Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Active Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rancho Cordova previews Active Transportation Plan draft; residents press for safer crossings and trail connections
Summary
City staff presented a draft Active Transportation Plan proposing tiered projects and policies to build an all‑ages walking and biking network. Residents urged easements to close trail gaps, undercrossing at White Rock Road, and space for safer e‑bike use; council asked staff to include metrics and return for adoption in March.
Rancho Cordova staff on Wednesday presented the public draft of the city's Active Transportation Master Plan, a multi‑year effort to update the bicycle and pedestrian master plans and identify priority projects to make walking, biking and rolling safer and more convenient.
Why it matters: The plan sets a 5–10 year list of priority projects and policies intended to create an all‑ages, all‑abilities network. It will guide grant applications and capital investments and is a foundation for applications to programs such as Caltrans and Safe Routes to Schools.
Drew Hart, principal transportation planner, summarized 18 months of community engagement and presented 38 policy and program recommendations and a set of Tier 1 projects that staff believe are deliverable in five to ten years. Examples highlighted included an undercrossing at the Folsom South Canal/White Rock Road crossing, separated bikeways upgrades on Kilgore Road, an extension of shared‑use paths on Zinfandel Drive and improvements to crossings near barriers such as rail lines and canals.
Public comments and council priorities
Three residents who spoke at public comment urged the city to secure easements across private property to close trail gaps, emphasized the safety needs on Rod Beaudry and called for off‑road facilities or a dedicated area for e‑bike riders to reduce dangerous behavior on sidewalks and paths. One resident cited prior easements granted in the 1970s and said $2.8 million was spent on the Rod Beaudry bike lanes; another asked for better wayfinding to help people navigate the trail network.
Council members stressed safety near schools and asked staff to prioritize separated facilities where feasible, be aggressive in seeking grants, and include metrics (for example, miles of bikeways built) in the final plan. Staff said the public draft will be available for comment and the public comment period runs for 30 days with a target return to council for adoption in March.
What's next: The public comment period will close (staff stated Feb. 20 as the cutoff) and staff will incorporate feedback into a final plan to bring back for adoption in March. Staff agreed to include data tracking and a potential dashboard showing project miles and funding progress.
