City unveils major updates to active transportation plan prioritizing safety and accessibility

The City of Santa Rosa's Planning Commission meeting on March 13, 2025, focused on the ongoing development of the city's Active Transportation Plan (ATP), an update to the 2018 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The transportation planner presented a comprehensive overview of the plan's progress, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and ambition in the proposed projects.

The ATP aims to enhance the city's bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, with a strong focus on safety and accessibility for all community members. The planner highlighted that the public engagement process has been extensive, with two phases of outreach conducted over the past year and a half. The first phase involved gathering community feedback on existing conditions and barriers, while the second phase presented synthesized recommendations for public review.

Currently, the public review draft of the ATP is available online, with a comment period running from March 3 to March 30, 2025. The interactive document allows residents to provide feedback directly on the plan, fostering community involvement in shaping the future of transportation in Santa Rosa.

The planner outlined the prioritization process for projects, which considers factors such as safety, health equity, feasibility, and connectivity. High-priority projects are those that can be feasibly completed within the next five years, particularly those that align with upcoming pavement maintenance efforts, allowing for cost-effective implementation.

Next steps include a review by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board in May, followed by a formal presentation to the City Council in June for adoption. The meeting underscored the city's commitment to creating a safer and more accessible transportation network, reflecting national best practices in active transportation planning.