On September 30, 2008 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 1358, The California Complete Streets Act. AB 1358 impacts local general plans by requiring local general plan circulation element updates "to plan for a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of the streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel in a manner that is suitable to the rural, suburban, or urban context of the general plan."
The change in guidelines means that cities and counties cannot ignore complete streets elements such as bicycle, pedestrian, disabled, and transit facilities when updating their general plans. In response, OPR has developed the Update to the General Plan Guidelines: Complete Streets and the Circulation Element.
Read the draft document at http://www.opr.ca.gov/
The draft of the Update to the California General Plan Guidelines: Complete Streets and the Circulation Element is available to the public for a 30-day review comment period. The public review comment period will begin October 20, 2010 and conclude November 19, 2010.
Please address all comments and questions on this draft guidance document to complete.streets@opr.ca.gov
Comments
javaplace
October 12, 2011 - 2:35pm
Permalink
OK, Colin - have you kept us
OK, Colin - have you kept us apprised on this law....any developments to report? Sorry - you may have posted info but I missed it.
I see Gary Richards did a piece on it recently:
Complete Streets Arrives In Bay Area
javaplace
November 17, 2011 - 6:08am
Permalink
Colin: can you point to
Colin: can you point to specific streetscape improvements done by cities to comply with complete streets? I think we all need to be watchdogs for our cities - meaning to watch that our city's transpo and planning divisions comply with existing local and state regulations and laws. For example, all this talk of bike plans - hogwash! We have the plans "on the books" already - for some cities, at least - but they aren't necessarily being implemented - bike parking is a great example.
colin
November 17, 2011 - 12:21pm
Permalink
Hi Irvin, Coincidentally
Hi Irvin,
Coincidentally enough, I just attended a workshop where Andy Hamilton of the National Complete Streets Coalition gave a presentation. Their case studies can be found at http://www.completestreets.org/complete-streets-fundamentals/factsheets/.... Andy provided the Encinitas Circulation Element as a good example. There have been some other promising developments in California lately. For example: San Francisco has eliminated Level of Service considerations for projects. Now, instead of asking how fast cars can move through an area, developers are asked how many automobile trips will be generated by their project. More=bad.
I can also tell you that SVBC, alongside the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition, is working to get more teeth in the Complete Streets requirement in the upcoming Plan Bay Area, administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. As you well know, PBA is going to combine transportation and land use planning in the nine county Bay Area, and we want to make sure that new development, even if it is touted as high-density and transit-oriented, is fully in line with Complete Streets guidelines. We don't have a magic wand, though, and it will take time to get planners and engineers to fully accept their new charge. We're doing our best and, as always, encourage anyone reading this to get involved, attend city council and planning commission meetings, and insist that your town embrace streets that work for all users.
Add new comment