Davis transportation commission begins update of circulation element, debates funding and design priorities

Consultants and commissioners on the Davis Transportation Commission opened a wide-ranging review of the circulation element of the city's general plan at a Monday evening meeting in October, focusing on gaps between policy statements and implementation and on how the plan should respond to new state rules and local trends.

"Every city and county in the state of California is required to have and regularly update their general plans," said Eric Kerikovich, principal with Ramey and Associates, the lead consultant on the update, as he laid out the process and the circulation chapter's role in linking land use with transportation. The presentation summarized existing conditions, demographic trends and mobility data and highlighted topics that were not well addressed in the 2013 element.

Commissioners and staff spent the bulk of the discussion deciding where the commission should focus. Several members pressed for more specific, implementable language. Commissioner Mark (last name on file with the commission) read a proposed guiding principle into the record: "When designing our neighborhoods and community, no single mode of transportation shall be primary," arguing that that kind of clear principle could change project outcomes if it were enforced in subsequent design decisions.

Other commissioners cautioned that overly specific policies can limit city flexibility. Planning staff and consultants said the general plan provides the policy foundation that staff uses in development review and CEQA analyses. "We use it all the time to point to, here's where the city council said we should be doing this," a planning staff member said.

Several recurring themes emerged:

- Funding and implementation: Commissioners said many policies in prior plans were not implemented because of insufficient funding. Suggestions included explicit consideration of parking pricing, citywide revenue measures and development fees as options to pay for maintenance and protected infrastructure. One commissioner urged the commission to recommend concrete funding options rather than general language to "explore other sources."

- Safety and protected infrastructure: Multiple members urged stronger commitments to protected bicycle lanes and intersection design improvements to reduce collisions and make active travel more attractive for children and older residents. Commissioners said physical separation and continuous facilities are essential for safety and mode shift.

- State policy and measurement: Consultants highlighted a state-level shift from level-of-service metrics toward vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as the primary environmental/transportation outcome. Commissioners discussed how to translate that change into local policies and separate local-trip strategies (where the city has more control) from regional VMT drivers such as commuting to jobs outside Davis.

- Data gaps and priorities: Staff warned that some mode-share figures come from mixed sources and that the city lacks up-to-date local data in some areas; the commission encouraged more targeted data collection in upcoming phases.

Staff announced near-term next steps: outreach and community workshops tied to both the circulation update and a grant-funded active-transportation plan (staff said a notice-to-proceed is expected November 17), and formation of subcommittees to continue detailed review with meetings beginning in January. The commission did not take final policy votes during the meeting; staff said the current session was intended to confirm issues and identify strategies for follow-up work.

The commission approved routine procedural items (agenda and minutes) and adjourned after the discussion. Future agendas will return to the circulation element with maps, draft language and opportunities for motions and formal recommendations to the city council.