Check out this week's featured stories: 

1. We're Hiring!

2. Farewell: Jana Schwartz

3. Promotion Spotlight: Angelica Rocha

4. Caltrans Active Transportation Plan

5. Spaces as Places Survey

6. Discover Leucadia Walking Loops

7. Policy Letter: Request for Funding for Final Adopted Budget

8. Circulate in the News

Circulate San Diego and BikeSD submitted a letter urging the City of San Diego to include funding for bus lanes, the Downtown Mobility Plan, Vision Zero outreach, and a mode shift incentive program in the FY 2022 Final Adopted Budget. The letter also urged the City to research and consider an unarmed civilian transportation enforcement division responsible for nonviolent traffic and transportation-related infractions. In addition, the letter requested that all "Sexy Streets" projects include dedicated pedestrian and bicycle right-of-way.

The Mayor’s May Budget Revise includes significant investments in Vision Zero and Complete Streets. These investments will bring us towards a safer and more equitable San Diego that provides real transportation options to a significant portion of its residents. They will also bring us closer to the mode shift goals contained in San Diego’s Climate Action Plan, which are essential for meeting our greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets.

While the Revised Proposed Budget makes many good investments, the City can and should make it better. By implementing the letter's recommendations in the Final Adopted Budget, the City will make even more progress towards its Vision Zero and Climate Action Plan goals. Read the full letter here [pdf].

Circulate San Diego joined 38 other California organizations in signing a letter urging Congress to invest in public transit. While Congressional funding for public transit in the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan averted disaster, public transit deserves continuing investment by the federal government. Every dollar invested in transit offers a five-to-one economic return and every $1 billion invested produces 49,700 jobs. Moreover, investing in public transit is also an investment in racial justice because it is essential to the economic well-being of communities of color. Investments in public transit are also critical to averting a climate disaster.

For these reasons, the coalition requested $20 billion in annual funding for transit operations. Federal funding for transit is generally reserved for capital investments like new buses, trains, and rail lines. However, riders' ability to rely on transit ultimately depends on the level of service offered by their local transit system. Federal investment in public transit service will serve communities better, saving existing riders' time and bringing new riders into the system. 

The coalition also requested an expansion in over-subcribed capital funding, funding for zero-emissions fleets, funding for safe streets and transit-friendly communities, and fair treatment for transit workers. Read the full letter here. [pdf]

Circulate San Diego joined a coalition letter urging key California legislators to ensure funding for the Transformative Climate Communities and Regional Climate Collaboratives programs. Both programs would help ensure climate resilience for California's most impacted and least resourced communities. Both programs were funded in the Governors May Budget Revise, but were zeroed out in the Senate's May 25 Budget proposal. 

The Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) program would deliver $500 Million for emissions reducing strategies, including housing with access to public transportation and active transportation. TCC would connect investments to residents impacted by multiple sources of pollution and vulnerable to the anticipated impacts of climate change, and requires robust community engagement in all phases of project development and implementation.

The Regional Climate Collaborative (RCC) program would establish capacity and technical assistance for impacted and low resource communities. RCC would convene local stakeholders, foster partnerships, and support the development of community plans and projects to advance local climate action. The program would select collaboratives to build community-driven leadership, knowledge, skills, experience, and resources to identify and access public funding for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects.

In order to advance its greenhouse gas emissions goals, mitigate climate impacts, and advance social equity, the legislature must ensure that these programs are funded. Read the full letter here [pdf].

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact:
Colin Parent, Executive Director and General Counsel
(619) 567-6856 | [email protected]

Press Release: Two Serious Injuries in Hit-and-Run Crashes Over Memorial Day Weekend

SAN DIEGO (June 2, 2021) – Two pedestrians were seriously injured in hit-and-run crashes over Memorial Day weekend.

Circulate released its report, “Hope for Vision Zero” this month, showing modest improvements to street safety in the City of San Diego since committing to Vision Zero in 2015. However, traffic injuries and fatalities remain unacceptably high.

Check out this week's featured stories: 

1. Intro Spotlight: Hunter Collins

2. Share Input on the El Camino Real Specific Plan

3. Caltrans Active Transportation Plan

4. Circulate Submits EIR Scoping Letter Regarding Airport Connector

5. Discover Leucadia Walking Loops

6. Thanks for joining us for Mobility Monday!

7. Circulate in the News

Circulate submitted a letter to request that SANDAG consider the geometric inefficiency of its proposed airport connector when it creates its Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Central Mobility Hub at the NAVWAR site. The currently proposed Airport Connector begins at San Diego International Airport and travels east along Harbor Drive before turning North and connecting to the Central Mobility Hub.

As shown in the graphic below, this orientation would force travelers coming from the south and the east to travel an extra 1.5 miles north to reach the Central Mobility Hub, and then double back on the Airport Connector. This creates an extra 3 miles for every trip coming from that direction.

Circulate’s request requires SANDAG to consider this inefficiency and alternative routing when doing its transportation analysis for the Central Mobility Hub. Circulate also requested that the EIR consider employee access to the airport, pedestrian access to the Central Mobility Hub, and Airport Connector integration with the Airport terminal. Read the full letter here. [pdf]

In keeping with our tradition of interviewing new team members, we asked our new Policy Intern, Hunter Collins, a few questions so that you all can get to know him him!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact:
Colin Parent, Executive Director and General Counsel
(619) 567-6856 | [email protected]

Press Release: Three Serious Injuries in Crashes Over the Weekend

SAN DIEGO (May 25, 2021) – Over the past weekend, a pedestrian, a bicyclist, and an e-scooter rider were seriously injured in three separate crashes.

Circulate released its report, “Hope for Vision Zero” this month, showing modest improvements to street safety in the City of San Diego since committing to Vision Zero in 2015. However, traffic injuries and fatalities remain unacceptably high.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact:
Colin Parent, Executive Director and General Counsel
(619) 567-6856 | [email protected]

Press Release: One Pedestrian Killed, and Four Others Seriously Injured in Crashes within the Last Two Weeks

SAN DIEGO (May 20, 2021) – In the last two weeks one pedestrian was killed and four others were seriously injured in crashes on the roadways in the City of San Diego. Two of these crashes occurred in the very same sidewalk, only two days apart.

Circulate released its report, “Hope for Vision Zero” this month, showing modest improvements to street safety in the City of San Diego since committing to Vision Zero in 2015. However, traffic injuries and fatalities remain unacceptably high.