“If we’re going to invest in roads, how are we going to offset those goals with our goals for (the environment)?”

By Robin Epley | July 21, 2023 | The Sacramento Bee

“They’re not wrong that the road conditions in Sacramento, all over the county, are bad,” Sam Rice told me. “(But) roads degrade, that’s what they do.” Rice is the transportation team lead for the Environmental Council of Sacramento and sits on the board for the Sacramento Metro Advocates for Rail and Transit, where he advises the city of Sacramento and other communities on how the future of transportation can co-exist with smart climate policy. “Road investment in the past has always been something that we simply did out of habit and it’s something that I feel, in the future, we should be thinking of in the context of complete streets,” Rice said. “If we’re going to invest in roads, how are we going to offset those goals with our goals for (the environment)?”

STA Mtg: Future Transportation Funding 8/10

On August 10, 2023, the Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) will receive information on the activities of the future transportation funding subcommittee and related efforts. This item is number 9 on the agenda. Please attend!

Access the agenda and more here: https://agendanet.saccounty.gov/SacramentoTransportationAuthority/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=8246&doctype=1

Supporting Documents

Item 9 – Staff Report Future Funding Report Out.docx

Item 9 – ATT 1 PPT Previous Funding Efforts.pdf

Item 9 – ATT 2 PPT SACOG Presentation for STA.pdf

Item 9 – ATT 3 STA Cover Letter and GHG Overview Memo.pdf

ECOS Transportation Team Meeting 6/1

Join us Thursday, June 1, 2023, 6:00 pm, on Zoom!

Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

6:00pm Welcome from Sam Rice, Transportation Team Lead, and Ralph Propper, Climate Committee Chair; and Attendee Introductions

6:10pm I Street Bridge Replacement Project: What this bridge can deliver for Local and Regional Mobility
• Presentation by Greg Taylor from the City of Sacramento

6:40pm Streets for People: Sacramento Active Transportation Plan
• Presentation by Jeff Jelsma from the City of Sacramento

7:10pm Update on 2024 SMART transportation funding measure

7:15pm General Discussion; Announcements; Opportunities for advocacy

7:30pm Adjourn

This meeting is open to everyone interested in addressing one of our region’s most pressing challenges.

Click here for the agenda in PDF.

California Air Resources Board letter on Measure A

On October 10, 2022, the California Air Resources Board sent a letter to the Sacramento Transportation Authority regarding Measure A.

Below is an excerpt.

We write to share information regarding the impacts that several projects slated for funding under this measure, and the project portfolio as a whole, will have on climate change and air quality. As an oversight agency, including for the Senate Bill 375 program (Steinberg, Stats. 2008, ch. 728), and based on CARB staff’s analysis of the measure, we need to make you aware that if Measure A is approved, the region may face serious compliance challenges with State emissions reductions requirements.

Click here to read the letter in full.

Sacramento Transportation Authority Meeting Nov 10

Update: these two items of interest are postponed until November 10, 2022.

The STA Governing Board Meeting Agenda Packet for October 13, 2022 at 1:30 pm: https://www.sacta.org/calendar/bl7btgymcz858x5

Item 9 discusses a strategy for using Measure A Smart Growth Incentive Program (SGIP) funds as a local match for the 2022-2023 SACOG Community Design Grant Program. The SACOG Community Design Grant Program focuses in on infill development and reducing VMT.

Item 10 provides a draft work plan for implementation of the Citizens’ Initiative should it pass in November. The draft work plan discusses among other things the need for policy development in the following areas:

Federal Air Quality, Metropolitan Transportation Plan and GHG Reduction Targets (Program Wide Policy)
Geographic and Social Equity (Program Wide Policy)
Complete Streets

Residents Invited to View City’s Initial ‘Transportation Priorities Plan’ at These Two Meetings

August 17, 2022 – From the City Express, the news website for the City of Sacramento government

The City of Sacramento has reached phase two of its Transportation Priorities Plan and unveiled the initial project prioritization. Community members are invited to two virtual meetings on Aug. 24 and 27 to learn more and provide feedback.

The Department of Public Works in 2021 began working on the first-of-its-kind priorities plan and engaged communities to hear about their transportation values and gather input on recommendations.

“When it comes to investing in transportation, we wanted to know what matters most to Sacramento’s communities,” Transportation Planning Manager Jennifer Donlon Wyant said. “The input in phase one has allowed us to conduct the initial prioritization of the over 700 approved transportation projects in the City.”

Throughout 2021 and in early 2022, staff engaged communities through virtual gatherings, surveys, a youth-focused program and meetings with local organizations.

In March 2022, City Council adopted a set of criteria and process to prioritize the transportation investments based on those community values. This prioritization is needed because there are many transportation needs and the majority of transportation funding is from competitive grants, officials said.

It is estimated the City would need about $5 billion to complete all of the identified transportation improvements and maintenance projects.

The criteria approved by Council include: improve air quality, climate and health; provide equitable investment; provide access to destinations; improve transportation safety; and fix and maintain the transportation system.

Staff used this criteria to prioritize approved transportation projects. Projects that best meet community values are considered high priority projects. Medium priority are projects that meet some community values but not all. Lower priority projects do not align well with community values for transportation investment.

“As we move into phase two, we’re excited and ready to share the initial prioritization and hear from our communities,” Donlon Wyant said.

Residents can learn more about the initial prioritization and share input in many ways.

Register for a virtual gathering session (6 p.m. Aug. 24 or 10 a.m. Aug. 27)
Complete a comment form, available in multiple languages
Provide feedback on an online map, available in multiple languages
Meet the team at community events across the city throughout August