A bill to remake a little-known but critically important Caltrans advisory committee so that it’s friendlier to bicycle and pedestrian projects was approved yesterday by the Senate Transportation & Housing Committee.
Assembly Bill 345, authored by Assemblymember Toni Atkins of San Diego and sponsored by the California Bicycle Coalition, would formalize and expand the membership of the California Traffic Control Devices Committee, which that advises Caltrans on standards for traffic signs and signals and pavement markings for traffic lanes, bike lanes and crosswalks.
The committee was established by internal Caltrans policy in the 1930s. AB 345 formally establishes the committee in the California Vehicle Code and expands its membership to be more representative of all road users.
Currently, motorists are the only road users represented on the committee, even though all road users, including bicyclists and pedestrians, are subject to the traffic controls developed with the committee’s input. Committee bylaws provide two seats to the California State Automobile Association and the Automobile Club of Southern California, which were once responsible for installing road and traffic signs throughout the state. Other members include the California Highway Patrol, League of California Cities and California State Association of Counties.
The bill adds two seats for representatives recommended by the Active Transportation and Livable Communities Committee, which advises Caltrans on implementation of its internal Complete Streets policy.
Complete Streets is the name for a set of principles meant to ensure that streets and roads meet the safety and mobility needs of all road users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, seniors, children, the disabled, and users of public transit, as well as drivers. Caltrans adopted its policy as a counterpart to the CBC-sponsored Complete Streets Act enacted in 2008.
“Caltrans has made historic strides by embracing Complete Streets,” said Dave Snyder, CBC’s executive director. “But you can’t have streets that are “complete” without everyone being at the table. By making the CTCDC’s membership more representative of those who use California streets and roads, AB 345 will help Caltrans implement its Complete Streets policy and help California communities create safer conditions for everyone on the road.”
A special Thank You to the California Bicycle Coalition for sharing this press release with us at Three B Zine!
The California Bicycle Coalition is a non-profit education and lobbying organization working to improve bicycling conditions throughout the State of California. CBC’s mission is to create safe, healthy and livable communities in California by promoting bicycling for transportation and recreation. Learn more about CBC.
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