To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Permit Sonoma
Staff Name and Phone Number: Scott Orr, (707) 565-1754, Wil Lyons (707) 565-7388
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
1:40 P.M. Adoption of the County of Sonoma Active Transportation Plan, replacing the 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, and supporting General Plan and Local Coastal Plan Amendments
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Conduct a public hearing and, after closing the public hearing, adopt a Resolution:
A) Finding the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and Section 15265 and Public Resources Code Section 21080.9.
B) Repealing the 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and adopting the County of Sonoma Active Transportation Plan.
C) Amending the Sonoma County General Plan Circulation and Transit Element to make minor and technical edits to maintain plan consistency.
D) Amending the Sonoma County Local Coastal Plan to make minor and technical edits for plan consistency and replacing Appendix H with the County of Sonoma Active Transportation Plan.
end
Executive Summary:
The proposed County of Sonoma Active Transportation Plan (“ATP”) will replace the existing 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (“2010 Plan”) as the unincorporated County’s primary policy document for active transportation. Active transportation refers to “human-powered” modes of travel, like walking, biking, or using mobility devices. The County of Sonoma first implemented dedicated bicycle and pedestrian policy through its 1997 Bikeways Plan under the provisions of the California Bicycle Transportation Act of 1994. The Bikeways Plan goals, objectives and policies were also incorporated into the Sonoma County General Plan. The 1997 Plan was later replaced by the current 2010 Plan, which created policies, programs, and standards for the promotion of active transportation and established priorities for expanding the bicycle and pedestrian transportation network, encouraging a shift from automobile travel to walking and bicycling through a safer, more connected network. The 2010 Plan also sought to improve public health and air quality, reduce vehicle noise, and advance social equity.
The proposed ATP revisits and updates the list of potential infrastructure projects (“Project List”), adds new policies and programs, and revises existing policy to align with updated federal, State, and local standards. The policies and Project List found in the ATP were developed and refined through countywide community engagement, including community pop-up events, workshops, and meetings with the Sonoma County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).
This item presents the proposed ATP, which includes:
• A change in name from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan to the Active Transportation Plan to align with State guidance, other jurisdictions, and grant funding opportunities;
• Policy refinement to the 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and new policies, programs, and objectives shaped by input from Sonoma Public Infrastructure, County Regional Parks, and the public;
• An updated Project List revising and adding to the 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan project list developed in coordination with public outreach, Sonoma Public Infrastructure, and County Regional Parks; and
• General Plan and Local Coastal Plan Amendments to make minor changes to reflect updated State and federal guidance and ensure plan consistency across the Sonoma County General Plan, Local Coastal Plan, and the ATP.
Each of the nine cities in Sonoma County has recently adopted their own new or updated active transportation plans in coordination with the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities’ (SCTCA) Countywide Active Transportation Plan. The Countywide ATP is an umbrella plan that incorporates local jurisdictions’ ATPs to provide a coordinated vision for Sonoma County’s active transportation network and a list of projects to achieve that vision to improve the likelihood of receiving grant funding.
On August 20, 2026, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend adoption of the Active Transportation Plan.
Discussion:
Permit Sonoma, in partnership with the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities (SCTCA), proposes an update to the County’s 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, as part of a larger countywide effort led by SCTCA to promote collaboration across jurisdictions on active transportation planning. The updated plan, called the County of Sonoma Active Transportation Plan (ATP), includes goals, policies, and programs that reflect the community’s current vision for the County’s active transportation network. Sonoma County cities have recently adopted their own active transportation plans in coordination with SCTCA. Countywide collaboration helps align bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects across jurisdictional boundaries, improving competitiveness for grant funding, reducing infrastructure gaps, and creating a seamless regional transportation network.
The primary purpose of the plan update is to establish new and revised policies and update the list of potential infrastructure projects (“Project List”). To maintain consistency with the current Sonoma County General Plan, which is undergoing a comprehensive update, the policies contained within the 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan are carried forward and modified as necessary. The updated plan includes the following changes:
1. New Policies: These policies seek to add clarification to existing policy, address changes in industry standards such as changes in classification of bikeways and strengthen accountability to facilitate active transportation project development.
2. Changes In Existing Policy: The federal government and State of California periodically update standards for bikeways and pedestrian infrastructure. Policies will be updated to match current standards and to reference up-to-date policy documents from applicable agencies.
3. Project List: The Project List for proposed bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure is updated to reflect updated standards and new methods to create safe and fun infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians. The projects are aligned with the active transportation plans for the incorporated cities of Sonoma County.
This update, along with the updates made to the cities’ plans throughout Sonoma County, feed into a larger plan at SCTCA. The Countywide Active Transportation Plan (Countywide ATP) sets priorities and objectives to spur interjurisdictional project development and close active transportation infrastructure gaps while identifying regional funding opportunities to build the infrastructure identified in the various active transportation plans across Sonoma County.
The project also includes General Plan and Local Coastal Plan amendments to make minor and technical updates to language within those plans that reference Federal and State guidance documents that are now out of date, specify new classifications of bicycle infrastructure, acknowledge changes in State law, update name references of local agencies, and ensure consistency between the General Plan, Local Coastal Plan, and the ATP.
Project History
The ATP project was initiated by SCTCA in 2023, which conducted outreach and created a preliminary draft ATP and Project List. In 2025, this draft was provided to Permit Sonoma to finalize and steward through the adoption process. Permit Sonoma received a $50,000 grant to finish the ATP from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transportation Development Act funding. After project handoff, Permit Sonoma refined the ATP through:
• Updating and adding policies tailored to the County of Sonoma and its agency roles;
• Updating the Project List with input from the public, the Sonoma County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), Sonoma Public Infrastructure, and County Regional Parks; and
• Improving organization and readability in alignment with contemporary County of Sonoma planning documents.
Community Engagement
Early in the planning process, staff prepared vision and goals statements for the updated Plan based on input from the Sonoma County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and the Countywide BPAC. The County’s BPAC includes representation from each of the supervisorial districts, and the Countywide BPAC includes representation from the unincorporated county, incorporated cities, the Safe Routes to Schools program, the Disability Services and Legal Center, the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, and local advisory bodies from the incorporated cities. The ATP was thus prepared with the following vision and goals:
• Vision: “Our guiding principles are to improve safety, connectivity, equity, and quality of life. Walking, biking, and rolling shall be safe and appealing modes for people of all ages and abilities to use for everyday transportation and recreation.”
• Goals: Connected and Reliable; Safe and Well-Maintained; and Community Oriented and Place-Based.
Outreach for the plan occurred over an approximately two-year period between 2023 and 2025. The effort was led by SCTCA and included hosting numerous virtual and in-person events and attending community popups, cultural events, and other opportunities to gather public input on policies and projects, including project prioritization. Events were held in both the unincorporated County and within cities. Many riders and pedestrians frequently cross jurisdictional boundaries, so the project team sought to obtain feedback from all riders and pedestrians that would be affected by this plan. See Attachment 3 for the list of events and community feedback. Permit Sonoma has continued to work with the public, BPAC, and community representatives throughout the adoption hearing process.
Project List
The ATP includes a Project List that outlines and prioritizes active transportation projects. Projects identified in the Plan’s Project List represent preferred facilities for construction to realize the County’s vision for active transportation, however their inclusion in this document does not guarantee construction, nor are they exclusively the only active transportation projects which could be built in the County. Instead, being listed in the Plan identifies the project as a priority and allows it to more easily obtain grant funding at the local, State, and Federal levels. The list of projects contained in the 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan has been revised and expanded. The BPAC reviewed the Project List extensively and their feedback was incorporated into the draft presented with this item. The key principals when analyzing and prioritizing projects were:
• All Ages and Abilities: Creating spaces for people to walk, bike, and roll that are low-stress and lower risk to create more opportunities for more people to walk, bike, and roll.
• Regional Coordination: Identifying and planning regional routes between jurisdictions as part of the larger Countywide ATP.
• Implementation: Prioritizing projects and identifying funding to focus and streamline implementation.
Level of Traffic Stress (i.e. comfort based on travel corridor characteristics) analysis was conducted to identify opportunities to upgrade or enhance existing or previously planned projects and identify new routes. Other factors that influenced the Project List include the existing bike facility network, planned facilities identified in the 2010 Plan, desire for low stress routes and recreational routes, industry guidance on bikeway selection, State Senate Bill 1216 (2024) prohibiting new sharrows (on-road bicycle routes shared with motor vehicle traffic) on roads with speed limits over 30 miles per hour, community input, and BPAC feedback. More information on development of the Project List can be found in Attachment 3.
Each proposed project in the Project List will be analyzed individually as part of any future grant funding applications or before deciding whether to pursue construction. This analysis will include compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), route finalization, classifications, and design, and involve local outreach by the implementing agency. The ATP is a high-level planning document that identifies and prioritizes potential projects but is not a binding or time-sensitive commitment to building any project. The Project List remains critical as it identifies priorities and provides a level of commitment to active transportation planning that grant funding agencies require before considering applications.
Project Prioritization
Opportunities to advance specific projects towards implementation will be dependent on external factors (e.g., land use projects, successful grant applications, etc.). The projects identified in the Plan’s Project List have been prioritized into three tiers with 1 being High Priority and 3 being Low Priority. The criteria used to sort the projects into each tier were:
• Safety - Extent to which the project is on a portion of the SCTCA Vision Zero and/or if it has been identified in the ’Countys Local Road Safety Plan <https://scta.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Sonoma-County-Local-Road-Safety-Plan.pdf> as a priority location.
• Equity - Extent to which the project would improve active transportation access or conditions for an equity-focus population as defined at the regional, State, or federal level.
• Proximity to Existing and Future Transit - For a given project, the distance from an existing or future bus stop or transit station.
• Proximity to Schools - For a given project, the distance from an existing school.
• Low-Stress Gap Closure - Scored based on whether the project would close a gap in the low-stress network, with extra points for projects that work to create a county-wide regional network.
Each project received a score based on the extent to which it fulfilled a specific criterion. Tiers 1, 2, and 3 were established to align with the top, middle, and bottom third of the project scores. Projects are presented by tier in the Project List appended to the Plan and the Prioritization Criteria reference document (Attachment 5). A more detailed explanation of prioritization can be found in Attachment 3.
Plan Implementation
Plan implementation will continue to be carried out by multiple County departments and agencies that have a role in land development and the planning, funding, or constructing of active transportation infrastructure, including Permit Sonoma, Sonoma Public Infrastructure, County Regional Parks, and SCTCA. Projects will continue to be implemented as funding is available. Newly constructed facilities, and existing facilities that are renovated, will be subject to the updated construction standards outlined in the Plan. New and updated policies in the Plan will guide and enhance coordination on and tracking of implementation across agencies. These responsibilities increase accountability, provide greater awareness over projects in this plan as they are built, and foster collaboration to obtain grant funding with other agencies. Additional new policies emphasize quick-build projects, direct updates to the County’s Traffic Impact Study guidelines, and encourage creation of development incentives for projects that construct active transportation facilities.
Public Comment
Public comment has focused on a few key issues:
• Inconsistencies with Community Area Plans. Public comment identified inconsistencies between earlier versions of the Project List and the Penngrove Area Plan and Design Guidelines and the Bennett Valley Area Plan and expressed concern about lack of right of way for buffered facilities or dedicated bike lanes on area roads. In response, Permit Sonoma, Sonoma Public Infrastructure, and County Regional Parks staff conducted an audit of the project list and reverted all of the projects in the Penngrove Area Plan and Design Guidelines and the Bennett Valley Area Plan areas to their 2010 Plan classifications. By reverting to the 2010 project classifications, the project list now better aligns with the Bennett Valley Area Plan, last amended in late 2011, and the Penngrove Area Plan and Design Guidelines by preserving current road widths while increasing safety and awareness for both riders and drivers.
• Appropriateness of Buffered Facilities (noted as “B” classifications) and Dedicated Lanes (Class II). Buffered facilities provide a physical buffer between vehicular and bicycle/pedestrian traffic, ranging from wider painted separations on the road to vertical bollards or curbing. These facilities tend to work best in urban areas with more infrastructural support. Class II facilities consist of dedicated lanes and work well in areas with both ample right of way and where there are minimal topographic constraints on roadways. In response to feedback, where the proposed facilities are already in urbanized areas, have the appropriate speed limits, and do not conflict with local area plans, the proposed Project List maintains the buffered designations. For both buffered and Class II facilities, where there is insufficient right of way, geographic or environmental constraints, or inconsistency with established plans, the Project List reflects the 2010 Plan designation of Class III.
• City of Sonoma Area Projects. Members of the public have asked for increased safety measures such as widened shoulders and signalization on this project in eastern Sonoma County between the City of Sonoma and the Napa County border, particularly around Ramal Road and connections to the Napa County line. At BPAC’s July 2025 public hearing, the Committee discussed options with Sonoma Public Infrastructure, County Regional Parks, and Permit Sonoma staff, which resulted in the Ramal Road project’s (Project Nos. 58c, 69, 109, 190, and 193) remaining in the draft list unaltered. Additionally, a connection between 7th Street East and 8Th Street East via a railroad right of way was previously reflected in both the County’s draft ATP and the City of Sonoma’s ATP. When the City’s plan moved forward first, it was discovered this was private property and infeasible. Therefore, the proposed County ATP now includes a new route to connect the paths along Lovall Valley Road (Project No. 358).
BPAC Review
The BPAC is designated by existing General Plan Policy CT-3c as “responsible for advising the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Adjustments, Project Review Advisory Committee, and County staff on the ongoing planning and coordination of the County's bicycle and pedestrian transportation network.” Permit Sonoma staff brought the ATP before the BPAC on four separate public meetings for input on the Plan and Project List. BPAC feedback focused on increasing active transportation infrastructure development by ensuring that discretionary land use projects contribute fair-share development of ATP projects, improving staff oversight and tracking of Plan implementation, and exploring quick-build opportunities. Quick-builds are projects that would be quick and inexpensive to create through signage, road striping, etc. However, identification of these will take more time and collaboration between Sonoma Public Infrastructure and County Regional Parks. Program 6 of the proposed ATP will allow staff to continually analyze projects and identify quick builds for future implementation. After finalizing the draft ATP and Project List, Permit Sonoma presented the drafts to the Sonoma County BPAC at a public hearing on June 17, 2026 where they recommended approval.
Planning Commission Review
On July 16, 2026, Permit Sonoma presented the ATP and Project list to the Planning Commission where commissioners requested minor changes and a continuance to allow for Permit Sonoma to address final comments with partner agencies and to allow for finalization of online mapping of the Project List. On August 20th, the Planning Commission unanimously adopted a resolution recommending approval to the Board of Supervisors.
Additionally, the Planning Commission made a recommendation to the Board to consider designating a member of Permit Sonoma staff as the Active Transportation Coordinator. Historically, the primary responsibility of this role, currently held by staff in Sonoma County Transit, has been the coordination of the BPAC hearing body. As envisioned by the proposed ATP in Policy 3.10, this role would be held by staff from Sonoma Public Infrastructure that currently work on active transportation projects and, beyond oversight of the BPAC, the role would provide regular updates to the BPAC, Planning Commission, and Board of Supervisors on active transportation implementation in the County and provide coordination between Permit Sonoma, County Regional Parks, Sonoma Public Infrastructure, and other implementing agencies. The Active Transportation Coordinator would be in addition to the active transportation position which the Board appointed Sonoma Public Infrastructure in 2025. This role would require staffing of BPAC meetings (approximately 40 hours annually) and approximately 260 staff hours annually (or five hours per week) for greater support to and coordination with partner agencies and Permit Sonoma’s Project Review staff. Staff recommend the role stay as envisioned in proposed Policy 3.10 with Sonoma Public Infrastructure, with the increased coordination between Permit Sonoma, Sonoma Public Infrastructure, and County Regional Parks as outlined throughout the ATP.
General Plan and Local Coastal Plan Consistency
The proposed County of Sonoma Active Transportation Plan and its appendices (provided in Attachment 1, Exhibits A and B, respectively) are consistent and compatible with the Sonoma County General Plan and Local Coastal Plan (LCP) because they support the General Plan and LCP goals, objectives, and policies promoting active transportation and related infrastructure and environmental stewardship, among others.
Several amendments are required to maintain consistency between the Active Transportation Plan, the General Plan, and the LCP. These amendments update references to State and federal guidance document names, incorporate the ATP by reference, and ensure compliance with current industry standards. The proposed General Plan and LCP amendments are necessary to ensure consistency of standards with State and federal guidance, ensure competitive grant applications to fund active transportation infrastructure, secure active transportation as a priority for the County into the future, and ensure the accuracy and reliability of the active transportation information on which the public relies. The LCP also directly incorporates the entirety of the 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and its Project List into LCP Appendix H; the proposed amendment replaces those with the ATP and its appendices.
LCP amendments must be reviewed and certified by the California Coastal Commission. If the Board of Supervisors adopts the proposed amendments to the LCP, Permit Sonoma will transmit the amendments to the Coastal Commission for its review and certification in accordance with Public Resources Code Section 30514.
Environmental Review
Permit Sonoma has determined that the project is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that adoption of the Active Transportation Plan and amendments to the General Plan and Local Coastal Plan (LCP) will have no significant effect on the environment since it does not authorize any development projects. Similarly, Public Resources Code Section 21080.9 and CEQA Guideline Section 15265 statutorily exempt the project’s proposed minor LCP amendments from CEQA because they are separately subject to review and approval by the California Coastal Commission pursuant to its regulatory program.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
Yes
Racial Equity Analysis was completed by Permit Sonoma and Office of Equity Staff and finds the Active Transportation Plan supports goals in advancing racial equity throughout the County. See Attachment 7.
Prior Board Actions:
N/A
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1. Board Resolution for Adoption of the Active Transportation Plan and supportive
Amendments to the General Plan and Local Coastal Plan
Exhibit A. Draft Active Transportation Plan (ATP)
Exhibit B. Appendices and Project List
Exhibit C. General Plan Amendments
Exhibit D. Local Coastal Plan Amendments
Attachment 2. Planning Commission Resolution No. 26-015
Attachment 3. Planning Commission Staff Report Reference
Attachment 4. Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Resolution No. 26-0001 for the Active Transportation Plan
Attachment 5. Project List Prioritization Criteria Reference Document
Attachment 6. List of Outreach Events and Feedback
Attachment 7. Racial Equity Analysis
Attachment 8. Public Comment
Attachment 9. Affidavit of Noticing
Attachment 10. PowerPoint Presentation
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None