Santa Maria city organizers are looking to make the streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.
A public workshop was held Thursday to discuss the city’s Active Transportation Plan.
The city is updating the plan to help create safer routes for pedestrians and bicyclists throughout the community.
The plan covers pedestrian and bicycle issues within the city. It also details priority projects, including areas where sidewalks are missing, available bike lanes, and handicap ramp accessibility.
The goal is to develop a network of streets, trails, and paths where bicycling and walking are considered safe, comfortable, and convenient for people of all ages and abilities. The plan is also designed to encourage physical activity as part of everyday travel, support the city’s goals for cleaner air and healthier communities, and promote a more sustainable and equitable community by improving mobility for everyone.
“If we can improve mobility with pedestrian access and bicycle access, we are going to improve access to transit, which is great,” said Christopher Petro, who works in the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department.
During Thursday’s meeting, planners presented an overview of the update, preliminary data on transportation safety, and allowed residents to identify key areas where improvements are needed.
The city says more public workshops are expected to take place this summer. The Department of Public Works says its staff will also continue to collect feedback from the community.
Community members can use the Active Santa Maria website to access an online survey and use a mapping tool through the end of August.
