HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 6292Item #6292
CITY OF
PALO
ALTO
CITY OF PALO ALTO
MEMORANDUM
TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
AGENDA DATE: November 30, 2015 ID#: 6292
SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY TO
MAINTAIN THE CITY'S ELIGIBILITY FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
Based on comments received from the Planning and Transportation Commission on November
18, 2015, Exhibit A: COMPLETE STREETS POLICY OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO, which was attached
to Attachment A of the report, has been modified. Please find attached the revised version.
The phrase "cost effectively" has been inserted into Section B(1) of the policy and "City Council"
has been substituted for "Public Works Director or equivalent high level staff person" in Section
C(1) of the policy.
HILLA
Direct: r
JAMES KEENE
City Manager
Attachment: Exhibit A: COMPLETE STREETS POLICY OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
NOT YET APPROVED
Resolution No.
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto
Adopting the Complete Streets Policy
RECITALS
A. The term "Complete Streets" describes a comprehensive, integrated
transportation network with infrastructure and design that allows safe and convenient
travel along and across streets for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, persons
with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, users and operators of public
transportation, emergency vehicles, seniors, children, youth, and families.
B. The Palo Alto City Council has long acknowledged the benefits and value for
the public health and welfare of reducing vehicle miles traveled and increasing
transportation by walking, bicycling, and public transportation.
C. The City Council also recognizes that the planning and coordinated
development of Complete Streets infrastructure provides benefits for local governments
in the areas of infrastructure cost savings; public health; and environmental
sustainability.
D. These concepts are inherent in the adopted Transportation Element of the
Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan, although not explicitly stated as desired by the regional
transportation agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
E. The State of California has emphasized the importance of Complete Streets by
enacting the California Complete Streets Act of 2008 (also known as AB 1358), which
requires that when cities or counties revise general plans, they identify how they will
provide for the mobility needs of all users of the roadways, as well as through Deputy
Directive 64, in which the California Department of Transportation explained that it
"views all transportation improvements as opportunities to improve safety, access, and
mobility for all travelers in California and recognizes bicycle, pedestrian, and transit
modes as integral elements of the transportation system".
F. The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (known as AB 32) sets a
mandate for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in California, and the
Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (known as SB 375) requires
emissions reductions through coordinated regional planning that integrates
transportation, housing, and land -use policy, and achieving the goals of these laws will
require significant increases in travel by public transit, bicycling, and walking.
G. Numerous California counties, cities, and agencies have adopted Complete
Streets policies and legislation in order to further the health, safety, welfare, economic
vitality, and environmental well-being of their communities.
151102 jb 0190001 Complete Streets Policy
NOT YET APPROVED
H. The City Council therefore, in light of the foregoing benefits and
considerations, wishes to improve its commitment to Complete Streets in the ongoing
Comprehensive Plan Update and desires that its streets form a comprehensive and
integrated transportation network promoting safe, equitable, and convenient travel for
all users while preserving flexibility, recognizing community context, and using the latest
and best design guidelines and standards.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto, State of California,
RESOLVES as follows:
SECTION 1. That the City of Palo Alto adopt the Complete Streets Policy
provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, attached hereto as Exhibit A,
and made part of this Resolution, and that said exhibit is hereby approved and adopted.
SECTION 2. That the ongoing Comprehensive Plan Update shall incorporate
Complete Streets policies and principles consistent with the California Complete Streets
Act of 2008 (AB 1358) and with the Complete Streets Policy adopted by this resolution.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
Senior Assistant City Attorney City Manager
Director of Planning and Community
Environment
151102 jb 0190001 Complete Streets Policy
NOT YET APPROVED
Exhibit A
This Complete Streets Policy was adopted by Resolution No. by the City Council
of the City of Palo Alto on 2015.
COMPLETE STREETS POLICY OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
A. Complete Streets Principles
1. Complete Streets Serving AU Users. Palo Alto expresses its commitment to
creating and maintaining Complete Streets that provide safe, comfortable, and
convenient travel along and across streets (including streets, roads, highways,
bridges, and other portions of the transportation system) through a
comprehensive, integrated transportation network that serves all categories of
users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, persons with disabilities, motorists,
movers of commercial goods, users and operators of public transportation,
seniors, children, youth, and families.
2. Context Sensitivity. In planning and implementing street projects, departments
and agencies of the City of Palo Alto shall maintain sensitivity to local conditions
in both residential and business districts as well as urban, suburban, and rural
areas, and shall work with residents, merchants, and other stakeholders to
ensure that a strong sense of place ensues. Improvements that will be
considered include sidewalks, shared use paths, bicycle lanes, bicycle routes,
paved shoulders, street trees and landscaping, planting strips, accessible curb
ramps, crosswalks, refuge islands, pedestrian signals, signs, street furniture,
bicycle parking facilities, public transportation stops and facilities, transit priority
signalization, and other features assisting in the provision of safe travel for all
users, such as traffic calming circles, transit bulb outs, and other similar features.
3. Complete Streets Routinely Addressed by All Departments. All relevant
departments and agencies of the City of Palo Alto shall work towards making
Complete Streets practices a routine part of everyday operations, approach
every relevant project, program, and practice as an opportunity to improve
streets and the transportation network for all categories of users, and work in
coordination with other departments, agencies, and jurisdictions to maximize
opportunities for Complete Streets, connectivity, and cooperation. The following
projects provide opportunities: pavement resurfacing, restriping, accessing
above and underground utilities, signalization operations or modifications, and
maintenance of landscaping/related features.
4. All Projects and Phases. Complete Streets infrastructure sufficient to enable
reasonably safe travel along and across the right of way for each category of
users shall be incorporated into all planning, funding, design, approval, and
implementation processes for any construction, reconstruction, retrofit,
maintenance, operations, alteration, or repair of streets (including streets, roads,
highways, bridges, and other portions of the transportation system), except that
151102 jb 0190001 Complete Streets Policy
NOT YET APPROVED
specific infrastructure for a given category of users may be excluded if an
exemption is approved via the process set forth in section C. lofthis policy.
B. Implementation
1. Plan Consultation and Consistency. Maintenance, planning, and design of
projects affecting the transportation system shall be consistent with local
bicycle, pedestrian, transit, multimodal, and other relevant plans, except that
where such consistency cannot be achieved cost effectively without negative
consequences, consistency shall not be required if the head of the relevant
department provides written approval explaining the basis of such deviation.
Palo Alto's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will be consulted early in
the planning and design stage of transportation projects to review deviations
from relevant plans.
2. Street Network/Connectivity. As feasible, the City of Palo Alto shall incorporate
Complete Streets infrastructure into existing streets to improve the safety and
convenience of users and to create employment, with the particular goal of
creating a connected network of facilities accommodating each category of
users, and increasing connectivity across jurisdictional boundaries and for
existing and anticipated future areas of travel origination or destination.
3. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Consultation. Palo Alto's Bicycle
and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will be consulted early in the planning and
design stage of transportation projects to provide comments and
recommendations regarding Complete Streets features to be incorporated into
the project.
4. Evaluation. All relevant agencies or departments shall perform evaluations of
how well the streets and transportation network of Palo Alto are serving each
category of users by collecting baseline data and collecting follow-up data on a
regular basis.
C. Exemptions
1. Leadership Approval for Exemptions. Projects that seek Complete Streets
exemptions must provide written finding of why accommodations for all modes
that were not included in the project and signcc o== by the Public Works Dwector
of equiva cnt hig- cvc sta-= personapproved by City Council. Projects that are
granted exceptions must be made publically available for review. Federal
guidance on exceptions can be found from the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) Accommodating Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle pedestrian/guidance/design gu
idance/design.cfm
151102 jb 0190001 Complete Streets Policy
City of Palo Alto (ID # 6292)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 11/30/2015
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Adoption of a Complete Streets Resolution
Title: Adoption of a Resolution Adopting a Complete Streets Policy to
Maintain the City's Eligibility for Regional Transportation Funding
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Planning and Community En vironment
Recommendation:
Staff recommends that Council approve the attached resolution adopting a Complete Streets
Policy to ensure the City remains eligible for regional transportation funding. The proposed
policy is consistent with the City’s adopted Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan,
Comprehensive Plan, and the California Complete Streets Act of 2008.
Executive Summary
AB1358 from 2008 requires that local agencies address the concept of “Complete Streets” in
local planning and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has indicated that to
remain eligible for transportation funding, local agencies in the Bay Region may comply by
adopting their commitment within their general plan (called the Comprehensive Plan in Palo
Alto) or by adopting a model resolution provided by the agency. Because the City’s
Comprehensive Plan Update is not ready for the Council’s review and approval, the model
resolution has been provided for the Council’s adoption and has been amended to recognize
the City’s longstanding commitment to the issues it addresses.
Background:
Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s initial One Bay Area Grant Program (OBAG1)
established program commitments and policies for investing roughly $800 million over the four-
year Cycle 2 period (FYs 2012-13 through 2015-16), funded by federal funds authorized by the
United States Congress in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP 21)
transportation funding legislation.
The One Bay Area Grant Program (OBAG1) integrated the region’s federal transportation
program with California’s climate law (Senate Bill 375, Steinberg, 2008) and the Sustainable
Communities Strategy. The funding distribution formula considered progress toward achieving
City of Palo Alto Page 2
local land-use and housing policies by:
Rewarding jurisdictions that accept housing allocations through the Regional Housing
Need Allocation (RHNA) process and produce housing using transportation dollars as
incentives.
Supporting the Sustainable Communities Strategy for the Bay Area by promoting
transportation investments in Priority Development Areas (PDAs) and by initiating a
pilot program that will support open space preservation in Priority Conservation Areas
(PCA).
Providing a higher proportion of funding to local agencies and additional investment
flexibility by eliminating required program investment targets. The OBAG program
allows flexibility to invest in transportation categories such as Transportation for Livable
Communities, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, local streets and roads
preservation, and planning activities, while also providing specific funding opportunities
for Safe Routes to School (SR2S) and Priority Conservation Areas.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission set two pre-screening criteria for local agencies
to be eligible for funds through OBAG 1, which Palo Alto satisfied at the time. One of these
criteria was a complete streets requirement. The Transportation Element of the City of Palo
Alto’s Comprehensive Plan (1998-2010) complies with the Complete Streets Act of 2008 (AB
1358), as verified by VTA, and satisfied this requirement for OBAG 1.
OBAG 2
The development of a subsequent One Bay Area Grant Program (OBAG 2) is currently
underway. OBAG 2 is the second round of the successful federal funding program designed to
support the implementation of Plan Bay Area, the region’s first Sustainable Communities
Strategy (SCS). The program will establish commitments and policies for investing roughly $800
million over the five year period from FY 2017-18 to FY 2021-22, funded by federal funds
authorized by Congress in the reauthorization of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century
(MAP 21).
Considering the positive results achieved to date in OBAG 1, Metropolitan Transportation
Commission staff is recommending only minor revisions for OBAG 2. A proposal for OBAG 2 was
presented to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Policy Advisory Council on May 13,
2015 and to the Programming and Allocations Committee on July 8, 2015. Staff has been
seeking feedback from stakeholders and technical working groups over the last several months.
The preliminary timeline for development and approval of OBAG 2 is included below. A call for
projects is anticipated between December 2015 and October 2016.
Complete Streets Compliance
As a condition to access One Bay Area Grant Program (OBAG 2) funds, local jurisdictions must
comply with California’s Complete Streets Act of 2008 (Assembly Bill 1358, Chapter 657,
Statutes of 2008). Jurisdictions have two options for demonstrating compliance, which must be
City of Palo Alto Page 3
met by January 31, 2016:
1. Adopt a complete streets resolution incorporating MTC’s nine required complete streets
elements.
2. Adopt a significant revision to the circulation element of a General Plan after January 1,
2011 that complies with the California Complete Streets Act of 2008.
Agencies may meet the requirement by adopting a resolution by January 31, 2016 that
incorporates, at minimum, the elements listed in the sample complete streets resolution
developed by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The general language in the
sample gives agencies flexibility to develop their own policy. Jurisdictions are encouraged to
develop the best policy that fits within the context of their local area, in consultation with
affected departments and stakeholders, and to go beyond the required elements to
accommodate all users of the roadway network.
Jurisdictions may also meet the requirement with an adopted General Plan that complies with
the California Complete Streets Act of 2008 (AB 1358, Chapter 657, Statutes of 2008). The
Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) has issued guidance in the Update to the
General Plan Guidelines: Complete Streets and the Circulation Element. For compliance, a
substantial revision of the circulation element, passed after January 1, 2011, shall “…plan for a
balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets,
roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel in a manner that is suitable to the rural,
suburban, or urban context of the general plan,” while complying with the other provisions of
CA Government Code Section 65302 and Complete Streets Act of 2008.
According to Metropolitan Transportation Commission staff, self-certification that the general
plan meets the complete streets Act of 2008 or adoption of a circulation element update prior
to January 1, 2011, does not satisfy this requirement.
Summary of Key Issues:
In order to be eligible for the One Bay Area Grant Program (OBAG 2), the City of Palo Alto must
adopt a complete streets resolution incorporating MTC’s nine required complete streets
elements. The City’s is no long permitted to self -certify the circulation element of its
Comprehensive Plan under the newly developed guidelines from the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission. This resolution must be adopted and submitted to the Santa Clara
Valley Transportation Authority by January 31, 2016 to be eligible to receive OBAG 2 funding.
Policy Implications:
The Transportation Element of the City’s Comprehensive Plan embraces the concept of
complete streets by incorporating goals, policies, and programs regarding the mobility needs of
all users. For example:
Goal T-3: Facilities, Services, and Programs that Encourage and Promote Walking and Bicycling
City of Palo Alto Page 4
Goal T-4: An Efficient Roadway Network for All Users
Policy T-25: When constructing or modifying roadways, plan for suage of the roadway space by
all users, including motor vehicles, transit vehicles, and pedestrians.
The City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan, adopted in 2012, also supports the
development of complete streets for all roadway users and is consistent with this resolution.
Objectives from the plan that are relevent to this resolution include:
Objective 1: Double the rate of bicycling for both local and total work commutes by 2020 (to
15% and 5%, respectively).
Objective 2: Convert discretionary vehicle trips into walking and bicycling trips in order to
reduce City transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 15% by 2020.
Objective 3: Develop a core network of shared paths, bikeways, and traffic-calmed streets that
connects business and residential districts, schools, parks, and open spaces to promote healthy,
active living.
Objective 4: Plan, construct, and maintain ‘Complete Streets’ that are safe and accessible to all
modes and people of all ages and abilities.
Objective 5: Promote efficient, sustainable, and creative use of limited public resources through
integrated design and planning.
In addition, the Comprehensive Plan goals, policies, and programs that are consistent with this
resolution include:
Goal T-1: Less Reliance on Single-Occupant Vehicles
Goal T-3: Facilities, Services, and Programs the Encourage and Promote Walking and Bicycling
Program T-22: Implement a network of bicycle boulevards.
Policy T-25: When constructing or modifying roadways, plan for usage of the roadway space by
all users, including motor vehicles, transit vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Policy T-34: Implement traffic calming measures to slow traffic on local and collector residential
streets and prioritize these measures over congestion management. Include traffic circles and
other traffic calming devices among these measures.
Resource Impact:
The attached resolution and policy are consistent with both the Bicycle and Pedestrian
City of Palo Alto Page 5
Transportation Plan and the Comprehensive Plan and will not result in the need for additional
resources or require major modification of any existing City policies or procedures. Adoption of
the resolution and policy will ensure the City remains eligible for transportation funding.
Timeline:
This resolution must be adopted and submitted to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation
Authority by January 31, 2016 to be eligible to receive OBAG 2 funding. A call for projects under
OBAG 2 is anticipated between December 2015 and October 2016.
Environmental Review:
The proposed resolution is a statement of policy that is consistent with the City’s adopted
plans. For this reason, adoption of the proposed resolution is exempt from review pursuant to
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
Attachments:
Attachment A: Resolution to Adopt Complete Streets Policy (PDF)
NOT YET APPROVED
151102 jb 0190001 Complete Streets Policy
Resolution No. _____
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto
Adopting the Complete Streets Policy
R E C I T A L S
A. The term “Complete Streets” describes a comprehensive, integrated
transportation network with infrastructure and design that allows safe and convenient
travel along and across streets for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, persons
with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, users and operators of public
transportation, emergency vehicles, seniors, children, youth, and families.
B. The Palo Alto City Council has long acknowledged the benefits and value for
the public health and welfare of reducing vehicle miles traveled and increasing
transportation by walking, bicycling, and public transportation.
C. The City Council also recognizes that the planning and coordinated
development of Complete Streets infrastructure provides benefits for local governments
in the areas of infrastructure cost savings; public health; and environmental
sustainability.
D. These concepts are inherent in the adopted Transportation Element of the
Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan, although not explicitly stated as desired by the regional
transportation agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
E. The State of California has emphasized the importance of Complete Streets by
enacting the California Complete Streets Act of 2008 (also known as AB 1358), which
requires that when cities or counties revise general plans, they identify how they will
provide for the mobility needs of all users of the roadways, as well as through Deputy
Directive 64, in which the California Department of Transportation explained that it
“views all transportation improvements as opportunities to improve safety, access, and
mobility for all travelers in California and recognizes bicycle, pedestrian, and transit
modes as integral elements of the transportation system”.
F. The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (known as AB 32) sets a
mandate for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in California, and the
Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (known as SB 375) requires
emissions reductions through coordinated regional planning that integrates
transportation, housing, and land-use policy, and achieving the goals of these laws will
require significant increases in travel by public transit, bicycling, and walking.
G. Numerous California counties, cities, and agencies have adopted Complete
Streets policies and legislation in order to further the health, safety, welfare, economic
vitality, and environmental well-being of their communities.
Attachment A
NOT YET APPROVED
151102 jb 0190001 Complete Streets Policy
H. The City Council therefore, in light of the foregoing benefits and
considerations, wishes to improve its commitment to Complete Streets in the ongoing
Comprehensive Plan Update and desires that its streets form a comprehensive and
integrated transportation network promoting safe, equitable, and convenient travel for
all users while preserving flexibility, recognizing community context, and using the latest
and best design guidelines and standards.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto, State of California,
RESOLVES as follows:
SECTION 1. That the City of Palo Alto adopt the Complete Streets Policy
provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, attached hereto as Exhibit A,
and made part of this Resolution, and that said exhibit is hereby approved and adopted.
SECTION 2. That the ongoing Comprehensive Plan Update shall incorporate
Complete Streets policies and principles consistent with the California Complete Streets
Act of 2008 (AB 1358) and with the Complete Streets Policy adopted by this resolution.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
___________________________ ___________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
___________________________ ____________________________
Senior Assistant City Attorney City Manager
____________________________
Director of Planning and Community
Environment
NOT YET APPROVED
151102 jb 0190001 Complete Streets Policy
Exhibit A
This Complete Streets Policy was adopted by Resolution No. ______ by the City Council
of the City of Palo Alto on __________ 2015.
COMPLETE STREETS POLICY OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
A. Complete Streets Principles
1. Complete Streets Serving All Users. Palo Alto expresses its commitment to
creating and maintaining Complete Streets that provide safe, comfortable, and
convenient travel along and across streets (including streets, roads, highways,
bridges, and other portions of the transportation system) through a
comprehensive, integrated transportation network that serves all categories of
users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, persons with disabilities, motorists,
movers of commercial goods, users and operators of public transportation,
seniors, children, youth, and families.
2. Context Sensitivity. In planning and implementing street projects, departments
and agencies of the City of Palo Alto shall maintain sensitivity to local conditions
in both residential and business districts as well as urban, suburban, and rural
areas, and shall work with residents, merchants, and other stakeholders to
ensure that a strong sense of place ensues. Improvements that will be
considered include sidewalks, shared use paths, bicycle lanes, bicycle routes,
paved shoulders, street trees and landscaping, planting strips, accessible curb
ramps, crosswalks, refuge islands, pedestrian signals, signs, street furniture,
bicycle parking facilities, public transportation stops and facilities, transit priority
signalization, and other features assisting in the provision of safe travel for all
users, such as traffic calming circles, transit bulb outs, and other similar features.
3. Complete Streets Routinely Addressed by All Departments. All relevant
departments and agencies of the City of Palo Alto shall work towards making
Complete Streets practices a routine part of everyday operations, approach
every relevant project, program, and practice as an opportunity to improve
streets and the transportation network for all categories of users, and work in
coordination with other departments, agencies, and jurisdictions to maximize
opportunities for Complete Streets, connectivity, and cooperation. The following
projects provide opportunities: pavement resurfacing, restriping, accessing
above and underground utilities, signalization operations or modifications, and
maintenance of landscaping/related features.
4. All Projects and Phases. Complete Streets infrastructure sufficient to enable
reasonably safe travel along and across the right of way for each category of
users shall be incorporated into all planning, funding, design, approval, and
implementation processes for any construction, reconstruction, retrofit,
maintenance, operations, alteration, or repair of streets (including streets, roads,
highways, bridges, and other portions of the transportation system), except that
NOT YET APPROVED
151102 jb 0190001 Complete Streets Policy
specific infrastructure for a given category of users may be excluded if an
exemption is approved via the process set forth in section C. 1of this policy.
B. Implementation
1. Plan Consultation and Consistency. Maintenance, planning, and design of
projects affecting the transportation system shall be consistent with local
bicycle, pedestrian, transit, multimodal, and other relevant plans, except that
where such consistency cannot be achieved without negative consequences,
consistency shall not be required if the head of the relevant department
provides written approval explaining the basis of such deviation. Palo Alto’s
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will be consulted early in the
planning and design stage of transportation projects to review deviations from
relevant plans.
2. Street Network/Connectivity. As feasible, the City of Palo Alto shall incorporate
Complete Streets infrastructure into existing streets to improve the safety and
convenience of users and to create employment, with the particular goal of
creating a connected network of facilities accommodating each category of
users, and increasing connectivity across jurisdictional boundaries and for
existing and anticipated future areas of travel origination or destination.
3. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Consultation. Palo Alto’s Bicycle
and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will be consulted early in the planning and
design stage of transportation projects to provide comments and
recommendations regarding Complete Streets features to be incorporated into
the project.
4. Evaluation. All relevant agencies or departments shall perform evaluations of
how well the streets and transportation network of Palo Alto are serving each
category of users by collecting baseline data and collecting follow-up data on a
regular basis.
C. Exemptions
1. Leadership Approval for Exemptions. Projects that seek Complete Streets
exemptions must provide written finding of why accommodations for all modes
that were not included in the project and signed off by the Public Works Director
or equivalent high level staff person. Projects that are granted exceptions must
be made publically available for review. Federal guidance on exceptions can be
found from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Accommodating Bicycle
and Pedestrian Travel
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/guidance/design_gu
idance/design.cfm