Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Commission reviews SAC ADAPT draft; public comment period open through Feb. 12
Loading...
Summary
City staff presented SAC ADAPT, a Caltrans-funded transportation adaptation plan focused on extreme heat, storms/flooding, wind and smoke. The commission discussed evacuation-route considerations, transit resilience partnerships, and outreach for phase 3; the public draft is open for comment through Feb. 12.
Sarah Kolarik, a sustainability specialist with the Office of Climate Action and Sustainability, briefed the commission on the SAC ADAPT transportation infrastructure adaptation plan and initiated phase 3 public engagement. Kolarik said SAC ADAPT is funded by a Caltrans adaptation planning grant and seeks to analyze extreme heat, extreme storms (including flooding and high winds) and smoke/fire impacts to the city’s transportation assets and identify adaptation strategies and actions.
Kolarik summarized the plan’s scope and timeline: the project began August 2024, completed a vulnerability assessment and a risk assessment, and the public draft is now posted for comment. She said the plan includes 10 overarching strategies and 59 implementing actions across four hazard types and that staff are aligning the plan with previously adopted plans including the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan, the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, the Urban Forest Plan and the Streets for People active-transportation plan. “We are looking at extreme heat and extreme storms and thinking about how those impacts affect roadways, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and transit infrastructure,” Kolarik said.
Commissioners asked whether evacuation routes were evaluated and how the plan aligns with emergency-response needs. Kolarik said evacuation-route analysis is complex because potential evacuation routes vary by incident location; the risk assessment includes some analysis of roadways that connect critical facilities and have low redundancy, and staff intend to improve cross-document coordination and prioritization. Commissioners also asked about the city’s role supporting transit resilience; staff said the city can partner with SACRT on station and shelter improvements where appropriate but has limited regulatory authority over transit operators. Commissioners urged mobile-friendly outreach and noted equity concerns for residents who rely on mobile devices.
Kolarik said the public draft is available on the project website and the Conveyo platform and that comments will be accepted through Feb. 12; staff will incorporate feedback and bring a final plan to City Council in April to meet grant deadlines.
