REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: JILL M. GORMLEY, TE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Traffic & Engineering Services Division
ANDREINA AGUILAR, Chief Engineering Technician
Public Works Department, Traffic & Engineering Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Hearing to consider the adoption of the City of Fresno Active Transportation Plan (Citywide)
1. Adopt a finding that the 2026 City of Fresno Active Transportation Plan is statutorily exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section 21080.20
2. RESOLUTION - to adopt the Active Transportation Plan and accept the Active Transportation Project Prioritization Tool
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council adopt a finding that the Active Transportation Plan is statutorily exempt from the requirements of CEQA, adopt the Resolution for the Active Transportation Plan and accept the updated Active Transportation Project Priority Tool
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno Active Transportation Plan (ATP) serves as the City’s comprehensive strategy and vision to improve walking, bicycling, and rolling conditions for residents of all ages and abilities. The ATP updates the City’s active transportation policies, inventories existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities, identifies gaps, and establishes a prioritized list of improvements to guide near-, mid-, and long-term investments. A key focus of the ATP is improving safety, expanding the bike and pedestrian network, enhancing equitable access to active transportation, supporting community health, and environmental sustainability.
Development of the ATP update was informed by public outreach and engagement efforts, coordination with partner agencies, and analysis of safety data and existing infrastructure. Adoption of the ATP positions the City to compete effectively for state and federal grant funding and establishes a framework for implementing high-priority bicycle and pedestrian improvements over time.
The Active Transportation Project Prioritization Tool ranks active transportation projects by point scoring, because there are more needs than can be funded at once. This tool gives a fair and consistent way to compare future projects. It looks at safety, connectivity, access and equity, and potential for mode shift. The outcome is a transparent scoring that helps investments into ranked projects that will make the biggest positive impact for the community.
BACKGROUND
The previous City of Fresno Active Transportation Plan and the associated Active Transportation Project Prioritization Tool were adopted by City Council on March 2, 2017. On November 16, 2023, the Council approved a Professional Consultant Services Agreement with TJKM Transportation Consultants for the Active Transportation Plan update. Subsequently, on April 10, 2025, the Council approved three corridors to move forward to thirty percent conceptual design, with a modification on November 20, 2025, removing a portion of H Street from the Downtown Loop. On April 9, 2026, staff presented on the draft Active Transportation Plan and summarized public comments received during the review period.
Active transportation, including walking, bicycling, and rolling, is a fundamental component of a safe, equitable, and balanced transportation system. In recent years, the City has seen a growing demand for safer pedestrian and bicycle facilities, along with an increased awareness of traffic safety best practices, and climate and health goals. Alongside the ATP update, the City also developed a Vision Zero Action Plan focused on eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injury crashes through a Safe System Approach. These two efforts were intentionally coordinated to share data analysis and community engagement, maximizing efficiency and ensuring consistency across both plans.
The ATP update builds upon the City’s previous bicycle and pedestrian planning efforts and incorporates current design standards, policy guidance, and community priorities. Preparation of the ATP followed a data-driven and coordinated process that included a review of existing plans and policies, a comprehensive inventory of existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities, analysis of bicycle and pedestrian collisions and safety data to identify high-injury locations, and targeted outreach to better understand community needs, barriers, and priorities related to active transportation.
Community Outreach and Engagement
Public participation was central to the development of the ATP. Outreach activities were citywide, ensuring underserved communities were reached. Engagement strategies included four public workshops, eight pop-up events, two focused meetings, online surveys and an interactive mapping tool, a youth Traffic Garden hands-on activity, and coordination with community-based organizations. The City of Fresno Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) was involved in the development of the ATP by having a representative on the steering committee, receiving monthly status updates and presentations, attending public events, and providing feedback.
Feedback gathered throughout the process directly informed the ATP’s vision, goals, policies, and planned facility priorities. Common themes expressed by community members included the need for safer street crossings particularly along arterials and collector streets, improved routes to schools, parks, transit stops, and other key destinations, more comfortable and physically separated bikeways that reduce conflicts with vehicle traffic, and enhancements to pedestrian environments, such as better lighting, maintenance, and perceived personal safety.
Safety Focus
Safer connectivity is a foundation of active transportation. The ATP prioritizes reducing injuries and fatalities among people walking and bicycling by focusing investments and strategies in high-collision locations and corridors. The ATP emphasizes and encourages proven safety approaches, including improved crossing treatments, traffic calming, better visibility at intersections, and facility designs that are intuitive and comfortable for users of all ages and abilities. In addition to physical improvements, the ATP supports complementary education, encouragement, and policy actions to foster a safer and more predictable active transportation environment.
Existing and Planned Facilities
The ATP includes an inventory of the City’s existing bicycle and pedestrian network, including Class I Bike Paths (also known as Shared-Use Paths or Trails), Class II Bike Lanes, Class III Bike Routes, Class IV Separated Bikeways (also known as Protected Bikeways), sidewalks, and pedestrian crossings. This inventory establishes a baseline understanding of current conditions and highlights gaps in the network. Building upon this foundation, the ATP plans on an expanded, more connected system of bicycle and pedestrian facilities designed to improve citywide safety, access, and mobility.
The network identifies existing bikeways and sidewalks that currently serve residents, as well as planned facilities intended to close gaps, improve east-west and north-south connectivity, and strengthen connections to key destinations. Pedestrian improvements are also identified to enhance accessibility and comfort. Detailed maps and tables within the ATP summarize the existing and planned mileage of bikeways and pedestrian facilities and illustrate how the network functions as an integrated system.
Priority Projects
To support implementation, the ATP establishes a prioritized list of bikeway and pedestrian facilities based on objective criteria such as enhanced safety needs, connectivity, equity, feasibility, and community support. These priority projects are intended to guide capital improvement programming, grant applications, and coordination with routine street maintenance and development activities.
The high-priority facilities generally address corridors and intersections with documented safety concerns, enhance access to schools, transit, employment centers, and community destinations, and form continuous network “spines” that provide reliable and comfortable travel options across the City. These priority projects are intended to be implemented incrementally as funding becomes available and as opportunities arise to coordinate with other capital projects.
Active Transportation Project Prioritization Tool
The Active Transportation Project Prioritization Tool ranks active transportation projects by using a point scoring matrix. This tool is used because there are more needs than can be funded at once. The tool provides a fair and consistent way to compare future projects. It looks at safety, connectivity, access and equity, and potential for mode shift. The outcome is transparent and helps invest in projects that will make the biggest positive impact on the community. The update to this tool is consistent with priorities outlined in the ATP update and will help with implementation of the plan.
Conclusion
The Active Transportation Plan represents an important step toward a safer, healthier, and more connected City. Adoption of the ATP will provide direction for active transportation, strengthen eligibility for competitive transportation funding, and establish a framework for implementing high-priority bicycle and pedestrian improvements over time. The Active Transportation Project Priority Tool will equip staff with a transparent and consistent way to rank projects as funding becomes available.
Staff recommends the City Council adopt the update to the City of Fresno Active Transportation Plan and accept the updated Active Transportation Project Priority Tool.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The Active Transportation Plan is statutorily exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section 21080.20. This section expressly states that the division pertaining to environmental quality in the Public Resources Code does not apply to active transportation plans that meet the definition set forth in the statute. Specifically, an exempt active transportation plan is defined as a plan developed by a local jurisdiction that promotes and encourages people to choose walking, bicycling, or rolling through the creation of comfortable, connected, and accessible walking, bicycling, or rolling networks, and encourages alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle trips. Because the purpose, goals, policies, objectives, and implementation strategies of the Active Transportation Plan meet this definition, the Plan is statutorily exempt from the requirements of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this action does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract, as the consultant agreement was awarded through a previous action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action, as the consultant agreement was awarded through a previous action.
Attachments:
Resolution with ATP and Prioritization Tool Attached
Environmental Assessment