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Thousand Oaks staff outline mobility element actions: LRSP update, Vision Zero, VMT guidance; no new citywide dedicated funding
Summary
Ian Holt, senior planner for the city's Community Development Department, presented an overview of the General Plan's mobility element Oct. 22 and the implementation actions staff will pursue to advance multimodal safety and connectivity.
Ian Holt, senior planner in the Community Development Department, briefed the Traffic and Transportation Advisory Commission Oct. 22 on the mobility element of the city's General Plan, adopted by City Council in December 2023.
Holt said the mobility element lays out goals and policies to advance a multimodal transportation system that is "safe for travelers of all ages and abilities" and described an implementation chapter organized into short-term (1—3 years), medium-term (4—7 years) and long-term (7+ years) actions.
Key implementation items Holt highlighted include updating the Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) on a five-year cycle, developing a Vision Zero policy and action plan to identify a High Injury Network, preparing complete-streets guidelines, maintaining and updating the Active Transportation Plan, revising the traffic-impact mitigation fee schedule, developing local VMT (Vehicle Miles Traveled) analysis guidance consistent with CEQA requirements, supporting micromobility, and updating the ADA transition plan.
Commissioners asked detailed questions. Commissioner Guerrero sought clarification on funding sources for sidewalks and bicycle improvements; Holt replied that there is no dedicated city funding stream for new sidewalks or bikeways and that projects are typically advanced by identifying them in the LRSP/ATP and applying for state and federal grants. "A lot of these funds require 20% or 30% local money," he said, adding that once grant awards are secured staff will request matching city funds at City Council.
On vehicle miles traveled, staff said Thousand Oaks has used VMT since those CEQA changes took effect and that the city relies on consultants for many VMT analyses using regional models maintained by the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC). Holt said the mobility element implementation includes an action (MA7) to develop a more robust staff-usable policy and possibly a calculator, and that staff plans to bring a draft for commission review.
Commissioners asked that the city provide clearer tracking of progress; staff said an annual report is provided to City Council before April 1 and commissioners suggested a public dashboard for transparency. Commissioners also raised pedestrian safety tied to recent loss of crossing guards; staff noted quarterly coordination with the school district and that several infrastructure improvements adjacent to schools are underway.
No commission action was required; both reports were information items. Staff indicated the LRSP is due for reevaluation next year (2026) and that the ADA transition plan remains an ongoing, multi-year effort tied to the biennial paving program.
