MTC Regional Active Transportation Plan

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.

 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.

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:

1. the development of a Complete Streets Network for people of all ages and abilities, as well as
2. measures that advance regional Vision Zero efforts to make roads safer for everyone.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 All  program 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:

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.