Asm. Leno's 'Complete Streets Act of 2007' Rolls to Key Committee Victory

SACRAMENTO , CA — Assemblyman Mark Leno’s Assembly Bill 1358, which would make our roads safer and more convenient for Californians who choose to walk, ride a bike, or take public transit, passed the Assembly Local Government Committee late yesterday on a vote of 5 to 2.

“Streets aren’t just for cars, they’re for people,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). “By encouraging communities to create transportation plans with a variety of transportation modes in mind, AB 1358 will give everyone— young or old, on foot or in a wheelchair, in a car or bus— the freedom and flexibility to travel how they choose.”

AB 1358 requires a city or county legislative body, when making revisions to the circulation element of their general plan, to identify how they will accommodate all users of the roadway, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and users of public transportation. Additionally, the plan must address the circulation component of the transportation system to ease congestion and aid in the flow of traffic. Such accommodations may include sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks, wide shoulders, medians, bus pullouts, raised crosswalks and audible pedestrian signals, among others.

The measure is co-sponsored by the California Bicycle Coalition (CBC) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and supported by a diverse coalition of groups concerned about the environmental, societal and public health impacts our inaccessible roadways have on our daily lives. "Estimates show that the number of Californians over 60 will almost double during the next 20 years, and many will need to rely on alternative forms of transportation," said Charles Mason, Jr., AARP Associate State Director of Advocacy. "We need to develop livable communities that prevent isolation and promote healthy and safe streets."

“Complete Streets ensure that tax dollars are invested to serve all Californians, and protect and enhance our quality of life now and in the future,” said K.C. Butler, Executive Director of the California Bicycle Coalition when testifying at the Assembly Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

Complete Streets has many societal and public health benefits. When people have more transportation options, there are fewer traffic jams and to the overall capacity of the transportation network increases. Additionally, physical inactivity is linked to our growing obesity epidemic. One study found that 43% of people with safe places to walk within 10 minutes of home met recommended physical activity levels. In Portland , Oregon , a Complete Streets approach resulted in a 74% increase in bicycle commuting.

AB 1358 is also a key strategy communities can use to help improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Complete Streets will help cities and counties meet standards set by landmark legislation capping greenhouse gas emissions in California , AB 32. If each resident of a community of 100,000 replaced one car trip with one bike trip once a month, it would cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emission by 3,764 tons per year.

Additionally, integrating sidewalks, bike lanes, transit amenities, and safe crossings into the initial design of a project is more cost-effective than making costly retrofits later. The bill will be heard next in Assembly Appropriations.

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