Good try, Alameda... but the state cares about funding highways more than fixing Stargell Ave

From Stargell concept designs submitted to ATP Cycle 7

💡

This is a follow-up to "The state's Active Transportation Program is threatened with cuts and it's worth saving — including for Alameda's Stargell Avenue" (May 2024)

California Transportation Commission staff have graded the City of Alameda's application for grant funding for the Willie Stargell Complete Street Project with a score of 89 out of 100. Sounds good! In the ranked list of all the applicants, this project to improve Stargell Ave for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists who prefer not to speed or crash appears on page 2 out of 10.

But out of those 10 pages that total to $2.5 billion requests for California State "Active Transport Program" funding to make improvements for pedestrians and cyclists across California's entire surface transportation network this year, this state budget only designates $100 million in funds to award. So CTC staff are only recommending applications that received scores of 95 or higher for funding — the first half of the first page of the 10 pages of aspiring ped/bike/safety projects.

Oh well. Thank you to City of Alameda for trying for this third time to apply for external funding to build out Stargell's fallow right-of-way to create a more complete street for all users.

This blog will continue to strongly argue for the value in Alameda having "grant-application ready" projects and applying repeatedly for any and all external funding sources.

Seeking more equal funding to improve traffic safety for those outside of motor vehicles

While it's true that this fiscal year's California state budget had to be slimmed down with undesirable cuts across many critical services, the budget situation within transportation is unique: Out of just over $30 billion for transportation related programs in fiscal year 2024-2025, the Active Transportation Program is only one of two programs within the entire state transportation budget that the governor's office cut.

Everything else was preserved at full funding (albeit with some budgetary maneuvers like timing shifts and cash flow adjustments). The cuts to the Active Transportation Program are even more striking given the fact that the ATP budget has always been minor compared to auto-oriented programs (not to mention aviation, ports, and other modes of transport).

The California Bicycle Coalition (CalBike) helped to established the Active Transportation Fund and has been continuing to lobby for its ongoing success:

The ATP should get at least $1 billion in funding every cycle. That’s not enough, and it’s still a tiny fraction of California’s transportation spending, but it would be an overdue signal that our state understands the value of active transportation in fighting climate change and making our streets safer and more equitable. We’ve said it before — California can’t be a climate leader if it continues to invest in highways instead of active transportation and transit. We look forward to working with state leadership this year to significantly restore the ATP through the budget process and not allow further reductions to the program.

The ATP is a classic example of induced demand, also known as “build it and they will come.” Since the program’s inception, the volume of applications for funding has grown. More significantly, the number of high-quality projects that significantly improve the safety and comfort of people who bike and walk on California’s streets has increased.

This dedicated funding source, which CalBike’s advocacy helped establish, tapped into a deep well of unmet need for separated bikeways, sidewalk gap closures, protected intersections, and more. Californians want and need the ATP. California should fully fund this program, which provides great value for a fraction of the cost of building or maintaining highways.

Despite having the name of "CalBike," their efforts aren't only for dedicated cyclists – this organization is one of the leading advocates for pedestrians, for traffic safety, and for climate-friendly transportation in Sacramento.

Thanks to CalBike for lobbying on behalf of streets that are safer and more enjoyable for everyone, and thanks to City of Alameda staff for their hard work applying for external funding to improve our city's infrastructure. Onward!