CC Resolution No. 18-034 Adopting a Complete Streets Policy to Further the Goals of Meeting the Safety, Access, and Modility Needs of All users of the RoadwaysRESOLUTION NO. 18-034
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO
ADOPTING A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY TO FURTHER THE GOALS OF
MEETING THE SAFETY, ACCESS, AND MOBILITY NEEDS OF ALL USERS OF THE
ROADWAYS
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, persons with disabilities,
motorists, movers of commercial goods, users and operators of public transportation, seniors,
children, youth, and families; and
WHEREAS, the City of Cupertino acknowledges the benefits and value for the public
health and welfare of reducing vehicle miles traveled and increasing transportation by
walking, bicycling, and public transportation; and
WHEREAS, the City of Cupertino recognizes 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; and
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. Moreover, through Deputy Directive 64
the California Department of Transportation explained that it "views all transportation
improvements as opportunities to improve safety, access, and mobility for all travelers in
California and recognizes bicycle, pedestrian, and transit modes as integral elements of the
transportation system"; and
WHEREAS, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (known 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; and
WHEREAS, numerous California counties, cities, and agencies have adopted Complete
Streets policies and legislation to further the health, safety, welfare, economic vitality, and
environmental well-being of their communities; and
Resolution No. 18-034
Page2
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, through its One Bay Area
Grant (OBAG) program, described in Resolution 4035, requires that all jurisdictions, to be
eligible for OBAG funds, need to address complete streets policies at the local level through
the adoption of a complete streets policy resolution or through a general plan that complies
with the California Complete Streets Act of 2008; and
WHEREAS, the City of Cupertino's 2015 Mobility Element update of the General Plan
is based on the same multimodal principles and elements required in the Complete Streets Act
of 2008; and
WHEREAS, in order to be eligible for 2016 Measure B funding, the Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority requires member agencies to adopt a Complete Streets resolution
containing the following nine (9) Complete Streets Elements below:
A. Complete Streets Principles
1. Serve all Users -All transportation improvements will be planned, designed,
constructed, operated and maintained to support safe and convenient access for
all users, and increase mobility for walking, bicycling, and transit use.
2. Context Sensitivity -The planning and implementation of transportation
projects will reflect conditions within and surrounding the project area, whether
the area is a residential or business district or urban, suburban or rural. Project
planning, design and construction of complete streets projects should include
working with residents and merchants to ensure that a strong sense of place is
maintained.
3. Complete Streets in all Departments -All Member Agency departments whose
work affects the roadway must incorporate a complete streets approach into the
review and implementation of their projects and activities. Potential Complete
Streets opportunities include transportation projects, road rehabilitation, new
development, and utility work, among others.
4. All Projects/Phases -The policy will apply to all roadway projects including
those involving reconstruction, new construction, retrofits, repaving,
rehabilitation, or changes in the allocation of pavement space on all existing
roadway, as well as those that involve new privately built roads and easements
intended for public use.
B. Implementation
5. Plan Consultation -Any proposed improvements should be evaluated for
consistency with all local bicycle, pedestrian and/or transit plans and any other
plans that affect the right of way.
6. Street Network/Connectivity -The transportation system should provide a
connected network of facilities accommodating all modes of travel. This includes
looking for opportunities for repurposing rights-of-ways to enhance connectivity
for cyclists, pedestrians and transit users. The network should include non-
Resolution No. 18-034
Page3
motorized connectivity to schools, parks, commercial areas, civic destinations
and regional non-motorized networks from publicly owned roads/land and
private developments (or redeveloped areas).
7. BP AC Consultation -Input should be solicited from the local bicycle and
pedestrian advisory committee (BPAC) or similar advisory group in an early
project development phase to verify bicycling and pedestrian needs for projects.
8. Evaluation -Member Agencies will establish a means to collect data for the
purpose of evaluating implementation of complete streets policies. Examples
include tracking the mileage of bike lanes and sidewalks, the number of street
crossings, or the amount of specific signage, etc.
C. Exceptions
9. Process -Plans or projects that seek exemptions from the Complete Streets
approach must provide written finding of how exceptional circumstances
dictated that accommodations for all modes were not to be included in the
project. The memorandum should be signed by the Public Works Director or
equivalently senior staff person or his/her designee. Plans or projects that are
granted exceptions must be made publicly available for review.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Cupertino
that the Complete Streets Policy attached hereto as Exhibit A is made a part of this Resolution,
and is hereby approved and adopted.
PASS ED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
Cupertino this 171h day of April, 2018 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST:
Members of the City Council
Paul, Sinks, Chang, Scharf, Vaidhyanathan
None
None
None
APPROVED:
61Y4 9cUe ,,/Jr /'-~~
(Darcy Paul, Mi; Grace Schmidt, City Clerk
City of Cupertino
Exhibit A
This Complete Streets Policy was adopted by Resolution No. 18-034 by the City Council of
the City of Cupertino on April 17, 2018.
COMPLETE STREETS POLICY OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO
A. Complete Streets Principles
1. Complete Streets Serving All Users. The City of Cupertino, through its 2015 Mobility
Element update of the General Plan, has committed to creating and maintaining
Complete Streets that provide safe, comfortable and convenient travel along and across
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, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers
of commercial goods, users and operators of public transportation, seniors, children,
youth, and families.
2. Context Sensitivity. In planning and implementing street projects, departments of the
City of Cupertino shall maintain sensitivity to local conditions in both residential and
business districts as well as urban, suburban, and rural areas, and shall work with
residents and businesses to ensure that a strong sense of place ensues. Improvements
that may be considered include sidewalks, shared use paths, bicycle lanes, bicycle
routes, paved shoulders, street trees and landscaping, planting strips, accessible curb
ramps, crosswalks, refuge islands, pedestrian signals, signs, street furniture, bicycle
parking facilities, public transportation stops and facilities, transit priority signalization,
and other features assisting in the provision of safe travel for all users as identified in
adopted plans.
3. Complete Streets Routinely Addressed by all Departments. All relevant departments
of the City of Cupertino 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 agencies and jurisdictions to maximize
opportunities for Complete Streets, connectivity and cooperation.
4. 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, consistent with
the City's Mobility Element update, shall be incorporated into all planning, funding,
design, approval and implementation processes for any construction, reconstruction,
retrofit, maintenance, operations, alteration, or repair of 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 C.1 of this policy.
B. Implementation
1. 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.
2. Street Network/Connectivity. Consistent with the City's Mobility Element update, the
City of Cupertino shall incorporate Complete Streets infrastructure into existing streets
to improve the safety and convenience of users, with the particular goal of creating a
connected network of facilities accommodating each category of users, and increasing
connectivity across jurisdictional boundaries and between existing and anticipated
future areas of travel origination or destination.
3. Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Consultation. Transportation projects shall be
reviewed by the Cupertino Bicycle Pedestrian Commission early in the planning and
design phase to provide the Cupertino Bicycle Pedestrian Commission an opportunity
to provide comments and recommendations regarding Complete Streets features to be
incorporated into the project.
4. Evaluation. All relevant departments shall perform evaluations of how well the streets
and transportation network of the City of Cupertino are serving each category of users
by collecting baseline data and collecting follow-up data on a regular basis.
C. Exceptions
1. Exception Approvals. Projects that seek exception from the Complete Streets approach
must provide written finding of how exceptional circumstances dictated that
accommodations for all modes were not to be included in the project. The
memorandum should be signed by the Public Works Director or an equivalently senior
staff person or his/her designee. Projects that are granted exceptions must be made
publicly available for review.