General plans: circulation element: bicycle and pedestrian plans and traffic calming plans.

Existing law states the Legislature's intention that a county or city general plan and the elements and parts of that general plan comprise an integrated, internally consistent and compatible statement of policies for the adopting agency. This bill would emphasize the intent of the Legislature to support and encourage communities in reaching environmental and climate change objectives with these provisions. Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires the legislative body of a city or county to adopt a comprehensive general plan that includes various elements, including a circulation element. Existing law requires the circulation element to consist of the general location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares, transportation routes, terminals, any military airports and ports, and other local public utilities and facilities. Existing law requires the legislative body, upon any substantive revision of the circulation element, to modify the circulation element to plan for a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel in a manner that is suitable to the rural, suburban, or urban context of the general plan. Existing law defines "users of streets, roads, and highways" to mean bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors. This bill would require the legislative body, upon any substantive revision of the circulation element, on or after January 1, 2025, to incorporate the principles of the Federal Highway Administration's Safe System Approach and to develop bicycle plans, pedestrian plans, and traffic calming plans based on the policies and goals in the circulation element that, among other things, sets goals for initiation and completion of all actions identified in the plans within 25 years of the date of adoption of the modified circulation element, as specified. By adding to the duties of county and city officials in the administration of their land use planning duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require a county or city to begin implementation of the plan within 2 years of the date of adoption of the plan, to regularly review its progress towards completing implementation of the modified circulation element, and to consider revising the circulation element if it determines it will not reach the goals of the bicycle, pedestrian, or traffic calming plans within 25 years of the date of adoption of the modified circulation element. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature that cities and counties use existing transportation funding to achieve the goals of these provisions. The bill would define various terms for its purposes. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.