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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-13 I • RESOLUTION 8-13 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS ADOPTING A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY WHEREAS, 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, motorists, seniors, children, youth, families, and equestrians. WHEREAS, Los Altos Hills acknowledges the benefits and value for the public health and welfare of reducing vehicle miles traveled and increasing transportation by walking, and bicycling; WHEREAS,Los Altos Hills recognized 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; WHEREAS, 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. WHEREAS, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (knows 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; WHEREAS, numerous California counties, cites, 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; WHEREAS, Los Altos Hills therefore, in light of the foregoing benefits and considerations, wishes to improve its commitment to Complete Streets 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, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of Los Altos Hills, State of California, as follows: 1. That the Town of Los Altos Hills adopts the Complete Streets Policy attached hereto as Exhibit A, and made part of this Resolution, and that said exhibit is hereby approved and adopted'. Resolution No.8-13 Page 1 • 2. That the next substantial revision of the Town of Los Altos Hills General Plan circulation and scenic roadways element 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. The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills at a special meeting held on the 24th day of January, 2013 by the following vote: AYES: Corrigan, Harpootlian, Radford NOES: Waldeck, Larsen ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None / ; BY: Gary Waldeck, Mayor ATTEST: Deborah Padovan, City Clerk Resolution No.8-13 Page 2 • • EXHIBIT A TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS LOSALTOSHILLS 26379 Fremont Road Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 ‘11-- Phone: (650) 941-7222 im - - •Er www.losaltoshills.ca.gov CALIFORNIA Complete Streets Policy Approved by City Council—1/24/13 Objective: The objective of this policy is to establish guiding principles and practices so transportation improvements are planned, designed, constructed, operated and maintained to encourage walking, bicycling, and transit use while promoting safe operations for all users. The Town of Los Altos Hills will create a safe and efficient transportation system that promotes the health and mobility of all Los Altos Hills citizens and visitors by providing high quality pedestrian, bicycling, and equestrian access to all destinations throughout the Town, and will design its streets for people, with beauty and amenities. The Town of Los Altos Hills will provide for the needs of drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians of all ages and abilities in all planning, design, construction, reconstruction, retrofit, operations, and maintenance activities. The Town of Los Altos Hills will enhance the safety, access, convenience, and comfort of all users of all ages and abilities. The Town understands that children, seniors, and persons with disabilities will require special accommodations. Policy: Complete Streets Principles • Complete Streets Serving All Users. Los Altos Hills 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, person with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, users and operators of public transportation, seniors, children, youth, families, and equestrians. • Context Sensitivity. In planning and implementing street projects, departments and agencies of Los Altos Hills shall maintain sensitivity to local conditions and shall work with residents, and other stakeholders to ensure that a strong sense of place ensues. Improvements that will be considered include pathways, bicycle lanes, bicycle routes, paved shoulders, street trees and landscaping, accessible curb ramps, crosswalks, and other features assisting in the provision of safe travel for all users, such as traffic calming circles, transit bulb outs, and road diets. Resolution No. 8-13 Page 3 • S • Complete Streets Routinely Addressed by All Departments. All relevant departments and agencies of Los Altos Hills 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, or modifications, and maintenance of landscaping/related features. • 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, reconstructions, retrofit, maintenance, operations, alteration, or repair of streets (including streets, roads, highways, bridges, and other portions of the transportation system), except that specific infrastructure for a given category of users may be excluded if an exemption is approved via the process set forth in section 9 of this policy. Implementation • 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. • Street Network/Connectivity. As feasible, Los Altos Hills 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. • Traffic and Safety Committee Consultation. If Los Altos Hills has a Traffic and Safety Committee, transportation projects shall be reviewed by the Committee early in the planning and design state, to provide the Committee an opportunity to provide comments and recommendations regarding Complete Streets features to be incorporated into the project. • Evaluation. All relevant agencies or departments shall perform evaluations of how well the streets and transportation network of Los Altos Hills are serving each category of users by collecting baseline data and collection follow-up data on a regular basis. Resolution No.8-13 Page 4 • • Exceptions • Leadership Approval for Exceptions. Projects that seek Complete Streets exemptions p p 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_guidance/desi gn.cfm Resolution No.8-13 Page 5