around.”

This updated plan includes 109 additional action items to further integrate complete streets into allCaltrans functions and processes. It includes action items such as:

• The development of a State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
• Collecting complete streets data and performance measures
• Continuing to revise Caltrans’ manuals to be consistent with and supportive of complete streets
• Complete Streets Overview Training Course for Caltrans staff in all departmental functions
• Supporting district complete street plans and partnerships

Streets are made “complete” by addressing the needs of all users of the system – including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders and motorists – in a way appropriate to the local community. Streets allowing for safe travel by any mode benefit communities, regions and the state by:

• Providing mobility options and access for non-drivers
• Decreasing vehicle trips and associated air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions
• Supporting increased physical activity and improving public health and safety
• Improving livability, revitalizing communities and decreasing transportation costs

The original Complete Streets Implementation Action Plan consisted of 73 action items from 2010-2013, with more than three-quarters now complete or with substantial progress made. This includes highlights such as a complete streets update to the “Highway Design Manual”; release of “Complete Intersections: A Guide to Reconstructing Intersections and Interchanges for Bicyclists and Pedestrians”; and an update of System Planning Guidelines to include multimodal elements in Transportation Concept Reports. As new activities related to complete streets occur, they are documented and added to the plan on the Caltrans complete streets website at http://dot.ca.gov/completestreets

Also, as part of its effort to increase the construction of multimodal local streets and roads, Caltrans recently endorsed National Association of City Transportation Officials guidelines that include innovations such as buffered bike lanes and improved pedestrian walkways.

--Information and Image via Caltrans