Imagine Sonoma County

Here's how to participate in Transportation policy

This is a forum to share and discuss policy ideas that help reach the vision by 2030.

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	Road Diets Cities and Towns shrink streets with 4+ car lanes. The change removes lanes dedicated to cars and adds space for active transportation modes such as bicycling and walking, as well as other community benefits such as trees and green space. Jurisdiction (Who can make the decision?) City/town councils and staff Equity considerations Could provide more shade trees, green space, walking paths, and safe bicycling routes in neighborhoods lacking these amenities. Scale of Greenhouse Gas reductions TBD Co-benefits Health benefits of increase active transportation. Shade trees provide summertime cooling/reduce urban heat island effect. Green space for community gardens. Cost considerations Potential savings through community volunteer labor force. Where it has been tried Local example: Santa Rosa West 3rd Street Other examples: TBD Imagine it: IT"S THE YEAR 2024. Santa Rosa has transformed several of its larger avenues--beginning with North Dutton and West 3rd-- to reduce lanes dedicated to cars and emphasize active transportation modes such as bicycling and walking. Many local residents supported the changes--and joined volunteer crews to assist with tree planting, street repainting, and garden installations. Bicycle commuting increased six-fold in the neighborhood, allowing people to save money previously spent on car maintenance and fuel. New public gardens and park spaces in the median strips have given neighbors opportunities to interact and led to a stronger sense of community. SHARE COMMENTS

	More Frequent Buses Sonoma County Transit increases its bus frequency to 30 minutes for commuter routes. Jurisdiction (Who can make the decision?) Sonoma County Transit (SCT); budget controlled by Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. Equity considerations Provides more efficient transportation for people who do not own a car (either by choice or by circumstance) or cannot drive a car (due to age or ability.) Scale of Greenhouse Gas reductions TBD Co-benefits TBD Cost considerations SCT budget is determined by the County Board of Supervisors, though the majority of its revenue comes through federal dollars and Measure M (reauthorized by voters in the form of Measure DD in 2020) local sales tax revenue. Farebox recovery (i.e. the money collected from riders) is a relatively low percentage of operating budget, so increased ridership will not sustain increased service. Where it has been tried Local example: TBD Other examples: TBD Imagine it: Ridership increases and overall car traffic decreases on county roads. SHARE COMMENTS

	Free Transit Sonoma County Transit, Santa Rosa City Bus, and Petaluma Transit team up to make it free to ride the bus anywhere in the county. Jurisdiction (Who can make the decision?) Sonoma County Transit (SCT), budget controlled by Sonoma County Board of Supervisors; Santa Rosa City Bus, budget controlled by Santa Rosa City Council; and Petaluma Transit, budget controlled by Petaluma City Council. Equity considerations Provides more affordable transportation for people who do not own a car (either by choice or by circumstance) or cannot drive a car (due to age or ability.) SCT currently provides free service for collage students and veterans. SCT offers discounted fares for "Youth, Senior Citizen, Disabled, and Medicare Card Holders." Scale of Greenhouse Gas reductions TBD Co-benefits TBD Cost considerations The majority of transit revenue comes through federal dollars and Measure M (reauthorized by voters in the form of Measure DD in 2020) local sales tax revenue. Farebox recovery (i.e. the money collected from riders) is a relatively low percentage of operating budget, so elimionating fares is actually a relatively low hurdle to clear. Where it has been tried Local example: Sonoma County Transit's Fare Free Program in Sebastopol, Windsor, Healdsburg, Guerneville, and Sonoma Valley. Other examples: Imagine it: Ridership undergoes an extraordinary increase, prompting even further increases in service. SHARE COMMENTS

	Ban on New Gas Stations The county and cities ban the construction of new gas stations. Jurisdiction (Who can make the decision?) TBD Equity considerations Because many middle to low income people rely on vehicles that use gas--and gas stations to fill them--this policy MUST be paired with strong policies to strengthen free transportation alternatives such a bus services and safe bicycling infrastructure. Scale of Greenhouse Gas reductions TBD Co-benefits TBD Cost considerations No cost for jursidictions implimenting policy, other than a very minor loss in permit revenue. Where it has been tried Local example: Petaluma local ban on new gas stations. Other examples: TBD Imagine it: SHARE COMMENTS

What are your transportation policy ideas?

Share your policy ideas by submitting a comment using the form below. Please try to suggest policies that: 1) can be implemented at the local level; 2) have potential greenhouse gas emission reductions; and 3) benefit all community members, with priority given to the most vulnerable among us. You are also welcome to submit your policy idea in our brief policy submission form.

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