We envision a Bay Area where many more people bike, walk and roll every day on safe, accessible, and connected streets, paths, and trails that connect people to places and transit.
Active Transportation in the Bay Area
Every day in the San Francisco Bay Area, thousands of people choose to walk, bike, and roll to get where they need to go. The Bay Area is home to thousands of miles of sidewalks, trails, and an ever-growing network of bike lanes and neighborhood greenways that, coupled with the region’s temperate climate, make it ideal for year-round walking, biking, and rolling.
Group of children wearing masks and helmets riding on bikes and scooters on a shared street
Timeline of plans and policies in the Bay Area informing and leading up to the MTC AT Plan.
20+ Years of Active Transportation Leadership
In the 22 years since MTC’s first Regional Bicycle Plan was adopted, the Bay Area has continued to innovate and lead the nation in many biking, walking, and rolling policies and programs, largely due to strong local advocacy and leadership. In response to local disability rights advocates, the world’s first curb cut program was implemented in 1971 by the City of Berkeley to make streets and sidewalks more accessible. The first Critical Mass ride was held in San Francisco in 1992, with local bicyclists asserting their right to urban streets. In 2013, the Bay Area launched the nation’s first regional bike share system, Bay Area Bike Share, and since its launch, users have taken over 10.4 million trips.
Active Transportation at MTC
MTC supports many programs that encourage people to leave the car at home and walk, bike or roll for an active, healthier community and environment. From planning, to funding projects, passing policies, sponsoring events and providing design guidance, MTC staff are working to help many more people bike, walk and roll every day on safe, accessible and connected streets, paths and trails. A few policies, funding and program examples include Mobility Hubs, Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) and Bay Wheels.
Mobility Hubs are places in a community that bring together public transit, bike share, car share and other ways for people to get where they want to go without a private vehicle. MTC coordinates, funds and provides technical assistance for new Mobility Hubs to support first and last mile connections through access to multiple travel options, including active transportation.
Transit-Oriented Communities (TOCs) feature housing and business development that is near to public transportation, putting transit in reach for more people and improving the quality of life in the Bay Area. MTC’s TOC Policy helps advance Plan Bay Area 2050 and helps to make it with the objective of making it easier for people in the Bay Area to live a car-free or car-light lifestyle by prioritizing active transportation and shared mobility (such as bike share) within and to/from transit stations or stops within the region.
Bay Wheels is the Bay Area's regional bike share program currently serving Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, San Jose and San Francisco. Bay Wheels offers convenient, healthy, climate-friendly transportation around the Bay Area. MTC coordinates and oversees the regional contract to help Bay Wheels bring affordable, accessible point-to-point bike sharing to Bay Area cities.
The Bay Area Leads the Way
Bay Area jurisdictions continue to push to increase transportation safety, with an increased focus on those most vulnerable: bicyclists and pedestrians. For example, San Francisco in 2014 became the first California city to adopt a Vision Zero, policy to seek the elimination traffic fatalities and severe injuries among all road users. Now over 13Bay Area cities and counties have adopted Vision Zero.
New and innovative approaches to active transportation networks are hallmarks of the Bay Area. For example, the regional office of the state’s Department of Transportation (Caltrans District 4), recently led a first of its kind study in the U.S. to understand where "bike highways" could be developed in the Bay Area.
Why a Regional Active Transportation Plan?
Plan Bay Area 2050 cover image with brightly colored landscape in the background and cartoon of city with people doing various activities using different modes of transportation as well as the icons for the main themes of the plan (housing, economy, transportation, environment).
Plan Bay Area 2050 lays out 35 strategies to improve housing, the economy, transportation, and the environment across the Bay Area’s nine counties.
Plan Bay Area 2050 is the long-range regional plan to make the Bay Area more affordable, connected, diverse, healthy, and vibrant for all residents. At the heart of Plan Bay Area 2050 are 35 strategies to improve housing, the economy, transportation, and the environment across the Bay Area’s nine counties. The two Plan Bay Area 2050 Strategies directly related to Active Transportation are:
T-8: Build a regional Complete Streets network; and
T-9: Advance regional Vision Zero policy through street design and reduced speeds.
This Regional Active Transportation (AT) Plan was developed to guide MTC’s policy and investment framework needed to achieve these goals before 2050.
A More Equitable Bay Area
Historically, numerous development and transportation policies have marginalized low-income people, people with disabilities, and communities of color, contributing to inequities seen in the Bay Area today. As the demand for affordable housing continues to far outpace supply, the cost of transportation – typically the second largest household cost – has become a key determinant in where people can live and work (Center for Neighborhood Technology June, 2022).
Mobility and access are critical to meeting the day-to day needs of the Bay Area’s existing and future residents. Neighborhood conditions within the region vary dramatically, with some communities experiencing decades of underinvestment that have resulted in unsafe conditions and insufficient access for pedestrians and people on bicycles. Building out a safe and connected active transportation network in an equitable manner is an important step toward creating a better Bay Area for everyone.
The Regional Active Transportation Network (described in more detail below) prioritizes investments in Equity Priority Communities and MTC’s Complete Streets policy emphasizes equity as a core objective.
Illustration Data Source: Housing and Transportation Affordability Index (Center for Neighborhood Technology June, 2022)
Infographic of car and house stating that "The average Bay Area household spends nearly half of its income on housing (32%) and transportation (16%).
A Safer Bay Area
People walking and biking are disproportionately represented among fatal and severe crashes, particularly within Equity Priority Communities, where pedestrian crashes represent 12.6% of all crashes, but nearly 30% of fatal and severe crashes (TIMS 2017-2021). Creating streets where people feel safe to get around for their daily needs via modes other than a car is key to reducing vehicle trips and creating a more equitable Bay Area. Regional and local policies such as Vision Zero and Complete Streets are making streets safer for people to walk, bike, and roll to transit and to meet their everyday needs.
The Regional Active Transportation Network also emphasizes bikeways that separate users from traffic or provide low vehicle speed volume conditions.
Illustration Data Source: Fatal and severe injuries regionwide and in Equity Priority Communities (TIMS 2017-2021)
Infographic showing the percentage of total crashes in the region: 20.7% fatal and severe pedestrian crashes and 10.4% fatal and severe bicycle crashes at the regional level and 29.9% fatal and severe pedestrian crashes and 9.2% fatal and severe bicycle crashes in Equity Priority Communities.
Responding to the Climate Crisis
Transportation accounts for 40% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Bay Area, and cars contribute to 77% of these transportation-generated GHG emissions (based on Bay Area Emissions Inventory Summary Report, base year 2011). A reduction in driving is therefore critical to the region’s overall climate mitigation strategy.
The Regional Active Transportation Network prioritizes investments in Priority Development Areas and Transit Rich Areas where supportive land uses and frequent transit service facilitate people’s everyday needs being met by no or low emission travel options such as walking, biking, rolling, and taking transit.
Illustration Data Source: GHG emissions by transportation sector (based on BAAQMD emissions inventory, base year 2011)
Infographic of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by sections of the transportation sector showing that 77% of GHG emission comes from cars.
Shifting Short Car Trips to Walking and Biking
Approximately 21% of all personal car trips in the Bay Area are 1 mile or less, a realistic distance to walk for many adults; 52% of all vehicle trips are 3 miles or less, a suitable biking distance, and e-bikes make many trips greater than 3 miles viable (Bay Area Transportation Study 2018/2019). There is a significant opportunity to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by increasing the number of local trips made by walking, rolling, and biking.
The Regional Active Transportation Network focuses investments within areas with a greater variety and density of land uses that put most needs within walking or biking distance, negating the need for a car to take care of everyday needs.
Illustration Data Source: Bay Area Transportation Study 2018/2019
Active Transportation Plan Development Process
Plan Bay Area 2050 Engagement
The Active Transportation (AT) Plan built upon the extensive engagement undertaken for Plan Bay Area 2050. Tens of thousands of Bay Area community members provided feedback during the four-year period (2018-2021) in which Plan Bay Area 2050 was developed. MTC and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) heard that residents overwhelmingly support:
the development of a Complete Streets Network for people of all ages and abilities, as well as
measures that advance regional Vision Zero efforts to make roads safer for everyone.
Infographic showing the community engagement reach of the MTC Plan Bay Area planning process including 450+ events, 234,000+ public comments, 23,000+ participants in the planning process and 2/3 of events and activities targeting Equity Priority Communities and other underserved groups.
Image of a person's hand placing a sticky note on an engagement board reading "The Bay Area should make... transit more frequent, equitable & efficient for everyone"
Plan Bay Area 2050 used various interactive engagement methods including a focus on Equity Priority Communities.
Active Transportation Plan Engagement
Between January 2021 and May 2022, MTC invited partner agencies and organizations that have an interest in and are actively advancing active transportation and road safety in the Bay Area to provide input on the vision of the Active Transportation Plan, network development, and updates to MTC’s Complete Streets policy.
Infographic summarizing the number of people reached (over 700) in the MTC AT Plan process through various engagement methods.
Community-Based Organization Partnerships
In the development of the Regional Active Transportation Plan, MTC worked with five Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) that represent residents from a wide range of racial and cultural backgrounds, housed and unhoused community members, people with disabilities, and different geographies within the Bay Area. These groups, including Acterra, Green Hive, The Sound of Hope Radio Network, Community Resources for Independent Living, and Sacred Heart Community Services, offered the perspectives of their constituencies and provided input on a variety of questions regarding safety, mobility, and access.
Image: Meeting with Community Members at Sacred Heart Community Services
Key Themes from Regional Active Transportation Plan Stakeholder Engagement
The 10,000-mile regional Complete Streets network put forth in Plan Bay Area 2050 is ambitious, but an important benchmark to achieving GHG reduction targets.
The regional Active Transportation Network development criteria should focus on equity, safety, and mode shift.
Residents generally prefer protected bike lanes.
Interagency collaboration and connections at the regional and municipal levels are crucial for achieving plan goals.
Equity should be embedded in all efforts to advance active transportation.
The plan needs to consider persons with disabilities and transit-dependent populations.
MTC’s updated Complete Streets policy should be more expansive; prioritize safety; address equity; focus on high-comfort infrastructure (e.g. separated bikeways); and should offer flexibility, but generally have more “teeth” than the previous policy.
Relevant data and information needs to be available to municipalities and other interested parties to aid decision-making and advocacy, and to track progress.
Aerial image of an apartment building in the background and street corner in the foreground including a person biking on a highly visible bike lane and a bus approaching the corner.
Stakeholder-Informed County and Local Plans
Many Bay Area counties and cities developed or updated a Bicycle, Pedestrian, or combined Active Transportation Plan within the six-year period before this regional plan was developed. Each planning effort entailed a public and stakeholder engagement component that influenced local plans and networks that, in turn, informed the development of the Regional Active Transportation Plan. The development of active transportation networks for people of all ages and abilities is a strong theme throughout local and county planning efforts.
Recent local Active Transportation Plans include the Napa Countywide Bicycle Plan (2019), Alameda Countywide Active Transportation Plan (2019), and San José Better Bike Plan (2020).
The AT Plan Helps to Implement Plan Bay Area 2050
The main deliverables of the AT Plan include a Complete Streets Policy Update, the Regional AT Network, and the 5 Year Implementation Plan. To act upon Plan Bay Area 2050’s strategies to build a Complete Streets network (Strategy T8) and advance a regional Vision Zero policy (Strategy T9), MTC’s new Complete Streets Policy and Regional Active Transportation Network provide a planning and implementation framework to accelerate investments in regional active transportation and allow more people to safely connect to the Bay Area’s many destinations and opportunities using active travel modes, including connections to transit networks.
Image of a person walking using a walker in the foreground and a bus and bus rider carrying their bike to put in the bike rack in the background.
The AT Network
The Regional Active Transportation Network is intended to focus the Bay Area’s efforts in providing safe and all ages and abilities active transportation connections in areas:
with the highest potential for shifting auto trips to biking and walking trips,
where there is the greatest need for affordable transportation options, and
where active trips can connect people with transit for longer distance travel.
Image of people using scooters in a bike lane protected from vehicle traffic with bollards while a pedestrian waits to cross the street.
MTC developed the Regional Active Transportation Network over a nine-month period, receiving over 700 comments through engagement with the Active Transportation Plan Technical Advisory Committee, County Transportation Authorities (CTAs), The Bay Area Trails Collaborative (BATC), the Active Transportation Working Group, MTC’s Policy Advisory Council, local jurisdictions, and other stakeholders. Stakeholders helped establish network development criteria and then reviewed and provided feedback on draft network maps that resulted from applying the network criteria to existing and planned active transportation network data received from CTAs, BATC, and the three big cities of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.
The Bay Area Collaborative, chaired by the Rails to Trail Conservancy, has identified a 2,604-mile regional trail network that will connect the San Francisco Bay Area—its trails, people and places—in innovative new ways. Through the AT Plan process, MTC built off this long-term planning effort and used this network, minus the Ridge Trail, to highlight regional multi-use paths that are important strategies to reach the equity, mode shift and safety goals of the AT Plan.
The resulting network of connected corridors are regional priorities for local and county agencies to provide high comfort, and low stress bike and pedestrian facilities for all ages and abilities. Counties, cities, transit agencies and parks districts are the entities responsible for implementing infrastructure projects, including any walking and biking projects on the Regional Active Transportation Network.
Screenshot of Regional Active Transportation map in the Bay Area
The Regional Active Transportation Network
The Regional AT Network was defined using planned and existing active transportation network data from the Bay Area including Caltrans District 4 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans; all nine County Transportation Authorities (CTAs); Oakland’s, San Francisco’s and San Jose’s active transportation networks; and the Bay Area Trails Collaborative, which includes the Bay Trail. It defines corridors within and between Priority Development Areas, Equity Priority Communities, Transit Rich Areas, and within a half mile of mobility hubs. It also emphasizes connections between Equity Priority Communities and regional parks and open spaces. During the planning process, stakeholders identified additional connections that would overcome a regional barrier or connect to important regional destinations, many of which were included in the Regional AT Network. MTC will work with these partners to update the AT Network at least every two years.
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Have a closer look...
Existing AT Network data from County Transportation Authorities and 3 largest cities (December 2021) are shown with purple lines. The Regional AT Network are the yellow corridors.
Map of AT Network data (current AT network)
Planned AT Network data from County Transportation Authorities and 3 largest cities (December 2021) are shown with red lines. The Regional AT Network are the yellow corridors.
Map of AT Network data (planned and current AT network)
Caltrans District 4 Location Based Needs are shown as pink lines and black dots. The Regional AT Network are the yellow corridors.
Map of AT Network data (location based needs)
Bay Area Trails Collaborative (BATC) Regional Trail Network are shown as pink lines. The Regional AT Network are the yellow corridors. Note that much of the BATC network also appears on local and regional existing and planned networks.
All data layers combined.
The width of the AT Network corridors vary depending on the land use context and street network density. In incorporated areas where land use intensity and street network density tend to be greater, the Network corridor is defined as being a half-mile wide. This width is intended to provide some local flexibility in route selection while also encouraging direct and intuitive access to destinations. In more rural or less intensely developed areas, the Network is a mile wide to provide even more flexibility. The Network centered on regional trails have a thousand-foot buffer since, in most cases, planned trail alignments are established or would likely occur in relatively close proximity to the planned alignment.
The map below shows the Regional Active Transportation Network in yellow. You can pan and zoom the map, and toggle on and off layers using the menu on the left of the map.
The AT Network Map
The Active Transportation Network Meets Multiple Regional Goals
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Emphasizes Safe Access and High Comfort for Vulnerable Road Users
MTC’s Complete Streets Policy calls for incorporating all ages and abilities design principles that emphasize the separation of people walking, biking, and rolling from high-speed traffic, reduction of motor vehicle speeds, and prioritization of vulnerable road users at intersections. Through the Complete Streets Checklist, MTC reviews the application of these principles in all projects seeking regional discretionary funding. The Checklist also requires reporting on efforts address safety in projects on High Injury Networks.
Expands Equitable Access to Opportunity
Equity is a central component of the Regional Active Transportation Network. Criteria used to develop the network included connections within and to/from Equity Priority Communities (EPCs). The Regional Active Transportation Network also promotes equitable access to opportunity by connecting people to regional transit and Mobility Hubs.
Replace Car Trips
Priority Development Areas (PDAs) are planned locations for new homes, jobs, and community amenities, which are served by frequent transit. A key element of the Bay Area’s regional growth framework, Bay Area local governments have established more than 200 PDAs since 2008. PDA land use patterns often emphasize compact development with options for walking, biking and taking transit, which enables residents to live a car-free or car-light lifestyle (i.e. families owning fewer vehicles and taking more trips using other modes). Shifting trips away from cars to modes that emit fewer greenhouse gases, such as walking, biking and taking transit is a primary Plan Bay Area 2050 goal. This mode-shift potential is why the AT Network is anchored on PDAs.
Expands the Reach of Transit
Active transportation and public transportation are natural allies in expanding mobility, access, and affordable transportation options. People typically access transit by walking or biking to stops and stations. Active transportation infrastructure that provides safe and direct access to public transit greatly expands transit’s reach, providing more households and workers access to transit. At the same time, having a well-connected and frequent regional transit system allows a local walking or biking trip to seamlessly extend into a regional trip on transit. In addition to PDAs, the Active Transportation Network emphasizes connections to MTC’s Mobility Hubs and aligns with the transit station access and circulation element of MTC’s Transit Oriented Communities Policy.
Improves Connections for Healthy People and Communities
Nationwide, widespread decline in physical activity is resulting in increases in obesity, chronic disease, and mental health issues. Efforts such as Healthy Parks Healthy People focus on making the connection between parks and health through programs such as “park prescriptions” and communicating the value of parks and open space for healthy people and communities. Making parks and open spaces easier to get to safely and conveniently by walking and biking is a focus of the Active Transportation Network. Specifically, the Active Transportation Network includes connections that would improve access between open space, Equity Priority Communities, and Priority Development Areas (PDAs).
A Network for All Ages and Abilities
An all ages and abilities (AAA) active transportation network is safe, comfortable, and equitable for all users. In an AAA network, facilities separate people biking from fast-moving vehicles and high volumes of motor vehicle traffic, and reducing excessive motor vehicle speeds. A pedestrian AAA network requires fully accessible sidewalks and street crossings (per the Americans with Disabilities Act) that provide separation from and minimize conflicts with vehicles. If a project seeking funding or endorsement from MTC is on the regional AT Network, it is expected to incorporate design principles based all ages and abilities guidance issued by National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), as well as Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) issued by the U.S. Access Board.
A person using a electric wheelchair waits to cross the street at an intersection.
All projects seeking funding or endorsement from MTC that are on the regional AT Network are expected to incorporate design for all ages and abilities.
Complete Streets Policy
MTC’s Complete Streets Policy is a primary tool for implementing the Regional AT Network and ensuring the network meets the needs of all people. Adopted in 2005, and revised in March 2022 (Resolution 4493) the policy emphasizes safety, equity, transit connections, and comfortable, low-stress bike and pedestrian facilities for users of all ages and abilities. This new policy is different from its predecessor (Resolution 3765) in several significant ways as summarized in the table on the left. MTC’s Complete Streets policy also aligns with Caltrans’ 2021 Complete Streets Policy (DP-37) to ensure better communication and coordination around Complete Streets expectations and transportation funding requirements in the Bay Area.
Infographic showing the changes from the old and New Complete Streets Policies.
Complete Streets Implementation
MTC’s role in Complete Streets implementation includes providing technical assistance, conducting review of the completed Complete Streets Checklist, and, in coordination with CTAs, tracking and evaluating progress towards closing gaps and completing projects on the Regional Active Transportation Network, as well as meeting Vision Zero and equity goals. MTC will produce a report every 4 years, in coordination with CTAs, to summarize funded projects, provide key performance indicators, and make recommended changes to the CS Policy, if any.
Vision Zero: Making the Bay Area Safer to Get Around Using Active Modes
Vision Zero is an international movement to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries by prioritizing safety in transportation planning, design, and operations.
In 2020, a total of 472 human beings were killed in traffic crashes on Bay Area roadways. Every year, hundreds of lives are tragically lost in traffic crashes on our region’s highways, arterials and local streets, and still thousands are severely injured. While vehicle technology advancements could reduce the number of fatal collisions in the coming years, enhancing the safety of our existing roads for a range of users to save more lives remains a key public health priority.
In 2020, MTC joined a growing list of Bay Area agencies and municipalities that have committed to Vision Zero by adopting Resolution No. 4400, Regional Safety/Vision Zero (VZ) Policy. The policy aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries in the Bay Area by 2030. Vision Zero advances the goals of the Regional Active Transportation Network by emphasizing the safety of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists and prioritizing road safety in Equity Priority Communities. An important piece of MTC’s Vision Zero policy is the use of incentive programs to encourage the adoption of Vision Zero plans and safety best practices. For example, cities and counties with a Vision Zero Plan may designate Connected Community Priority Development Areas that offer basic transit services and have committed to policies to increase mobility options and reduce automobile travel, which gives them access to additional funding opportunities. As part of MTC’s Vision Zero Policy, MTC is tracking roadway fatalities and serious injuries as part of the MTC Vital Signs.
Graph: Almost one third of traffic fatalities in 2016 were non-motorized road users (bicyclists and pedestrians), MTC Vital Signs
Reducing Speed of Vehicles
Reducing vehicle speeds is a proven strategy for reducing fatal and severe injuries, particularly among the most vulnerable road users: people walking, biking, and rolling. While it is not always possible to separate bikeways from vehicles on busier streets or build sidewalks on neighborhood streets due to physical, financial, or other constraints, reduced vehicle speeds can make streets safer and reinforce other goals, such as supporting neighborhood livability and economic activity. California law (Assembly Bill 43 (Friedman)) now gives local jurisdictions greater flexibility to set speed limits based on the context and needs in their communities.
Infographic of how risk to pedestrians increase with driver speed, from 13% of pedestrians dying or suffering a severe injury if hit by a vehicle at 20mph to 40% of pedestrians dying or suffering a severe injury if hit by a vehicle at 30mph to 73% of pedestrians dying or suffering a severe injury if hit by a vehicle at 40mph.
Vision Zero in the Bay Area
A growing number of Bay Area cities and counties are adopting Vision Zero policies and action plans to reduce deaths and serious injuries. These cities and counties will be eligible for safety funding from MTC, Caltrans, and new discretionary programs such as Safe Streets and Roads for Allprogram that came out of the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The following are a few examples of Vision Zero efforts being advanced by MTC’s partners:
Graph of major traffic crash trends in Fremont which decreased after the implementation of Vision Zero.
Fremont Vision Zero
In September 2015, the City of Fremont approved a Vision Zero policy. City staff then prepared a data-driven Vision Zero Action Plan. Experts from the police department and the public works department worked to analyze crash data and best practices for improving traffic safety. The Fremont Vision Zero 2020 Action Plan was unanimously approved by the city council in 2016. Since then, major crashes have been reduced by an average of 45%. In April 2021, Fremont's City Council approved an updated Vision Zero Action Plan.
Campaign image for San Jose Vision Zero that shows a young boy riding a bicycle and says "Slow Down, Save Lives"
San José Vision Zero Priority Safety Corridors
Since becoming the fourth U.S. city to officially adopt a Vision Zero initiative in 2015 and then adopting its Vision Zero Action Plan in 2020, which identified 17 Priority Safety Corridors where 30-50% of fatal and severe traffic injuries occur, San José has taken notable steps to reduce fatal and severe traffic injuries. One such step was the establishment of a Vision Zero Quick Build Fund to more rapidly address safety issues. Using this fund along with other funding sources, San José implemented safety enhancements on one of its Priority Safety Corridors, Senter Road. The project improved existing bike lanes by adding barriers and pavement markings to clearly distinguish bike lanes from the rest of the road. To make the busy thoroughfare more accessible and safe for pedestrians, the project modified pedestrian signal timing, added high-visibility crosswalks, built ADA-compliant curb ramps, and installed quick-build corner curb extensions to reduce crosswalk distances and reduce motorist turning speeds.
Logo of Contra Costa County Vision Zero with icons of different transportation modes
Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) Countywide Vision Zero Framework and Safe System Approach
In 2021, Contra Costa County became one of the first suburban counties in the U.S. to adopt Vision Zero. CCTA’s Vision Zero Framework and Safe System Approach includes a Vision Zero policy resolution, a comprehensive analysis of countywide collision data, an implementation guide, and a countermeasure toolbox. The comprehensive collision analysis and countermeasure toolbox accounts for the county’s diverse place types – urban, suburban, and rural – by disaggregating collision analysis by place type and offering context-appropriate countermeasures. CCTA’s Vision Zero Framework and Safe System Approach institutionalizes safety in countywide transportation planning, policy, and funding.
Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA) Countywide Vision Zero Planning
Launched in 2022, this planning effort will assist in identifying and prioritizing safety projects and programs countywide in preparation for grant funding opportunities to make transportation safety improvements that will help achieve the goal of zero serious and fatal injuries countywide by 2030. The concept of Vision Zero was introduced in NVTA’s planning efforts during the development of the first Countywide Pedestrian Plan in 2016, and again with the update of the Countywide Bicycle Plan (2019). This effort will be data-driven, and complement recent Local Roadway Safety Plans (LRSP) completed by the County and City of Napa and the City of American Canyon, and will help meet safety plan requirements for upper valley communities without an LRSP.
Implementing the Active Transportation Plan
Plan Bay Area 2050 transportation strategies call for a $17 billion investment through the horizon year of the plan to partner with municipalities and other stakeholders to build a regional Complete Streets network and to advance the regional Vision Zero policy through street design and reduced speeds.
Making the Bay Area more connected, safe, and comfortable so people can meet their everyday travel needs by biking, walking, rolling and taking transit will require consistent focus and funding over the long-term. It will also require continued partnership between MTC, CTAs, transit agencies, Caltrans and local partners.
Image of people crossing a street as the sun sets including a couple holding hands and a family pushing a child in a stroller.
5-Year Implementation Plan
To initiate implementation of the AT Plan, MTC is focused on on near-term strategies, or a 5-year implementation plan, that will support the longer-term Plan Bay Area 2050 vision. Near-term priorities include an emphasis on funding, offering new technical assistance, improving active transportation data collection, and enhancing convening efforts to improve delivery of active transportation projects.
Funding
MTC has allocated more than $300 million in regional discretionary funds for walking and biking infrastructure and programs over the past decade, establishing the Bay Area as a national leader in prioritizing active transportation investment. Key funding sources for advancing active transportation projects in the region include the One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) Program, the Active Transportation Program and Regional Measure 3.
OBAG3
OBAG is a federal funding source managed by MTC. In the current cycle of funding (OBAG3), MTC anticipates distributing $750 million to local jurisdictions for projects that are consistent with Plan Bay Area 2050 and focus on PDA-supportive projects, including active transportation projects that advance equity, safety, and transit access.
Active Transportation Program (ATP)
MTC administers the Bay Area’s share of California’s Active Transportation Program (ATP), the state funding program for bicycle and pedestrian projects. Cities, counties, transit agencies, and other public agencies compete for grants to build bicycle/pedestrian paths, install bike racks and implement other projects and programs that make walking or biking easier, safer, and more convenient. In the latest cycle of ATP funding (Cycle 6) approximately $143 million will be awarded to Bay Area communities.
Regional Measure 3 (RM3)
Regional Measure 3, approved by voters in 2018, allocates $150 million for active transportation improvements throughout the region, and active transportation projects may be included as components to larger highway and transit infrastructure projects financed by the $4.45 billion generated from the measure.
Technical Assistance
MTC offers a variety of programs that provide planning and technical support to city and county agencies. Throughout the development of the AT Plan, MTC heard feedback that additional support is needed to help jurisdictions prepare active transportation projects that can advance to construction. Funding programs often evaluate projects based on their readiness to be built and whether they are “shovel ready.” Local jurisdiction staff can use assistance in taking active transportation projects from plans and concepts to detailed designs that can more easily compete for funding and advance to construction. MTC will be working to develop this type of technical assistace to help build out active transportation projects in the region, particularly on the AT Network.
Image of people biking through an intersection.
Convening
MTC has long supported committees and working groups that include staff from local jurisdictions, CTAs, Caltrans, advocates and others that work directly or indirectly with bicycling and walking. Convening with these partners is key to implementing MTC’s strengthened CS Policy and delivering projects on the AT Network. Convening actions revolve around continuing to support these working groups including:
· Regional Active Transportation Working Group (ATWG): a cross-sectional group of professionals including staff from MTC, public transit, county transportation agencies, local jurisdictions, public health professionals, transportation advocates, consulting firms and mobility companies that focus on policies and projects that increase walking, biking, and rolling.
· Bay Area Vision Zero Working Group: a cross-sectional of professionals from cities, counties, transit agencies, universities and advocacy groups working toward the shared goal of making the region’s streets safer for everyone.
· Spare the Air Youth Technical Advisory Committee: practitioners implementing transportation, climate, or air quality focused youth programs throughout the Bay Area.
Convening also occurs through many active transportation projects, such as through the Bay Trail strategic plan and gap closure implementation plan efforts.
Image of many people walking and sitting in a public plaza on a sunny day.
Active Transportation Data Collection
MTC is developing bicycle and pedestrian count factor groups to enable agencies and analysts to estimate annual pedestrian and bicycle volumes throughout the Bay Area. Factor groupings by travel patterns (i.e. commute, non-commute routes, mixed), regional location (i.e., North Bay, East Bay, South Bay, City and County of San Francisco), and facility type (i.e., multi-use path, shared lane, bicycle lane, sidewalk) may be used to apply hour of day adjustment factors derived from permanent counters to short duration counts. Factor grouping will greatly expand the availability of usable pedestrian and bicycle volume data that can be used for planning purposes.
Image of a permanent counter while people bike in the background.
Active Transportation Projects from around the Bay Area
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The Bay Skyway: Enhancing Regional Connectivity
The Bay Skyway is a bicycle, pedestrian and micromobility pathway that will link Oakland and the great East Bay with Treasure Island and downtown San Francisco. A critical segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail, this is a long and beautiful crossing that will provide a stunning option to cross the bay without adding to roadway and transit congestion. Regional agencies are working together on several projects in two phases to extend the path and connect San Francisco with the East Bay.
West Oakland Bike Link
The next phase, the West Oakland Link, will dramatically improve access to the existing East Span pathway to West Oakland. By connecting Mandela Parkway with the existing Bay Bridge Trail through Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline, the West Oakland Link will to improve comfort and safety through the industrial Port of Oakland area. The $65 million West Oakland Link project is supported by the Bay Area Toll Authority, Alameda County Transportation Commission, the City of Oakland and Caltrans.
Aerial image of the Bay Skyway pointing out the various segments under construction and proposed and how long it takes different modes to travel through those segments.
E-Bike Rebates: 511 Contra Costa Pilot Program
Contra Costa County’s 511 program piloted an effort to broaden public awareness about electric-assist bikes (e-bikes), and their potential for everyday use as a clean, convenient, and inexpensive mode of personal transportation that can practically replace many local car trips. Between October 2020-December 2021, the 511 Contra Costa’s E-Bike Rebate Pilot Program issued 503 rebates to county residents, including 136 to extremely low-income residents. The rebates went to people who reported using cars for everyday trips and who agreed to purchase an e-bike and use it instead of driving for some local trips. The Pilot Program reduced an estimated 145,000 motor vehicle trips, 580,000 miles driven. and 187 tons of CO2. Most participants report using their e-bike 2-4 times per week, with 83% indicating using their e-bike for a trip they would have previously taken by car. 71% of rebate recipients were not avid bicyclists prior to owning an e-bike, with 52% saying they rarely or never rode bikes before getting their e-bike.
Infographic of the E-bike Rebate Program reading "If you're 18+ and live in Contra Costa, You Qualify! Your income and zip code determine the amount" with a cartoon of a person riding an ebike and logos of 511 Contra Costa and Charge Up Contra Costa.
Active Transportation Connections to Transit: Bicycle/Pedestrian Pathway San Rafael to Larkspur Ferry Terminal
The Andersen Drive to Second Street Bicycle/Pedestrian Pathway Project was completed in December 2020. This pathway is a vital link for bicyclists and pedestrians to connect downtown San Rafael to the Cal Park Tunnel Path leading to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. This segment now provides a separated two-way Class IV cycle track on Francisco Blvd. West. Automotive traffic on Francisco Blvd. West was converted to one-way to make room for this significant and long-needed connector project. The City of San Rafael led this project, with funding support from TAM.
Healdsburg Avenue Improvements
An Active Transportation Program grant will partially fund construction of protected bike lanes and pedestrian improvements along a nearly 2-mile stretch of Healdsburg Avenue between Powell Avenue to just south of Passalacqua Road.
The number of driving lanes on Healdsburg Avenue will be reduced from five to three and include landscaped buffers alongside the protected bike lanes, the release said. The 10-foot wide bike lanes will also serve as a vehicle lane in the event of large-scale evacuations. The project’s tentative design features were created in response to answers from the Healdsburg Ave. Improvement Study the city conducted in Spring 2019. Construction for the street improvement project is tentatively planned for 2026.
Looking Beyond Rolling & Biking: SFMTA’s Active Communities Plan
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA) is currently working on San Francisco’s Active Communities Plan (ACP). While the Plan began as an update to San Francisco’s Bicycle Master Plan from 2009, The Active Communities Plan will provide a 10–15-year roadmap for the policies, programs, and built infrastructure that support rolling and bicycling in San Francisco – with public input that goes beyond rolling and biking integrated into the upcoming Transportation Element update. The ACP fill direct investments for a new Active Transportation Network including new and improved network for people using wheelchairs, scooters and bikes, more parking for these users, and new programs and policies to make it easier to get around. The final plan is set to be adopted in Spring 2024.
Overcoming Key Barriers: East Palo Alto US-101 Pedestrian and Bicycle Overcrossing
The Clarke Avenue Pedestrian Overcrossing Project, which was funded by the Active Transportation Program, constructed a Class 1 Pedestrian/Bicycle Crossing Structure cover U.S. Highway 101 between West and East Bayshore Roads in 2019. It’s aligned with Clarke Avenue and connects to West Bayshore Road at Newell Road thus connecting both sides of the City of East Palo Alto.This crossing also provides a direct connection between the south side and north side of U.S. Highway 101 in East Palo Alto, helping to eliminate a key barrier to people biking, walking and rolling.
Safe Routes to School: Grizzly Island Trail in Suisun City
This project’s main goal was to connect Crystal Middle School to the west with the Crescent Elementary School to the east. Student safety was a primary concern. This Class I pedestrian/bicycle trail eliminated the need for school age students who live in the southern half of the City to cross State Route 12, a high volume and high speed expressway, to get to and from either the Crescent Elementary School or the Crystal Middle School. This trail allows the students who live within the southern boundary of the City to remain on the south side of State Route 12 when accessing those schools. A unique trail feature is an outdoor classroom/overlook area with long concrete benches, railing and an interpretive sign that is located mid-point of the trail.
Plan Bay Area 2050 lays out 35 strategies to improve housing, the economy, transportation, and the environment across the Bay Area’s nine counties.
