SACOG Resources for Completing the Full Application
According to the 2015-16 AHSC Guidelines, points will be awarded to Projects consistent with the desired outcomes of the MTP/SCS and other regional plans. The following resources will help applicants describe how their projects implement regional goals and policies:
MTP/SCS and Climate Change Information and Policies
- For general information and policies, see the 2016 Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, including: Summary of Growth and Land Use Forecast; Vehicle Miles Traveled and Roadway Congestion Trends and Performance; Transit, Bicycling, and Walking Trends and Performance; Environmental Sustainability; Equity and Choice; and Economic Vitality chapters.
- For more information on implementating regional goals, see the Blueprint Principles.
- To identify Transit Priority Areas, pursuant to SB 375, see page 28 (described in more detail on page 43) of Chapter 3: Summary of Growth and Land Use Forecast of the MTP/SCS. The SCS consistency worksheet includes additional information about TPAs.
- To access regional climate change policies, see pages 129, 130, 135, and 140 of Chapter 6: Policies and Supportive Strategies of the MTP/SCS. Also see SACOG’s Climate Vulnerability Assessment.
Active Transportation Plans and Data
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For information and policies related to bicycle and pedestrian projects, see the Regional Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan.
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For examples of information required and policies for SACOG’s Regional/Local Funding program, see the Regional/Local Program Policy Framework.
- The SACOG Info Center contains census data to help applicants discuss travel model projections for existing and potential users in project areas using the Small Area SACOG MTP/SCS Forecast Tool. The Active Transportation Program Mapping Site includes a suite of layers for use in analyzing pedestrian and bicycle projects, including existing and proposed bicycle facilities, civic activity centers, existing transit routes, current network accessibility, and existing land use density and vehicle miles traveled.
- For street traffic volumes and speed limits, check your local jurisdiction website. For collision information by city, see the California Office of Traffic Safety.
- Version 2 of the AHSC Quantification Methodology includes an example for quantifying trips for a pedestrian project as follows:
“There is no required method to estimate the weekly auto trips eliminated by pedestrian facilities. Applicants should develop a ‘reasonable estimate’ based on project features and amenities; the supporting documentation will be reviewed during the application process. As an example, if a new housing development project includes installation of a sidewalk connecting the development to a grocery store 0.2 miles away, it may be reasonable to assume a proportion of the residents will walk to and from the store weekly, thereby eliminating auto trips. An applicant who assumes 15% of 100 residents will walk to the store once a week instead of driving would result in 30 auto trips eliminated per week (15 residents walking each way results in 30 one-way trips). A similar project that includes installation of a sidewalk connecting a housing development to a transit center may result in 5% of 100 residents walking to the station five days per week instead of driving. This would result in 50 auto trips eliminated per week. Longer distances to amenities would likely result in lower expected trips per week. The TAC Methods assume a default ‘Length of auto trip eliminated’ of one mile; therefore, one mile is used in the AHSC calculator regardless of the actual distance to the amenity.”