StanCOG Active Transportation Toolkit by nelsonnygaard

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION TOOLKIT Strategies to Support Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety January 2021

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS STANCOG PROJECT TEAM Elisabeth Hahn, Deputy Director of Planning and Programming Isael Ojeda, Senior Planner Chris Jasper, Associate Planner STANCOG POLICY BOARD Terry Withrow | Chair, Stanislaus County Richard O’Brien | Vice-Chair, City of Riverbank Jenny Kenoyer | City of Modesto Tony Madrigal | City of Modesto Bill Zoslock | City of Modesto Nick Candea | City of Newman

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION TOOLKIT Strategies to Support Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

CONTENTS Executive Summary

Funding Opportunities

Innovative Transportation Safety Community Engagement Strategies

Information Gathering and Data Analysis

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Executive Summary

The Active Transportation Toolkit The Active Transportation Toolkit provides strategies and resources to support bicycle and pedestrian promotion and safety within Stanislaus County. The Toolkit builds on the momentum from StanCOG’s recently completed Regional Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety and Education Campaign, also known as Walk and Roll Stanislaus. The Campaign’s outreach efforts included pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists to emphasize the importance of empathy and safety for all road users. The Toolkit is structured in three main sections to help professionals and community advocates take action to promote active transportation and safety across the Stanislaus region:

Innovative Active Funding Transportation Opportunities for Programming Active Transportation

Data, Storytelling, and Communication

Example strategies that were employed as part of the Walk and Roll Stanislaus campaign are provided, as well as resources from other pedestrian and bicyclist safety and promotion projects from around the country.

–2–

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Photo

–3–

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways 1

Funding opportunities are diverse and far-reaching. It is important to think both big hits and small wins, and to look ahead at funding schedules. Many opportunities are only available every two years, or sporadically, depending on the availability of funds.

Community engagement can take many shapes but is most effective when rooted in and resonant with personal experience. Community storytelling can help ground technical principles in personal stories and anecdotes. It can encourage empathy and combat perceptions about whose “fault” safety challenges are. Interactive mapping tools and surveys, either online or in-person, can help identify key concern locations, and a mix of qualitative and quantitative data can illuminate how experiences differ based upon characteristics (e.g., age, race, gender, zip code).

Active transportation programming adaptations lead to innovation. The global pandemic of 2020 led to changes in the way active transportation programs were implemented across the country. Open street events morphed to virtual, interactive engagement platforms and shared street space for small group walking, bicycling and gathering.

Capacity building empowers residents, youth, and community leaders to grow their skills and knowledge. It prepares people to become advocates and agents of change to improve their communities and seek additional educational or funding resources to promote road safety.

Data is an essential resource for active transportation decision-making. Data illuminates the who, what, where, when, how, and why of travel behavior and transportation safety. It is an important tool to measure the intended and unintended impacts of programs and policies over time.

Decision-maker engagement is critical for program success. Getting decisionmakers in the room and involved in conversations is invaluable for building relationships and understanding, and for obtaining buy-in on initiatives. These conversations allow for knowledge sharing, identifying key issues, and finding common ground and consensus.

–4–

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Executive Summary

Impacts of COVID-19 In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted all activities relating to Walk and Roll Stanislaus, leading to a range of challenges and opportunities for the project’s delivery. Shelterin-place orders, physical distancing guidelines, and restrictions on group gatherings began in the Spring of 2020 across California, including Stanislaus County. These restrictions required the in-person community engagement activities planned for the spring and summer to shift to a virtual format. While this change limited staff’s ability to implement large in-person programs, it introduced the opportunity for innovative outreach and engagement focused on interactive virtual and in-person small group activities across the County. The reach of these activities proved to be equal to, if not greater than traditional in-person large group activities. These activities are shared in this Toolkit. For more information about the virtual activities, visit www.walkandrollstanislaus.com

–5–

2 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Funding Opportunities

Active Transportation Funding Opportunities As the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Stanislaus region, StanCOG is responsible for directing federal, state, and local funds throughout the County, including its nine (9) incorporated cities and the unincorporated county. Funding is distributed to near-term priority projects published in the federally mandated Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP). The 2019 FTIP program funds for federal fiscal years (FFY) 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, and 2021/22. The FTIP is updated every two years. The following funding opportunities can be considered for the financing of future active transportation projects and programs.

–8–

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Federal Programs Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program Type:

Federal

Program Sponsor(s):

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

Total Program Fund Estimate:

$850 million (2018-2020)

Typical Award Amount:

Awards vary by state.

Matching Requirements:

Federal share is typically 88.5%; however, some safety projects allow for 100% federal share. Local match is about 11.5%.

Eligible Entities:

Local government; regional transportation authority; transit agency; natural resource or public land agency; school district, local education agency or school; tribal government; nonprofit entity responsible for local transportation safety programs; other local or regional governmental entity responsible for, or oversight of, transportation or recreational trails that the State determines to be eligible.

Program Schedule:

Funds are appropriated annually; Funds are available the year appropriated plus three years.

The Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-Aside in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act replaced the former Transportation Alternatives Program with a set-aside of funds under the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program. The TA Set-Aside authorizes funding for programs and projects defined as transportation alternatives, such as but not limited to onand off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility; recreational trail projects; and safe routes to school projects.1

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/transportation_alternatives/

–9–

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Program Type:

Federal

Program Sponsor(s):

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Federal Transit Administration

Total Program Fund Estimate:

$2.5 billion annually (2016-2020). Total funding increased to $8 billion during the 6-year life of TEA-21.2

Typical Award Amount:

N/A

Matching Requirements:

Federal share is typically 80%; however, some safety projects allow for 100% federal share.

Eligible Entities:

MPOs and State in areas without an MPO.

Program Schedule:

CMAQ operates on a reimbursement schedule; funds are not distributed until work is completed.

The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program funds transportation projects to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion in areas that do not meet air quality standards. The program has been a key mechanism for implementing non-motorized projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The CMAQ program is administered jointly by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).3 Funds are directed to transportation projects and programs which contribute to the attainment or maintenance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Funds may be used for transportation projects or programs that are likely to contribute to the attainment or maintenance of national ambient air quality standard and is included in StanCOG’s current transportation plan and FTIP.4 About $2.5 Billion was allocated to the program in 2020 under the federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. Note: CMAQ operates on a reimbursement schedule; funds are not distributed until work is completed.

https://www.nap.edu/read/10350/chapter/5

https://www.transportation.gov/sustainability/climate/federal-programs-directory-congestion-mitigation-and-air-quality-cmaq

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/factsheets/cmaqfs.cfm

– 10 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Highway Safety Improvement Program Program Type:

Federal

Program Sponsor(s):

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Caltrans – Division of Local Assistance

Total Program Fund Estimate:

$2.6 billion5

Typical Award Amount:

Maximum reimbursement is $10 million for a single HSIP project; Minimum reimbursement for a single project is $100,000.

Matching Requirements:

Federal share is typically 90%.

Eligible Entities:

City, county or tribal government that assumes responsibility and accountability for the use and expenditure of federal-aid highway funds.

Program Schedule:

Call for projects are made everyone to two years; Cycle 10 Call for Projects closed on November 2, 2020.

The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds projects that reduce collisions and vehicular fatalities and improve road safety. Applicable projects include improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians, safety education, training, and traffic calming. Like CMAQ funds, HSIP funds are allocated to every state to carry out approved projects and programs. In California, HSIP is managed by the Caltrans Division of Local Assistance. In 2019, California programmed $14 million towards non-infrastructure safety projects with more than $6.5 million directed to the Pedestrian and Bicyclists improvement category. The maximum reimbursement for a single project is $10 million, and the minimum is $100,000. Federal refund is typically 90%, but in some scenarios can be the full project cost. Applications for Cycle 10 were due in Fall 2020, and the Cycle 11 call for projects is anticipated for April 2022.6

Traffic calming features, such as curb bulbouts and pedestrian refuge islands, help support pedestrian and bicycle safety. Image Credit: Todd Boulanger 5

https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/mission/budget/334296/fy-2020-fhwa.pdf

https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local-assistance/fed-and-state-programs/highway-safety-improvement-program/local-roadway-safety-plans

– 11 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Urbanized Area Formula Grants Program Type:

Federal

Program Sponsor(s):

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

Total Program Fund Estimate:

$5.2 billion in 20197

Typical Award Amount:

Most recently, the transit operators in Modesto and Turlock received $5.3 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

Matching Requirements:

Federal share is typically 80%.

Eligible Entities:

Public agencies and transit operators in urban areas (more than 50,000 people).

Program Schedule:

Funds are appropriated annually; Funds are available the year appropriated plus five years.8

The Federal Transit Administration administers a formula grant program to fund transportationrelated projects in urban areas. Eligible recipients are public agencies and transit operators. Eligible projects and programs include, but are not limited to, transit planning and design, as well as bicycle routes and secondary amenities. Funding is distributed through legislative formulas for areas between 50,000 and 200,000 people. Larger population areas receive funds based on a set of criterions including population density, bus passenger miles, and fixed guideway route miles. The federal government will match up to 80% of the net project cost.9

Urban Area Formula Grants from the FTA can be used for pedestrian and bicycle amenities that support transit access, like this raised pedestrian crossing at a bus stop. Image Credit: Nelson\Nygaard/Michael Moule

https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/urbanized-area-formula-grants-5307

Ibid

– 12 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

State Funding Programs In 2017, California passed Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) to support the maintenance and expansion of transportation infrastructure. The program has several funding opportunities that fund active transportation, including the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program, the Local Partnership Program, and the Active Transportation Program.

Solutions for Congested Corridors Program Program Type:

State

Program Sponsor(s):

California Transportation Commission

Total Program Fund Estimate:

$250 million will be available upon appropriation to the Congested Corridors Program annually.10

Typical Award Amount:

No maximum or minimum.

Matching Requirements:

None; leveraged funds are desirable.11

Eligible Entities:

Agencies that implement transportation improvements as part of comprehensive corridor planning.

Program Schedule:

The 2020 program will fund projects for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023; Applications were due on July 17, 2020.

The purpose of the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SCCP) is to reduce congestion and expand transportation choices for road users. In addition to mitigating congestion, the program seeks to improve safety, improve air quality, and initiate economic development and job creation opportunities. Projects include improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and updates to local streets and roads. $494 million was allocated for fiscal year 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, and seven project received funding. For more information about the program, visit the California Transportation Commission’s program site.12

The 2018 Program exceeded the programming amount by $6 Million. Therefore, available funds have been reduced to $494 Million.

https://catc.ca.gov/-/media/ctc-media/documents/programs/sccp/adopted-2020-sccp-guidelines-combined-file-march-20-a11y.pdf

https://catc.ca.gov/programs/sb1/solutions-for-congested-corridors-program

– 13 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Local Partnership Program Program Type:

State

Program Sponsor(s):

California Transportation Commission

Total Program Fund Estimate:

$216 million for FY 2020-21 through 2022-23

Typical Award Amount:

N/A

Matching Requirements:

1-to-1 match for both Formulaic and Competitive Program.13

Eligible Entities:

Agencies that have passed a sales tax measure, developer fee, or other transportation free for the purposes of improving mobility.

Program Schedule:

2020 Applications were due June 2020; new Cycles will be programmed every two years.

California Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) includes the Local Partnership Program (LPP), which is a funding source for local and regional transportation agencies that have passed a sales tax measure, developer fee, or other transportation fee for the purpose of improving transportation and mobility. $200 million of SB 1 funds are allocated to LLP annually and provides funding opportunities to improve active transportation, health, and safety benefits, as well as other opportunities related to aging infrastructure and road conditions. The program is two pronged – 40% is through a statewide competitive process and 60% is through a formulaic program. 2020 applications were due June 2020; new funding cycles will be programmed every two years.14 Implementation of Sacramento’s Grid 3.0 plan, including the Broadway Complete Streets Project (pictured), is funded in part through the LPP program. Image Credit: City of Sacramento

https://catc.ca.gov/-/media/ctc-media/documents/programs/local-partnership-program/adopted-resolution/final-2020-lpp-guidelines-and-adoptingresolution-g-20-33-v3-a11y.pdf

https://catc.ca.gov/programs/sb1/local-partnership-program

– 14 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Active Transportation Program Program Type:

State

Program Sponsor(s):

California Transportation Commission California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

Total Program Fund Estimate:

$440 million available for 2021 ATP Cycle 5

Typical Award Amount:

The minimum award is $250,000. There is no maximum amount.15

Matching Requirements:

The Commission does not require a funding match for ATP.

Eligible Entities:

Local, regional, or state agencies, as well as transit agencies, tribal governments, public land agencies, and private nonprofit organizations. Eligible projects include infrastructure projects, plans, and non-infrastructure projects related to active transportation.

Program Schedule:

Applications for Cycle 5 were due on Sept 15, 2020

In 2013, Governor Brown created the Active Transportation Program (ATP), which consolidated other existing federal and state active transportation funding programs to support infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects. The purpose of the ATP is to increase biking and walking trips, increase safety and mobility for non-motorized users, enhance air quality and public health, and ensure disadvantaged communities fully share the benefits of the program. Each year, the program allocates 50% of its funds to projects on a competitive basis, 40% to regional agencies, and 10% specifically to rural areas. Exact funding amounts fluctuate from cycle to cycle. About $440 million is expected to be available for 2021 ATP Cycle 5. The minimum award amount is $250,000; there is no maximum award amount. Walk and Roll Stanislaus was funded through an ATP grant.16 ATP Cycle 5 Quick Build Grant Launched for the Cycle 5 ATP, applicants can now submit Quick-Build projects – relatively inexpensive changes to existing rights-of-way to improve safety issues and pilot concepts. The Quick Build Grant Pilot received 22 project applications in July 2020 and staff recommended eight projects (collectively valued at about $4.5 million) to be funded. These projects included protected bikeways, pedestrian safety improvements, and intersection redesigns.17 15

https://catc.ca.gov/-/media/ctc-media/documents/programs/atp/workshops/cycle-5/2020325-adopted-2021-atp-guidelines-a11y.pdf

https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/local-assistance/documents/atp/cy5/atp-ni-guidance/atp-ni-guidance20200324.pdf

https://catc.ca.gov/programs/active-transportation-program

– 15 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program Program Type:

State

Program Sponsor(s):

California Air Resources Board (CARB)

Total Program Fund Estimate:

$20 million

Typical Award Amount:

Up to $1 million

Matching Requirements:

CARB Contribution: $20,000,000 (first round) Matching Funds: $820,000 Project Total: $20,820,00018

Eligible Entities:

Applicants must operate projects for four years; Eligible applicants are public agencies, non-profit organizations, and tribal authorities.

Program Schedule:

First round applications were approved in early 2020; second round yet to be determined.

The Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot distributes cap-and-trade dollars (up to $20 million) for shared mobility projects including car share, bike share, and on-demand programs to disadvantaged, low-income communities. Public agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations are eligible. Each new mobility project can receive up to $1,000,000, a project expanding an existing mobility service can receive up to $600,000, and community Transportation Needs Assessment projects could receive up to $50,000.19

BikeVentura, a community-based bicycle safety and education organization based in Ventura, received funding through the Clean Mobility Options Pilot Program in 2020. Image Credit: Bike Ventura (bikeventura.org)

https://www.cleanmobilityoptions.org/about/

https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/lct/pdfs/cmo-voucher.pdf

– 16 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Office of Traffic Safety Grants Program Type:

State

Program Sponsor(s):

California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS)

Total Program Fund Estimate:

$94 million (400 grants)20

Typical Award Amount:

$230,000

Matching Requirements:

No matching requirement.21

Eligible Entities:

Public entities: non-profits must be sponsored by a public agency and cannot be funded directly.

Program Schedule:

The Federal Fiscal Year 2022 application period is now open (December 7,2020 - January 31, 2021).

The California State Transportation Agency’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) funds programs that promote safe behaviors and the use of roadways when walking or biking. Programs target all age groups to raise awareness about traffic rules, rights, and responsibilities whether you are driving, on foot or on bikes. Specifically, programs are designed to teach safer driving, bicycling, and walking behaviors to high-risk populations, including youth and older community members. Grants for FY 2022 opened in December 2020 and are due by January 30, 2021.22 23

OTS grants support bicycle and pedestrian safety and awareness programs for high-risk populations, including youth and older communities. Image Credit: Commute Options

https://www.ots.ca.gov/2020/10/06/the-office-of-traffic-safety-awards-93-7-million-to-support-transportation-programs/

Ibid.

https://www.ots.ca.gov/grants/pedestrian-and-bicycle-safety/

The program cycle is annual and consistent with this timeframe (applications open the late fall and are due in late January of the following year, for the next fiscal year). https://www.ots.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2020/10/GRANT-PROGRAM-MANUAL-FFY-2021-10-20-002.pdf

– 17 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants Program Type:

State

Program Sponsor(s):

California Department of Transportation

Total Program Fund Estimate:

$34 Million

Typical Award Amount:

Awards range from $50,000 minimum to $700,000 maximum depending on the fund source.24

Matching Requirements:

11.47% for Competitive, Formula, and SP – Transit; 20% for Strategic Partnerships

Eligible Entities:

Competitive: MPOs, RTPAs, transit agencies, cities and counties, Native American Tribal Govts, etc. Formula: MPOs only Strategic Partnerships: MPOs and RTPAs, with transit, cities, counties, universities, CBOs eligible as sub applicants Strategic Partnerships – Transit: MPOs, RTPAs as leads, with transit, cities, counties, universities, CBOs eligible as sub applicants

Program Schedule:

Caltrans has released the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Application for the 2021-22 FY. Applications are due on February 12. 2021.

Caltrans’ Sustainable Transportation Grants provide funding to support regional sustainable community strategies that can help to achieve the State’s greenhouse gas reduction targets of 40 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 2050, respectively. The Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program is composed of two broad grant programs within which there are multiple award and eligibility categories: - Sustainable Communities Grants ($29.5 million) to encourage local and regional planning that furthers state goals, including, but not limited to, the goals and best practices cited in the Regional Transportation Plan Guidelines adopted by the California Transportation Commission. - Strategic Partnerships Grants ($4.5 million) to identify and address statewide, interregional, or regional transportation deficiencies on the State highway system in partnership with Caltrans. 24

Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program Fiscal Year 2021-2022

– 18 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

A sub-category funds transit-focused planning projects that address multimodal transportation deficiencies.25 Eligible projects include land use and transportation planning documents, feasibility studies for active transportation, complete streets and safe routes to school plans, and active transportation master plans.13 The next cycle of funding opened in December 2020 and applications are due in February 2021.26

Sustainable Transportation Equity Project Program Type:

State

Program Sponsor(s):

California Air Resources Board (CARB)

Total Program Fund Estimate:

$19.5 million available for STEP grants ($1.75M for planning and a capacity building, $17.75M for implementation)

Typical Award Amount:

N/A

Matching Requirements:

Implementation: Applicants must contribute a minimum of 20% of the project cost. Planning: No minimum contribution required.27

Eligible Entities:

Applicant proposals must include partnerships between CBOS, local governments, and community partners. Eligible lead applicants include cities, counties, or nonprofits.

Program Schedule:

Applications for pilot program were approved in mid–2020

The Sustainable Transportation Equity Program (STEP) is a new pilot in 2020. The intent is to address community residents’ transportation needs and increase access to key destinations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by funding planning, clean transportation and supporting projects. The pilot has two types of grants: Planning and Capacity Grants ($1.75M) and Implementation Grants ($17.75M). Eligible programs include establishing bike share programs, implementing voucher programs, and increasing access to transit.28 Funding for the program is $19.5 million. 25

https://dot.ca.gov/programs/transportation-planning/regional-planning/sustainable-transportation-planning-grants

https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/step/step_implementation_grant_solicitation.pdf

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/low-carbon-transportation-investments-and-air-quality-improvement-program-1

– 19 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities Program Type:

State

Program Sponsor(s):

California Strategic Growth Council

Total Program Fund Estimate:

$400 million29

Typical Award Amount:

Between $1 million and $30 million.

Matching Requirements:

Project must have enough committed additional funding at time of application that is 90% of the following formula: (AHSC funds requested + Enforceable Funding Commitments (EFCs) – Deferred Costs) / (Total Development Cost – Deferred Costs)

Eligible Entities:

City, county, transit agency, RTPA, JPA, school district, developer, university, or Native American Tribe.

Program Schedule:

Applications are due February 2021.

The Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program gives grants and loans to affordable housing developers and transportation agencies to increase access between housing, employment centers, and essential services. Funded by auctiosan proceeds from California’s Cap-and-Trade emissions reduction program, AHSC is administered by the Strategic Growth Council and implemented by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. There are three project types: Transit-Oriented Development Project Areas, Integrated Connectivity Project Areas, and Rural Innovation Project Areas. Awarded projects have included improvements to the pedestrian environment, amenities like bus shelters and benches, and programs that encourage public transit use.30 The AHSC program has invested more than $1 Billion in projects across the state, 70% of which have been allocated to disadvantaged communities.31 The maximum and minimum awards across all project types are $30 million and $1 million, respectively. The application deadline for the most recent round of AHSC (Round 6) funding is February 11, 2021. The estimated available funding is $375 million.32 29

https://www.grants.ca.gov/grants/ahsc-round-6/

https://sgc.ca.gov/programs/ahsc/vision/

Ibid.

https://www.grants.ca.gov/grants/ahsc-round-6/

– 20 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Regional and Local Funding Programs Measure L Program Type:

Regional and Local

Program Sponsor(s):

Regional and Local Governments

In 2016, Stanislaus County residents voted to implement Measure L, a half-cent sales tax to fund regional and local transportation projects. The funds can be used for all project phases, including planning, permitting, design, and construction. Bicycle and pedestrian improvements account for 5% of Measure L revenues, which are projected to result in approximately $48 million over the measure’s 25-year life. Since the program was enacted, funds have supported the installation of Class I and Class II bike lanes and the introduction of design elements like flashing beacons and high-visibility crosswalks to improve safety. StanCOG, as the Local Transportation Authority (LTA), is responsible for the administration of the Measure L. Measure L Funds were used to help fund the installation of a bike lane at Modesto Junior College. Image Credit: Stanislaus County

High-visibility crosswalks with flashing beacons and pedestrian refuges support pedestrian safety. Image Credit: Nelson\Nygaard

Flashing beacons are designed to alert motorists with lights and signage when a pedestrian is crossing the road. Image Credit: Nelson\Nygaard

– 21 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Developer Impact fees Program Type:

Regional and Local

Program Sponsor(s):

Regional and Local Governments

Local revenue sources to fund active transportation programs include development impact fees, the state gas tax, transit fares, and local transportation funds. Development impact fees collect funds from new development to offset its construction. Fees are requested by the local government agency. Fees often improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities, lighting and safety, and educational programs for residents, employees, and community members.

Conclusion: Active Transportation Funding Opportunities While this section focused on federal, state and local funding sources, private/foundation/nonprofit funding opportunities also exist at the state and national level. Nationally, organizations, such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Safe Routes National Partnership and America Walks have small grant programs supporting active transportation. Within California, organizations such as the California Endowment and the California Wellness Foundation have grant programs that focus on community health.

– 22 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Summary: Active Transportation Funding Opportunities Program Type

Program Sponsor

Total Program Fund Estimate

Typical Award Amount

Funding Matching Requirements

Elligible Entities

Program Schedule

Awards vary by state.

Federal share is typically 88.5%; however, some safety projects allow for 100% federal share. Local match is about 11.5%.

Funds are appropriated annually; Funds are available the year appropriated plus three years.

Federal share is typically 80%; however, some safety projects allow for 100% federal share.

MPOs and State in areas without an MPO

CMAQ operates on a reimbursement schedule; funds are not distributed until work is completed.

Maximum reimbursement is $10 million for a single HSIP project; Minimum reimbursement for a single project is $100,000.

Federal share is typically 90%.

City, county or tribal government that assumes responsibility and accountability for the use and expenditure of federal-aid highway funds.

Call for projects are made everyone to two years; Cycle 10 Call for Projects closed on November 2, 2020.

Most recently, the transit operators in Modesto and Turlock received $5.3 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

Federal share is typically 80%.

Public agencies and transit operators in urban areas (more than 50,000 people)

Funds are appropriated annually; Funds are available the year appropriated plus five years.

Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Federal

U.S. DOT; $850 million Federal Highway (2018-2020) Administration

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Federal

U.S. DOT; Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration

$2.5 billion N/A annually (2016-2020). Total funding increased to $8 billion during the 6-year life of TEA-21.

Highway Safety Improvement Program Federal

U.S. DOT; $2.6 billion Federal Highway Administration and Caltrans – Division of Local Assistance

Urbanized Area Formula Grants Federal

U.S. DOT; Federal Transit Administration

$5.2 billion in 2019

– 23 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit Program Type

Program Sponsor

Total Program Fund Estimate

Typical Award Amount

Funding Matching Requirements

Elligible Entities

Program Schedule

$250 million will be available upon appropriation to the Congested Corridors Program annually.

No maximum or minimum.

None; leveraged funds Agencies that implement are desirable. transportation improvements as part of comprehensive corridor planning.

The 2020 program will fund projects for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023; Applications were due on July 17, 2020.

$216 million for FY 2020-21 through 2022-23

N/A

1-to-1 match for both Formulaic and Competitive Program.

Agencies that have passed a sales tax measure, developer fee, or other transportation free for the purposes of improving mobility.

2020 Applications were due June 2020; new Cycles will be programmed every two years.

The minimum award is $50,000. There is no maximum amount.

The Commission does Local, regional, or state agencies, not require a funding as well as transit agencies, match for ATP. tribal governments, public land agencies, and private non-profit organizations. Eligible projects include infrastructure projects, plans, and non-infrastructure projects related to active transportation.

Applications for Cycle 5 were due on Sept 15, 2020

Solutions for Congested Corridors State

California Transportation Commission

Local Partnership Program State

California Transportation Commission

Active Transportation Program State

California $250 million Transportation available for 2021 Commission and ATP Cycle 5 Caltrans

Clean Mobility Voucher Program State

California Air $20 million Resources Board

Up to $1 million CARB Contribution: $20,000,000 (first round) Matching Funds: $820,000 Project Total: $20,820,000

Applicants must operate projects for four years. Eligible applicants are public agencies, non-profit organizations, and tribal authorities.

First round applications were approved in early 2020; second round yet to be determined.

$230,000

No matching requirement.

Public entities: non-profits must be sponsored by a public agency and cannot be funded directly.

The Federal Fiscal Year 2022 application period is open until January 31, 2021.

$50,000 to $700,000

11.47% for Competitive, Formula, and SP – Transit; 20% for Strategic Partnerships

Competitive: MPOs, RTPAs, transit Applications are agencies, cities and counties, due January 2021. Native American Tribal Govts, etc.; Formula: MPOs only; Strategic Partnerships: MPOs and RTPAs, with transit, cities, counties, universities, CBOs eligible as sub applicants; Strategic Partnerships – Transit: MPOs, RTPAs as leads, with transit, cities, counties, universities, CBOs eligible as sub applicants.

OTS Grants State

Office of Traffic Safety

$94 million (400 grants)

Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants State

California Dept. of Transportation in partnership with U.S. DOT, U.S. EPA, and HUD.

$34 million

– 24 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit Program Type

Program Sponsor

Total Program Fund Estimate

Typical Award Amount

Funding Matching Requirements

Elligible Entities

Program Schedule

N/A

Implementation: Applicants must contribute a minimum of 20% of the project cost. Planning: No minimum contribution required.

Applicant proposals must include partnerships between CBOS, local governments, and community partners. Eligible lead applicants include cities, counties, or nonprofits.

Applications for pilot program were approved in mid- 2020.

Between $1 million and $30 million.

City, county, transit agency, RTPA, Applications are Project must have JPA, school district, developer, due February enough committed additional funding at university, or Native American Tribe. 2021. time of application that is 90% of the following formula: (AHSC funds requested + Enforceable Funding Commitments (EFCs) – Deferred Costs) / (Total Development Cost – Deferred Costs)

Sustainable Transportation Equity Project State

California Air $19.5 million Resources Board available for STEP grants ($1.75M for planning and a capacity building, $17.75M for implementation)

Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities State

California $400 million Strategic Growth Council and implemented by the California Department of Housing and Community Development

Local Transportation Fees – Measure L Regional Local and transportation Local authority

Bicycle improvements account for 5% of Measure L revenues, approx. $48 million over 25 years.

Development Impact Fees Local

Local planning department

State Gas Tax State/ Local

Local transportation authority

– 25 –

3 INNOVATIVE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Innovative Active Transportation Programming

Introduction Public engagement is foundational to the success of any programmatic effort. During Walk and Roll Stanislaus, the project team led innovative outreach efforts to connect with the public and build community capacity.1 Engagement activities include open street events, social media and advertising campaigns, and on-the-ground interactive activities. The following section highlights some of the inspiring examples of public engagement carried out by the project team and other MPOs, cities, and other nationwide agencies/organizations.

Campaign Goals, Strategies, and Tactics Community Engagement

Education

Messaging and Image

Encouragement

Community Capacity Building

Events and Programs Community Story Telling Open Streets Poster Contests Scavenger Hunts Bicycle Safety Training Online Tools, Media, and Video Interactive Mapping Tools Videos Blogs/newsletters Social Media Media Advertising 1

Community capacity is about empowering the local community through knowledge sharing, skill development, communication tools, and partnerships.

– 28 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Community Engagement Community engagement can take many shapes. Based on the International Association for Public Participation’s (IAP2’s) spectrum of public participation, consider whether the campaign’s community engagement goals are to inform, educate, consult, or involve community members in efforts to promote pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Engagement can focus on stakeholders internal to agencies, partner agencies, or community members, including events, projects, programming, or advisory committees. Community engagement is most effective when it is rooted in and resonant with personal experience. Community storytelling can help ground technical principles in personal stories and anecdotes. It can encourage empathy through to combat perceptions about whose “fault” safety challenges are. Interactive mapping tools and surveys, either online or in-person, can help identify locations where road safety is a key concern. A mix of qualitative and quantitative data can illuminate how experiences differ based upon key characteristics (e.g., age, race, gender, zip code).

Youth learn about safe street design at a pop-up event in Los Angeles, CA. Image Credit: Nelson\Nygaard

– 29 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Street Story by SafeTREC Created and managed by the University of California Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC), Street Story is a community engagement tool that lets users share their experiences about biking and walking safely in their community. The information shared is publicly accessible and anonymous. According to SafeTREC, the tool allows residents, community groups and agencies to collect information about transportation collisions, nearmisses, general hazards and safe locations to travel.1 SafeTREC conducts technical assistance with communities and organizations on using Street Story. Street Story is free to use and publicly accessible and will be an eligible source of crash data for all Active Transportation Program applications, per ATP Cycle 5 application instructions.2 Street Story data is collected through a web appliction and shared publicly via the Street Story website. Image Credit: Berkeley SafeTREC

https://safetrec.berkeley.edu/tools/street-story-platform-community-engagement

https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/local-assistance/documents/atp/cy5/atpcycle5appinstructions-r120200928.pdf

– 30 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Maptionnaire Maptionnaire is a community engagement tool designed to collect feedback from residents, stakeholder groups, and community members through map-based questionnaires. A benefit of the tool is that it integrates survey questions to locations on a map and in a study area. The interface allows for pictures and videos to be integrated into survey questions, as well as links to websites and other supplemental material. Like Street Story, participants draw points, lines, and polygons to identify locations, call out issues, and offer solutions. In Denver, Maptionnaire was used as part of the Denver Moves: Transit initiative which identified, evaluated, and prioritized the future location of major transit capital investments based on input from the public. Questions included participants selecting their priority corridors, corridors, travel preferences, and opportunities to share qualitative feedback.

Maptionnaire was used as part of the Denver Moves: Transit initiative to solicit feedback from community members about proposed improvements. Image Credit: Denver Moves

– 31 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Pedal to Porch Pedal to Porch3 is a community-led program in Detroit, Michigan, started by Cornetta Lane in 2014. The initiative’s intent is to create more community-oriented places through the power of storytelling. Community members are invited to participate through social media and door-to-door canvasing to include those that are not digitally connected. Presenters share personal stories related to something that happened at their home, along their street, or in the neighborhood more broadly. The environment fosters empathy and learning, and ultimately brings people together, particularly during challenging times. The Pedal to Porch team offers support to those interested in hosting an event. Support services include the Pedal to Porch Planning Guide, a facilitated 2-hour storytelling workshop, access to digital materials such as sample emails, social media templates, and flyers. If additional support is needed, staff can co-facilitate and or plan the entirety of the event. In Detroit, MI, Pedal to Porch combines bike safety and advocacy with the power of community storytelling. Image Credit: Pedal to Porch via pedaltoporch.org

https://www.pedaltoporch.org/

– 32 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Poster Contests Poster contests to promote active transportation are often a part of Safe Routes to School programs. Students submit a drawing of their walking or biking route to school, illustrating how walking and bicycling makes them feel. Students’ creativity often brings empowering messages and designs to be shared with the school and the local community. Poster contests can include a prize component, awarded to one student or all participating students. Consider prizes such as bicycle safety gear such as helmets, bicycle lights, or other items.

Each year in Minnesota, Safe Routes to School holds a poster contest as part of Bike to School Day. Image Credit: Minnesota Safe Routes to School

– 33 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Open Streets Events Open Streets events temporarily open streets to people by closing them to vehicles. Open Streets events are free, regularly occurring programs that offer communities the opportunity to experience their city streets in a new way. Events extend for several blocks or miles of roadways. They often have activity centers or nodes along the route to feature local businesses, organizations, civic assets, arts and crafts, and public health and road safety programming (e.g., bike tune-ups, helmet fittings, health screenings). Events are completely free and open to people of all ages and abilities. Programming can encourage people that participate in Open Streets events to try walking or biking to other destinations throughout their weekly routines. Open streets events, like this one in Salt Lake City, UT, temporarily close streets to vehicular traffic and to create public spaces with activities, live music, food, health services, and other attractions. Image Credit: Salt Lake City via SLC.gov

– 34 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Scavenger Hunts Scavenger hunts are interactive events to promote road safety education and physical activity in a virtual and socially distanced setting. Events can be designed for families and people of all ages and encourage participants to walk or bike to locate specific street design elements, traffic safety features, civic assets, or public art in their communities. Participants can scan QR codes in public places to answer trivia questions or survey questions about proposed safety improvements, or they can take and share pictures on social media for chances to win prizes.

El Grupo, a non-profit organization in Tuscon, AZ that supports youth bicycling, hosts a yearly bicycle scavenger hunt and fundraiser. Image Credits: The Damion Alexander Team via Facebook

– 35 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Case Study: Walk and Roll Stanislaus Scavenger Hunt The Walk and Roll Stanislaus Scavenger Hunt took place from August through September 2020. StanCOG partnered with municipalities throughout the county to identify public parks and locations to place branded yard signs for the greatest visibility. The event was promoted by email, and social media content and graphics were shared with project partners to streamline promotion through their respective communication channels.

StanCOG awarded prizes to scavenger hunt participants for finding listed items while walking and biking in their community. Participants were encouraged to share scavenger hunt pictures via social media. Image Credit: StanCOG

– 36 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Parklets Parklets convert curbside parking spaces into mini parks. Often, parklets are created through a partnership with the local jurisdiction and a private entity, such as the adjacent business or neighborhood association. Parklets can be distinctive in their character and often incorporate design characteristics such as bike racks, seating, and green space. Cities like San Francisco have a formal program managed by a municipal department, like the Public Works department. Entities complete an online application to participate. Like Park[ing] Day, Parklets challenge the notion that streets are only for cars.

Park[ing] Days Park[ing] Day started in 2005 in San Francisco, California. The premise is to create a temporary park in a parking spot. Rebar, an urban design studio known for infusing activism into street design, wanted to challenge the practice of prioritizing vehicles over other transportation modes, as well as other activities, such as spending time in a park. Park[ing] Day has become a worldwide movement. It has resulted in more permanent changes to urban spaces, such as the allowance for parklets – semi-permanent parks that convert curbside parking spaces into community spaces. Each year, parking spaces in cities across whte world are temporarily converted to parklets and miniature public spaces. Image Credit: Flickr user Esteban

– 37 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Education Interactive educational activities can make learning more exciting and accessible to a broader audience. For example, games, creative messaging, and colorful imagery show positive biking/ walking environments can foster a deeper understanding of the rationale for street design elements and traffic laws. Educational strategies can also emphasize Safe Systems principles to explain how safe street design elements can help rebalance ownership of the road among people that walk, bike, and/or drive.

Online Quiz An online quiz is a simple way to engage an audience and gauge interest and understanding of a particular topic. For example: a Road Rules Quiz was a component of StanCOG’s Walk & Roll Stanislaus Virtual Open Streets Events held online. The Road Rules Quiz was posted on StanCOG’s Walk & Roll Stanislaus website, where visitors were invited to test their knowledge on traffic safety and the rules of the road based on the California Vehicle Code. Participation in the quiz earned the participant a downloadable Road Ruler Badge.

The web-based Walk and Roll Stanislaus road rules quiz engaged and educated community members about California road safety rules. Image Credit: StanCOG

– 38 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Street Design Toolkit A street design toolkit is a participatory exercise in which community members learn about street design features and decide which elements best support their needs. This type of activity lets people take street design into their own hands and make their own evaluation about the tradeoffs between different options. Elements may include, but are not limited to, one-way or two-way travel lanes, on-street parking, center turn-lanes, bicycle lanes, sidewalk buffers, trees, and pedestrian or transit amenities like benches or bus shelters. The activity can be adapted for people of all ages.

Road User Simulations Road safety is about empathy. Like anything, when given the opportunity to understand others’ perspectives and challenges, there is a tendency to be more aware and change behavior over time. Road user simulations build understanding for other road users and take the form of drunk and distracted driving simulations, and role playing.

Road user simulations, like this one in New York City, foster empathy between different types of road users. Image Credit: Street Lab

– 39 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Messaging and Images Beyond interactive educational tools, like the examples mentioned above, messaging through social media, websites, videos, and advertising campaigns, are avenues to reinforce safety massaging. Digital messaging is a useful tool to elevate community stories, broaden and change perceptions, and advocate for traffic safety concepts through human experience. It is recommended that video content be concise, and images or animations are simple, so takeaways are accessible to all audiences.

Website Promotion A website is a source for information about a project or program and provides a channel of communication between the project team and the community. Effective promotion is necessary to ensure that the target audience knows about the website and can get the information they need to get involved. A promotion strategy should include a mix of sources to expand awareness such as: coordination with local stakeholders who have existing contacts with people in the community; posters, flyers, and yard signs distributed in high traffic areas; an advertising campaign (see below for more information); and a social media campaign (see below for more information). Promotional materials should aim to get people excited about the project and website by including engaging calls to action. Materials should also include a clear and easy way to access the website, such as clickable links on digital materials and large, easyto-read links or scannable QR codes on analog materials.

Advertising Campaign An advertising campaign is a strategy that raises project awareness and can be designed to communicate within specific or broad markets. An effective campaign uses a variety of mediums to reach the maximum number of people, such as print and digital newspaper and magazine advertisements, billboards, transit wraps and on-board digital displays, television advertisements, radio and podcasts advertisements, and video advertisements on online platforms. These mediums and the tone of the advertisements should be tailored to the target audience, and consider the specific needs and behaviors of the population in the study area.

– 40 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Case Study: Walk and Roll Stanislaus Advertising Campaign The Walk and Roll Stanislaus advertising campaign aimed to increase awareness and influence travel behavior surrounding active transportation by addressing the behavior of all residents biking, walking, or driving in the County. The campaign was designed to reach a wide audience to raise community awareness overall and encourage active participation. The campaign targeted the nine incorporated cities and Stanislaus County and considered the significant portion of the population that speaks Spanish when designing the outreach strategy. Print and digital advertisements included ads in The Modesto Bee and the Spanish-language newspaper, Vida en el Valle. Radio advertisements were on Spotify, Capital Public Radio Modesto, and iHeartRadio. The Campaign was promoted on billboards and bus wraps, and onboard digital displays. Video advertisements appeared on Facebook and YouTube, and posters and flyers were distributed to local stakeholder groups.

– 41 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Encouragement Interactive experiences, advertisements, and other forms of social media marketing can encourage behavior change to get more people walking and biking in their communities. Strategies should encourage people who walk or bike to share personal experiences about the benefits of these travel modes, while being careful to avoid municipal “shaming,” and use social media to increase community feelings of pride and ownership of infrastructure.

Walk [Your City] Walk [Your City] is a new organization that makes wayfinding signs. Wayfinding signs help pedestrians to navigate local streets safely. The program, which is currently in Beta, creates interactive, simple to read characters to share distance in minutes between two locations. The sign includes a QR code for street-level guidance. Walk [Your City] is an interactive tool that advocates for multi-modal streets, encourages “mode swapping’ to decrease vehicle use, and as shared on their website, “is a behavioral nudge to make healthier transportation choices.

Volunteers in Santa Fe, NM install wayfinding signs to encourage walking and biking. Image Credit: Walk [Your City] via walkyourcity.org

– 42 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Social Media Campaign Like with an advertising campaign (see above), a social media campaign is a way to raise project awareness and can be designed to communicate with target audiences. The benefits of a social media campaign are two-fold: first, it can help achieve website promotion goals through easy-to-share, and often free, content, and second, it can get people excited about sharing their experiences and encouraging others to do the same. An effective social media campaign utilizes a variety of social media platforms to reach different audiences, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Pinterest. Community partners with established local social media followers can be integral to distributing content to your target audience and encouraging engagement.

Community Capacity Building Capacity building is a term used to describe the actions taken to equip organizations with the necessary knowledge and resources to achieve their mission. Capacity building can empower residents, youth, and community leaders to grow their skills and knowledge about pedestrian and bicycling safety and pass on their expertise to others. It can prepare people to become advocates and agents of change to improve their communities and seek out additional educational or funding resources to promote road safety.

Train-the-Trainer Train-the-Trainer is a teaching framework that gives community members tools to become experts and train other people in a new skill. Local trainers have the benefit of knowing and being able to relate to their neighbors. This is a helpful education process in active transportation and road safety, because people are more likely to change their behavior when someone they know in their local community is the advocate. Train-the-trainer workshops can cover a range of topics including general road safety, bicycle road rules, and maintenance. Examples of train-the-trainer activities include the League of American Bicyclist’s instructor certification process, which includes both a test and a three-day, in-person and on-bike seminar. Youth Educational Sports, Inc. enrolls local volunteers in its Level 4 section, which is an online, self-paced program that teaches participants how to introduce bicycling skills to elementary school-aged students. It includes a step-by-step curriculum featuring several core competencies that new bicyclists must develop, as well as specialized instructions for students with disabilities. – 43 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Bicycling Instructor Certification The League of American Bicyclist’s (LAB) League Cycling Instructors can be leveraged to increase community bicycling capacity through the bicycling skills courses they are permitted to teach. They can also act as advocates and subject matter experts for bicycling safety. To earn the League Cycling Instructor certification, candidates must be experienced cyclists and must complete two prerequisite online courses covering Smart Cycling and Traffic Skills 101. The candidate must then attend a three-day, in-class and on-bike seminar over the course of a long weekend. Completing the course certifies instructors to lead Smart Cycling, Group Riding, Bicycling 123 Youth, and Bicycle Friendly Driver programs, which are available to community members on an enrollment basis, and include a variety of bicycling skills appropriate for all ages and abilities.

The League of American Bicyclists provides training, certification, and other resources for bicycling instructors. Image Credit: League of American Bicyclists via BikeLeague.org

– 44 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Earn-A-Bike Program Earn-A-Bike programs are outreach courses that teach kids and adults how to ride a bicycle, as well as bicycle mechanics and repair, while providing opportunities for participants to earn or win donated gear and bikes. Earn-a-Bike programs are typically run by non-profit organizations and local jurisdictions.

Case Study: Rich City Rides Earn-A-Bike Program Rich City Rides, a not-for-profit bicycle advocacy organization in Richmond, CA, offers a Youth Earn-A-Bike Apprentice program that teaches local youth to work on team projects, develop community relationships, and engage their families. The organization holds classes every week that teach bicycle repair, teamwork, and communication skills. Additional events include wellness rides and family workshops. Through participation in the program, youth can earn their own bicycle, along with a helmet, lights, and lock, which build safe riding habits.

In Richmond, CA, youth who participate in bike repair classes held by Rich City Rides can earn a bicycle as well as a helmet, bike lock, and bike lights. Image Credit: Rich City Rides

– 45 –

4 INFORMATION GATHERING AND DATA ANALYSIS

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Information Gathering and Data Analysis

The Importance of Data Data is an important tool in the toolkit for active transportation decision-making. Data can be analyzed to learn more about the who, what, where, when, how and why of travel behavior and transportation safety. Additionally, data visualization tools such as charts, figures, and maps can be used to summarize complex data and the relationships between variables. Data is also important as an evaluation tool, to measure the intended and unintended impacts of programs and policies over time and progress on performance measures related to active transportation and safety. The information obtained through data gathering serves as a valuable resource for guiding decisions regarding the allocation and distribution of resources to support active transportation and safety. Some types and sources of data related to active transportation and safety include:

Demographics What are the population characteristics of the community? Age, race and ethnicity, household income, population distribution and density, employment, and school attendance are characteristics typically examined. The U.S. Census is a primary source of this information and can be examined down to the census tract, a relatively small level geography.

Travel Behaviors (travel modes, trip characteristics such as trip frequency, purpose, time of day, passengers) What modes of transportation are people using within the community and the region, and what are the characteristics of the trips - how often, for what purpose, what time of day and is the traveler alone or with passengers? Travel behavior data helps us understand people’s transportation needs and when and where active transportation trips are occurring or could occur in the course of a person’s travel. There is not one standard data source for travel behavior information across all communities. The Census contains a journey to work question, but that only provides information on commute travel for the working population. The National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) is a rich dataset of travel behavior data, but it does not provide robust data at the local level. Conducted approximately every 5-7 years, the last survey was completed in 2017. Local or regional surveys or travel diaries may be used to gather more local data. Increasingly, travel behavior datasets from private companies, such as Streetlight, Airsage, Wejo,

– 48 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Teralytics, or Replica are being used to supplement public data sources. However, unlike other data sources mentioned in this section, there is typically a fee associated with the private datasets based on factors such as the time period, sample size, and the geographic scale of the data query.

Transportation Infrastructure and Land Use What are the physical characteristics of the transportation infrastructure and land uses in your community? How can the transportation system help them get there efficiently and safely via using a variety of modes? This data is typically found in GIS datasets managed by state, regional, and local agencies and can help us recognize the important relationship between transportation and land use—people have places they need to go and policies and programming related to transportation infrastructure and land use can help or hinder the public’s ability to efficiently use multimodal travel for their trip purposes.

Map of existing and proposed bicycle infrastructure in Stanislaus County, via the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign Existing Conditions Report.

– 49 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Traffic Volumes/Counts How many travelers are using the roads, routes, lanes, paths, and sidewalks of the community? Average Daily Traffic (ADT) counts are not completed on a regular basis for most transportation facilities within communities. Counts of users of roads and dedicated bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure are most often collected on a project-specific basis. Strava Metro recently made their database of bicycle trips and routes free for public use at an aggregated level. However, this data is typically not representative of the whole bicycling community. Traffic volume is another variable for which agencies are using private datasets, if funding is available.

Crash Statistics What are the characteristics of crashes occurring within the community? Who is involved (travel mode and traveler demographics), where do they occur, when do they occur and what were the parties involved doing before and at the time of the crash? Police-reported crash data for most California jurisdictions are collected in a shared database called the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). UC Berkeley SafeTREC developed a free, publicly accessible geocoded database of the SWITRS data called Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), which is used throughout the state of California for crash analysis. SafeTREC has also created supporting analysis tools such as the Safe Routes to School Map Viewer, ATP Map & Summaries, and the California Safety PM Target Setting Support Tool that can assist agencies with grant applications from funding sources such as the Active Transportation Program and the Highway Safety Improvement Program. Annual bicycle and pedestrian crash victims by age in Stanislaus County, via the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign Existing Conditions Report.

– 50 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Map of density of crashes resulting in pedestrian or bicyclists injury or death in Stanislaus County, via the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign Existing Conditions Report.

Health What are the overall and population-specific health behaviors and outcomes in the community, such as fatal and severe injuries due to traffic crashes, levels of physical activity, rates of chronic disease, levels of exposure to air, water and noise pollution, access to healthcare, healthy food, and park and open space? Several data sources exist for health behaviors, indicators and outcomes such as the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), Healthy Places Index (HPI), and CalEnviroScreen 3.0. The latter two spatially display health indicators from multiple data sources. Injury data can be spatially displayed using TIMS. Health data is available at different levels of geography.

– 51 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Collecting Primary Data Data may not be fully representative of a community due to inherent data collection methods, scale, or time period. For example, crash data represents an event that has occurred at a point-in-time and does not note near-misses. Primary data collection methods such as focus groups, community meetings, surveys, and crowdsourced mapping activities are techniques that collect more detailed information about a community’s lived experiences. UC Berkeley SafeTREC’s Street Story, described earlier, is one such tool that focuses on spatially capturing the community’s transportation safety experience. Street Story is a recognized supplemental data source for the Caltrans Active Transportation Program funds.

Fact Sheets Fact sheets can be used to summarize complex ideas or data analysis to engage a target audience. Fact sheets are typically one-page documents that present information clearly and succinctly using important statistics, key takeaways, and eye-catching visuals. The visuals can often include infographics that represent data in an easy-to-read format. Fact sheets should be developed with a target audience in mind, such as decisionmakers, community stakeholders, or the public. The document should be formatted so it can be shared both digitally and in print.

Example of a graphics-rich fact sheet. Image Credit: Safe Routes to School via saferoutespartnership.org

Existing Conditions Reports Existing Conditions Reports are foundational to an outreach effort because it is essential that a project team understands local and regional context. For example, travel behavior, socioeconomic composition, and demographics. However, while an existing conditions report is important background information, it should not dictate how to engage with a community. Often, data used in exciting conditions reports are from the U.S. Census and broad data sources that do not have granular information about specific characteristics of a place and its people. Existing conditions reports are a part of the puzzle and need to be paired with other efforts, including focus groups and surveys. – 52 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Case Study: Safe and Active Travel in Stanislaus County Survey The Walk and Roll Stanislaus Survey was designed to measure attitudes, intentions, and behaviors on topics such as residents’ current travel behavior patterns and interest in active transportation; understanding of the laws related to motor vehicles, and bicycle and pedestrian mobility and safety; and attitudes toward walking and bicycling behavior. It is notoriously challenging to generate high levels of participation on surveys; however, they can yield useful current information from communities. It is important to develop a survey in the predominant languages represented in the community (English and Spanish in Stanislaus County) and distribute it via multiple methods to ensure increased accessibility, reach, and participation. The Safe and Active Travel in Stanislaus County Survey was available online via Survey Monkey and in print. Supporting materials such as flyers and business cards were created to promote the survey and were distributed to community partners along with print copies of the survey.

Business cards, flyers, and a project website were used to promote the Safe and Active Travel in Stanislaus County survey. Image Credit: StanCOG

– 53 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Convening Decision-Makers For bicyclist and pedestrian safety projects to succeed, it is critical to identify and engage key decision-makers throughout the planning process. Getting decision-makers in the room and involved in conversations is invaluable to building relationships and obtaining buy-in on initiatives. These conversations allow for knowledge sharing and identification of key issues, and help find common ground and consensus.

Vision Zero Task Forces Vision Zero Task Forces are committees that oversee the implementation of Vision Zero Action Plans – efforts to increase street safety and eliminate fatalities for all road users. Like other task forces and project advisory committees, members on a Vision Zero Task Force need to be diverse to represent various perspectives and challenges. The group holds public agencies and government officials accountable, facilitates dialogue between different stakeholder and community groups, and advocates for tools and resources to ensure that goals are exceeded.

A Vision Zero Task Force typically includes representatives from a variety of city departments and community organizations. Image Credit: San Francisco Vision Zero via Facebook

– 54 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

Conferences and Summits Events like conferences and summits are opportunities for community members, stakeholders, and decision-makers to come together to discuss goals and objectives and turn concepts into action items and policies. Events often include keynote speakers and experts to share best practices, current research, and useful tools. Experts must be either local or professionally connected to the jurisdiction to understand and empathize with a community’s unique needs and challenges. Conferences and summits, whether in-person or virtual, need to be recorded and archived so those unable to attend can participate on their own time. Moreover, the project team is advised to connect with attendees and fulfill requests for accessible and translated material.

Case Study: Stanislaus County Regional Active Transportation Safety Summit Keynote Speaker The Regional Active Transportation Rachel Carpenter | Chief Safety Officer, Caltrans Safety Summit brought together active transportation advocates, community groups, business leaders, and decision-makers in an online conference format to share ideas on how to make the regions more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly. The Summit was hosted Panelists virtually and featured a keynote presentation by Rachel Carpenter, Chief Safety Officer at Caltrans, on the recent changes in bicycle and pedestrian planning in California. Her keynote was followed by a panel of Stanislaus County speakers, featuring Rena Bryant from Doctors Medical Center and Safe Kids Stanislaus, Tiffany Rodriguez from the City of Patterson, and Lourdes Perez from Public Health Advocates. They presented on local initiatives related to road safety, road improvements in Stanislaus County, and health and transportation equity initiatives, respectively. Attendees participated in question-and-answer sessions with the summit speakers and were guided to think about the next steps for transportation safety in Stanislaus County.

– 55 –

StanCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Campaign | Active Transportation Toolkit

The Active Transportation Toolkit

Conclusion The Walk and Roll Stanislaus Advertising Campaign tag line “We’re all on this road together” took on special meaning in 2020. COVID-19 required adaptation of program delivery, which highlights the importance of collaboration and community in pedestrian and bicycle safety and promotion. The Campaign’s goals were to to increase awareness, empathy, and actions towards active transportation and to improve road safety and walking and bicycling rates for all. The Toolkit features various strategies and resources to achieve these goals and affect change at the individual, community and institutional levels. However, the critical piece of that achievement puzzle are the professionals and community advocates working to promote active transportation and safety across the Stanislaus region. We hope this is a helpful resource, and we thank them for their dedication to make the County’s transportation resources safe, accessible and healthy for all.

– 56 –