A Complete Streets Network as a Solution to Sonoma County's Transportation Emissions Reduction

Summary

As a response to the climate change crisis, Sonoma County has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. As approximately 60% of the county’s total emissions, policy addressing transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) could provide substantial progress towards this goal. However, the complexity, cost, and scale of transportation policy challenge the county’s ability to reduce transportation GHGs. 

Sonoma County’s existing transportation infrastructure is designed to prioritize car travel and intrinsically discourages alternative climate neutral transportation (e.g.: walking, biking) options by its design. Multiple surveys have shown that current infrastructure design discourages a large portion of would-be clean commuters. Therefore, altering road design is an impactful means of reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and associated emissions.  

Complete Streets strategies are those that prioritize mobility, accessibility, and safety for not only drivers but pedestrians, bicyclists, micro-mobility users, and public transportation. This is reflected in street design and transportation policy, and is often enacted with the goal of serving people of all abilities while reducing car dependency. The creation of a practical, safe, and equitable network of Complete Streets strategically positioned throughout the county’s commuting corridors can both serve the transportation needs of residents and lower the county’s transportation carbon emissions, thus meeting its 2030 climate goal.

Authorship

This brief was prepared by Katie Michel (kemichel@ucdavis.edu).