Regional Active Transportation Plan

MTC envisions a Bay Area where many more people walk, bike and roll every day on safe, accessible and connected streets, paths and trails to get to people, places and transit. The Regional Active Transportation Plan will help get us there.

Credit
Karl Nielsen

MTC’s Active Transportation (AT) Plan will guide investments in infrastructure and regional policy development and implementation. It supports the Plan Bay Area 2050 strategy to build a Complete Streets Network and helps to meet goals for safety, equity, health, resilience and climate change.

Key Elements of the Active Transportation Plan:

  • Development of a regional active transportation network, a Plan Bay Area Blueprint strategy, that builds off adopted state, regional, county, and local bicycle / pedestrian / trail plans;
  • Stakeholder engagement through a Technical Advisory Committee and community-based organizations;
  • Policy and program analysis, updated with an equity and Vision Zero focus, including the review and update of MTC’s Complete Streets Policy (MTC Resolution 3765);
  • Funding analysis to identify the constraints and potential future funding scenarios to build-out a regional active transportation network and implement the Plan Bay Area 2050 strategies; and
  • Creation of a prioritized 5-Year Implementation Plan, in coordination with Plan Bay Area 2050’s Implementation Plan, that will include actions to support active transportation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s transportation-related needs.

Part of Plan Bay Area 2050

Plan Bay Area 2050, the region’s long-range plan for transportation, housing, the economy and the environment, is based on 35 bold strategies to build a more equitable, affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant Bay Area for all.

The “Create Healthy and Safe Streets” theme from Plan Bay Area 2050 is a foundational element of the AT Plan. Visit planbayarea.org to see details on all 35 strategies, including strategy T8, “Build a Complete Streets network,” and strategy T9, “Advance regional Vision Zero policy through street design and reduced speeds.”

Active Transportation Plan Objectives

Regional Planning Framework

Connect people to areas that will have future growth in housing, jobs and transit over the next 30 years, as identified in Plan Bay Area 2050

Safety

Create and maintain a safe environment for people walking, rolling and bike riding

Equity

Provide active transportation options to underserved communities and those with vulnerable populations

Connections

Provide connections to key regional destinations, corridors and public transit

Previous Planning Efforts

Build upon regionally significant planned projects that have been identified through local and county planning efforts

Complete Streets Policy Update

MTC’s original Complete Streets Policy (Resolution 3765 - Routine Accommodation for Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities) was adopted in 2006. A revised Complete Streets Policy is being drafted and will be included in OBAG 3. Learn more about One Bay Area Grants.

Regional Active Transportation Network

The AT Plan incorporates the work of regional partners:

Adopted County and Caltrans Plans

  • Analyze bike, pedestrian and AT plans to see where regional bicycle infrastructure and high-priority pedestrian improvement areas are located
  • Understand where there are regional bicycle infrastructure gaps

Regional Bikeway Network (RBN)

  • The RBN (and county plans) will serve as the backbone of the AT Network

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Help establish and refine network criteria
  • Define the regional AT network and what constitutes a gap in bicycle and pedestrian networks

Funding Assessment

The funding assessment will identify funding sources and scenarios to build out a regional active transportation network and implement the AT Plan. The assessment will also help cities and counties access funding more easily, and will help them report back on progress of active transportation programs.

Funding sources will likely include:

Active Transportation Plan Timeline

There are four phases to the plan, with an expected adoption in June 2022.

  • Project Initiation, April 2021-May 2021: Develop stakeholder engagement plan, establish schedule and coordinate data
  • Policy Analysis and Data Assembly, June 2021-August 2021: Assemble data, review relevant policies, compile data and make Complete Streets policy recommendations
  • Network Development and Implementation Plan, September 2021-December 2021: Identify regional AT network and gaps, and develop high-level 5-year Implementation Plan
  • Finalize Implementation Plan and Develop AT Plan, January 2022-June 2022: Refine 5-year Implementation Plan and create AT Plan
Partnership

The AT Plan incorporates the work of regional partners:

  • The Regional Bike Network (established as part of the 2001 Bike Plan)
  • County AT plans
  • Caltrans AT plans
  • The Bay Area Trails Collaborative (BATC) network
  • Plan Bay Area 2050