Report Prepared by: Francisco Mendoza-Gonzalez, Associate Planner, Development Services Department
Title
SUBJECT: Status of City of Merced Active Transportation Plan
REPORT IN BRIEF
Staff will provide a report and answer questions regarding the status of the City’s Active Transportation Plan.
Body
DISCUSSION
During the BPAC Meeting of June 27th, 2023, commissioners inquired about reviewing the City’s current bicycle master plan and providing updates. City Council adopted its current Active Transportation Plan (for both bicycle and pedestrian facilities) during the summer of 2019 and reviewed by BPAC Spring of 2019. This process included over a year of outreach and collaboration with the BPAC, various neighborhoods, and agency stakeholders. The City’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) includes updated collision data, priority improvement project list, and bike lane class recommendations. Due to funding constraints and staffing limitations, the City is not in position to update its current Active Transportation Plan. Long range plans such as these are generally updated every 10 to 15 years depending on funding or grant availability with no expiration dates on most long-range plans.
The City is currently working with the Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) to update the County-wide Regional Active Transpiration Plan which also includes potential projects within and around the City limits. MCAG will incorporate several elements of the City’s ATP and provide updated data and suggestions based on ongoing workshops. This Regional Active Transportation Plan is important as 20% of Measure V funds are allocated for alternative modes of transportation projects such pedestrian walking paths and bicycle lanes. Having a Regional Active Transportation Plan will help prioritize these projects. MCAG attended the BPAC meeting of June 27th, 2023, to introduce this project and will be working with City staff to further coordinate meetings and outreach with the BPAC for input and suggestions throughout the develop of the County-wide Regional Active Transportation Plan. Although the City is currently not in a position to update its Active Transportation Plan, MCAG’s ongoing draft Regional ATP gives the BPAC and the public an opportunity to be involved in the planning of bicycle and pedestrian facilities within the City of Merced and other parts of the County.
In addition, the City has been planning to update its General Plan (no set start date), which includes a Transportation and Circulation Element with a Bicycle Transportation Plan (Attachment 1). This process will also give the BPAC an opportunity to participate in the planning of the City’s bicycle network.
ATTACHMENTS
1. General Plan Figure 4.9 - Bicycle Transportation Plan