The California Transportation Commission – the agency responsible for implementing the State’s Active Transportation Program (ATP) is currently taking comments on proposed revisions to the program’s guidelines. Investing in Place has prepared a comment letter to the Commission and we encourage to to read it, sign on and/or submit your own. Update 2/25/16 – see our comment letter. Thanks to all who signed on in support.
Our key ask in the letter is regarding the program’s emphasis on disadvantaged communities. This prioritization of funding by demonstrated data, need and social equity is tremendous, and a model we are inspired to see in the implementation of California’s Cap and Trade funds. We also hope to see developed for Los Angeles County transportation funds as well.
At the February 3rd ATP workshop held in downtown Los Angeles we were surprised to see the proposed changes to reduce the maximum number of points available for benefit to Disadvantaged communities from 10 to 5. We are concerned to see this and recommend that the full 10 points are retained. Providing 10 points in the ATP application to disadvantaged communities helps these communities overcome the difficulties presented by lack of matching funds, dedicated staff working on safe routes to school and walking and bicycling projects, and/or funds to develop, adopt, and implement plans. For many communities in Los Angeles County, the ATP is the only significant source of funds for improving safe routes to school, sidewalks, crosswalks and bicycle lanes.
Join us in supporting a data driven framework that prioritizes social equity in the scoring of projects across California.