2022 AIA Communities by Design Reimagining Petaluma SDAT - Report - Page 10
Petaluma DAT
Reimagining Mobility
For the City of Petaluma to achieve its goals related to
carbon neutrality, climate resiliency, connectivity, safety,
and equity, it must reimagine how residents, visitors, and
commuters move around and through the community.
Prioritizing space (e.g., the number of travel lanes
and the number of parking spaces) and time (e.g., at
signalized intersections) for motor vehicles and singleoccupant vehicle (SOV) trips runs counter to Petaluma’s
community goals and City Council priorities. To reduce
vehicles miles traveled (VMT) and its negative impacts,
Petaluma must:
1. reallocate space, time, and resources to converting
SOV trips to walking, bicycling, and transit trips, and
2. reduce the distance travelers must traverse to meet
their daily needs.
Preliminary Observations
The Design Assistance Team (DAT) participated in a
community tour and conducted a preliminary review of
local, transportation-related documents including the
following:
• City Council Goals and Priorities, FY 2021-2023
• Capital Improvements Program
• City Streets Standards
• 2008 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
• 2022 Active Transportation Plan maps
• 2021 General Plan: Existing Conditions Report –
Transportation
• 2022 Local Road Safety Plan
The DAT observed the following:
• Each of City Council’s goals address transportation
in some way. City Council recognizes the need to
prioritize safe and connected streets and trails
for walking, bicycling, and transit. Furthermore,
City Council recommends adopting a VMT policy
consistent with Petaluma’s goal to be carbon
neutral by 2030.
• The Public Works & Utilities Department has found
recent success in piloting and experimenting with
new street design solutions, such as the parkingprotected bike lanes on Rainier Avenue and the mini
traffic circle at Bassett Street and Upham Street.
• While many of Petaluma’s neighborhoods feel safe
and comfortable internally for walking and bicycling,
several barriers inhibit inter-neighborhood and
cross-town travel. These barriers include the 101,
McDowell Boulevard, the SMART rail, the Petaluma
River, and Petaluma’s high-speed and high-volume
roadways.
• Washington Street serves many different purposes
including: connecting west Petaluma to the 101 to
east Petaluma; providing access to key destinations
such as downtown, the Fairgrounds, the SMART
station, and commercial areas; and serving as a
gateway for the community. However, its roadway
width, high traffic volumes, high traffic speeds, and
lack of high-comfort and connected sidewalks and
bikeways makes the roadway a barrier to active
transportation.
Community Input
Attendees at the community workshop on August
5, 2022, specified several challenges, assets, and
opportunities for improving transportation in Petaluma.
7
Existing Challenges
1. Remove Barriers
• Narrow sidewalks
2.Create Connections
• Fragmented bikeway network
3.Expand the Framework
• Unreliable transit service
• Limited cross-town connectivity
• Motorists speeding through neighborhoods
Existing Assets
• Walkable downtown
• Some walkable and tree-shaded neighborhoods
• Parks and paved trails
Opportunities for Action
• Discourage driving and encourage walking,
bicycling, and transit.
• Widen sidewalks, fill sidewalk gaps, and make
crossings safer.
• Expand the bikeway network.
• Provide shared micromobility options, e.g. e-bikes
and scooters.
• Increase secure bike parking.
• Provide fare-free transit.
• Reduce commuting distance and commuting by car.
• Reduce motor vehicle volumes and speeds.
Recommended Actions
Based on preliminary observations and what community
members highlighted as challenges and opportunities for
transportation and mobility, the DAT makes the following
recommendations, categorized into three big ideas:
Remove Barriers
Roadways and intersections with high traffic volumes
and speeds, railways, the Petaluma River, and gaps in
the active transportation network are significant barriers
for walking and bicycling. Removing or mitigating these
barriers is essential for making Petaluma safe and
comfortable for people on foot or wheels.
Fix Washington Street
Washington Street is one of Petaluma's lifelines: it
facilitates cross-town trips; provides a direct connection
to downtown, the Fairgrounds, and key commercial
destinations; and it interfaces with the 101. However,
it acts as a barrier to multimodal travel because of its
number of travel lanes, motor vehicle speeds, and lack of
safe and comfortable crossings. Previous and ongoing
planning efforts have identified Washington Street as a
high-crash and high-injury corridor, especially for people
walking and bicycling. The City and its partners must fix
Washington Street to meet its goals related to climate
resiliency, carbon neutrality, vehicle miles traveled,
connectivity, and safety.
Implementation
Washington Street can be transformed physically and
operationally to be safe and comfortable for people
walking and people bicycling who are traveling along
or across the street. A reimagination of Washington
Street could include continuous and high-quality
sidewalks and bikeways; street trees, landscaping, and
green infrastructure; slower motorist speeds resulting
from fewer and narrower travel lanes, traffic signal
coordination, and traffic calming features; high-comfort
crossings and intersections that prioritize time and
space for walking and bicycling; bus stops that provide
