SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGTV) - A bill working its way through the California State Legislature could require bike lanes and other "active transportation" amenities to be built on state-owned roads.
Senate Bill 127 states that "any capital improvement project located in an active transportation place type on a state highway or a local street crossing a state highway that is funded through the program, shall include new pedestrian and bicycle facilities, or improve existing facilities, as part of the project."
It means any time Caltrans wants to repave or resurface a part of a State Highway or a highway overpass or underpass, they must add some kind of bike/walking lane or safety measures.
San Diego Legislator Tasha Boerner Horvath co-wrote the bill. She sent the following statement to 10News:
“My district is a hub for all things that involve outdoor recreation — biking, walking, jogging, skateboarding — you name it and my constituents enjoy doing it throughout our beautiful district. SB 127 is a major move forward in identifying and funding important bike and pedestrian paths to connect people with the places they want to go. In addition, it will bring us an important step further on ensuring highway overpasses in my district have the bike and walking facilities they need to connect inland communities to the coast. This is important for safe routes to schools for our kids as well as folks accessing our stunning beaches.”
Members of the San Diego Bicycle Coalition support the bill, saying it will make it easier for people to commute to and from work. They also say it will help fund more "active transportation" projects.
"The funding is always an issue," says SDBC Advocacy Coordinator Jennifer Hunt. "This is a great way to get that extra, additional funding and just to get more people out safely using biking and walking."
The bill has passed the State Senate and is now in the Assembly. The California Legislature is on recess until August, but the bill will be in committee soon after they reconvene.
