The compounding effects of the pandemic stay-home orders and the drastically reduced revenues have had an enormous effect on the legislative agenda and schedule in Sacramento. Though the State Senate and State Assembly are starting to reconvene, lawmakers are drastically cutting back on the bills they have introduced and sponsored, as very little legislation not directly tied to the emergency is being pursued.
We co-sponsored SB 760 under author Senator Wiener, which would have required the State Highway Operations and Protection Program (SHOPP) implement Complete Streets near critical locations. As we reported in January, it was scaled back due to concerns over the effort to repeal last year’s increase in the Gas Tax. While we plan to reintroduce a bill with similar objectives next session, Sen.
On January 26, 2017, Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation announced the release of the city’s first Vision Zero Action Plan and Safety Study. The plan outlines goals to reduce fatalities by 20 percent by the end of 2017 leading to the ultimate goal of zero traffic deaths by 2025 (hence the name of the campaign ‘Vision Zero’).
As our new publication Vision Zero and Safe Routes to School: Partners in Safety makes clear, when a community takes a Vision Zero pledge to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries, there is an opportunity for Safe Routes to School advocates to take their efforts to the next level. Vision Zero action plans can lead to a greater community focus on and funding towards making the streets safer for kids and families.
In May, a series of incomprehensible tragedies happened in the City of Portland and the surrounding region – vehicles hitting, hurting, maiming and killing people walking and riding bicycles. One crash after another.
Congressional supporters have introduced two new pieces of legislation to advance funding and safety for bicycling and walking. The Safe Routes Partnership is pleased to support both bills.
