2022 AIA Communities by Design Reimagining Petaluma SDAT - Report - Page 16
Petaluma DAT
circling to find on-street parking, off-street parking
should have lower fees than on-street parking. The
program should address the growing need and demand
for electric vehicle charging. The program could also
include residential parking permits to discourage
motorists from parking in residential areas to avoid
paying parking fees within the paid parking zone. The
program should also include considerations for curbside
space being used for outdoor seating and dining, bicycle
parking, and public art. Finally, the City should reimagine
its parking and loading requirements to be maximums
rather than minimums.
out of Petaluma to work, and approximately 22,000
employees commute into Petaluma for work. To get to
work, only 2 percent of Petalumans walk, less than 1
percent bike, and 3 percent use transit. Simply put, most
Petalumans drive to work (and other purposes) because
it's currently the most attractive and convenient option.
Conduct a citywide parking study.
Micromobility (electric bikes, electric scooters, and
other small, low-speed vehicles) can make transit more
attractive by providing an option for transit users to
get to and from transit stations and stops, also known
as first- and last-mile connectivity. The Downtown
Petaluma SMART station and Petaluma Transit Mall
on Copeland Street are approximately a half mile away
from the core of downtown Petaluma.
Update Safe Routes to School program
Implementation
Critical Next Step
The Petaluma School District does not provide bus
service for students, and it consists of magnet schools
that don't restrict attendance by home location. Trips
to school might require cross-town or longer-distance
travel, and Petaluma's walking and bicycling network
isn't fully built out. This results in most students being
driven to school, some students using Petaluma Transit's
bus services, and a small number walking or bicycling to
school.
Implementation
A more comprehensive Safe Routes to School program
would prioritize sidewalks, bike lanes, trails, crossings,
and intersections that more adequately provide safe
and comfortable walking and bicycling conditions for
students, especially elementary school students. The
City should update its existing Safe Routes to School
program to offer incentives, provide information and
resources, and monitor progress.
Critical Next Step
Update the existing Safe Routes to School program.
Explore micromobility
Approximately 19,000 Petaluman residents commute
To further encourage commuters to walk, bike, use
transit, or leverage some combination to get to work,
the Metropolitan Transportation Commission awarded
a $826,000 Capital Bike Share grant to Marin and
Sonoma Counties to implement a 300 e-bike system
that serves SMART stations between Santa Rose and
Larkspur.
The City of Petaluma can further augment the SMART
bike share system by creating a local program to pilot
micromobility vehicles that are available for rental
through mobile apps. To test its effectiveness, the City
could explore defining an operation zone that connects
the Petaluma Downtown SMART Station to downtown
Petaluma via Washington Street and D Street.
Critical Next Step
Establish a micromobility pilot program.
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