Governor's Veto Kills Complete Streets Requirements for Caltrans

California Governor Gavin Newsom over the weekend vetoed a bill that would have required the state's department of transportation to consider public transit as well as bike and pedestrian infrastructure when planning projects on state-owned roads.

October 14, 2019, 10am PDT | James Brasuell | @CasualBrasuell

The Van Ness Improvement project in San Francisco, pictured in November 2017.

Suzette Leg Anthony

Shutterstock

"Gov. Gavin Newsom has rejected a bill that sought to turn California highways into walkable civic spines, saying it would have been too prescriptive and costly," according to an article by Rachel Swan.

"On Saturday, Newsom praised the intent of SB127 by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco. But he said Caltrans is already investing in pedestrian improvements and bicycle lanes when it’s appropriate and cost-effective, and that the agency didn’t need a new law to tie it down."

SB 127 would have required Caltrans "to consider the needs of cyclists, pedestrians and public transportation whenever it started a major project, such as resurfacing a road," according to Swan. "The bill applies to state highways that function as city streets, such as Van Ness Avenue, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard in San Francisco, Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay, and Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles."

For more on the bill's intent, see earlier coverage by Planetizen correspondent Irvin Dawid.

Full Story:

Governor vetoes bill to require walkable, bike-friendly roadways

Published on Sunday, October 13, 2019 in San Francisco Chronicle