Providing design guidelines for developers and planning staff to improve transit, active transportation access, and complete streets which promotes the use of non-single occupancy vehicle modes. Providing guidance and best practices for developers means the shift will be incremental as the region grows. Design guidelines can also be used in coordination with General Plans and Active Transportation Plans for obtaining grant funding to make roadway improvements at a corridor level.
Design guidance supports the implementation of safe and effective infrastructure making sustainable modes of transportation more attractive. While this strategy cannot be quantified it can help expedite the process of land use changes at the local level by removing barriers to implementation.
Ensure design standards prioritize safe and accessible infrastructure in low-income and underserved areas. Require ADA-compliant curb ramps, crosswalks, and sidewalks in areas with high transit dependency and senior populations. Incorporate multilingual community engagement when shaping pedestrian improvements to address local needs and safety concerns.
Primarily staff time and planning resources. Potential funding includes Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants, Safe Streets and Roads for All planning funds, Active Transportation planning grants, and local planning budgets.
The City of Sacramento’s Street Design Standards provide technical requirements for street design and development. The standards address pedestrian-friendly streets, traffic calming, street classifications, lane widths, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, intersections, and other roadway design considerations. The document demonstrates how a city can translate broader transportation and Complete Streets policies into standards used during project design and development review.
The City of Bakersfield adopted a Complete Streets Policy to guide the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of transportation facilities that serve users of all ages and abilities. The policy supports consideration of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, freight movement, and people with disabilities, while emphasizing context-sensitive design and connectivity. The policy demonstrates how local agencies can incorporate multimodal transportation principles into project development and transportation planning decisions.
