HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 11-04-2025 Item No. 13 Active Transportation Plan Update_Desk ItemCC 11-04-2025
Item #13
Active Transportation
Plan
Desk Item
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
TELEPHONE: (408) 777-3354 • FAX: (408) 777-3333
CUPERTINO.GOV
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DESK ITEM
Meeting: November 4, 2025
Agenda Item #13
Subject
Update on the development of the Active Transportation Plan, including a summary of
Phase 1 activities and an overview of what to expect during Phase 2
Recommended Action
Receive an update on the development of the Active Transportation Plan and provide
feedback on the draft project prioritization criteria
Staff’s responses to questions received from council members are shown in
italics.
Q1: Provide a summary of the Commission feedback on the Active Transportation Plan
Phase 1 work and Phase 2 draft project prioritization criteria.
Staff response: On August 20, 2025, The Bicycle Pedestrian Commission received a presentation
summarizing Phase 1 work and introducing Phase 2 with a focused discussion to provide
feedback on the draft project prioritization criteria. The commissioners provided the following
feedback and recommendations:
• Emphasis was placed on considering road maintenance before approving new
projects, along with the importance of balancing both positive and negative public
feedback.
• There was strong support for prioritizing safety, particularly for cyclists, pedestrians,
seniors, and disabled individuals, with extra points suggested for projects near
schools and along high-injury corridors.
• Calls were made to ensure decisions are based on data rather than emotions, and to
avoid penalizing projects that involve parking or lane removal, as those decisions
should be left to City Council.
• The evolving nature of the city was acknowledged, with a push to ensure plans
address both current and future needs, particularly in growing residential areas.
• Concerns were raised about including public dislikes and emotional comments in the
evaluation process, and it was suggested they be treated cautiously.
• A comprehensive, citywide vision for active transportation was encouraged, rather
than treating projects in isolation.
• Recommendations included identifying a few key focus areas—like school access or
pedestrian safety—for the next 5–10 years, supported by clear implementation
packages and measurable outcomes.
• Speed reduction on streets beyond main corridors was advocated, with support for
non-barrier bike lanes and solutions that slow vehicles without removing car lanes.
• Staff were asked to return with a list of top projects and a structured plan
highlighting three or four main priorities to guide the commission’s work moving
forward.
On September 9, 2025, the Planning Commission received a presentation summarizing Phase 1
work and introducing Phase 2 with a focused discussion to provide feedback on the draft project
prioritization criteria. The commission passed a motion with the following recommendations:
Modify the scoring criteria as follows:
• Access Criteria: change the school proximity score to “Fifteen points if within one-
half mile of a school”. Add “senior housing and senior facilities such as the Senior
Center” to the metric definition of “Parks & Other Destinations Proximity.” For
pedestrians.
• Sustainability/Connectivity Criteria: Change “Sustainability: name to
“Connectivity.” Add ten points if it’s within one-quarter mile of a trail or low-stress
facility like Class IV bike lanes, making the total maximum score for this section
twenty points instead of ten points.
• Balance Criteria: Focus on impact rather than infrastructure. Subtract five points if
removal of a substantial number (five or more) of regularly used parking spaces (used
fifty-one percent or more of the time). Subtract fifteen points if it eliminates a care
lane for a substantial (ten percent or more) portion of the project length.
• Fairness Criteria: Delete this criterion as it is not an objective, measurable measure of
the positive or negative impact of a project and will lead to an escalating arms race of
competing public comments and create more divisiveness and animosity within the
community.
• Additional Project Recommendations: Add a project to make the most high-injury
network intersections with red lights and stop signs safer using tools such as red
light and speeding cameras. Consider adaptive right-turn-on-red technology where
necessary. Conduct a bike count of existing usage as a baseline on major proposed
bike projects. Partner with bicycle education providers (in addition to SVBC) to offer
routine adult and child education courses in Cupertino.
_____________________________________
Prepared by: Matthew Schroeder, Senior Transit and Transportation Planner
Reviewed by: David Stillman, Transportation Manager
Chad Mosley, Public Works Director
Approved for Submission by: Tina Kapoor, Interim City Manager
Attachments Provided with Original Staff Report:
A. Draft Project Prioritization Criteria
Attachments Provided with Supplemental 1:
B. Phase 1 Public Participation Summary
Attachments Provided with Desk Item:
N/A