A Quick Look at FY 2019 City Council Budget Priorities

San Diego City Councilmembers submitted their priorities to the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) in January 2019 and the IBA created a report which can be seen here: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/18_01_fy_2019_city_council_budget_priorities_complete_report.pdf

From the report:

“All Councilmembers indicated that support for the Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a priority in FY 2019, although no single-CAP related item was supported by a majority of Councilmembers. Budget priority memoranda included requests for adaptive traffic signals intended to ease congestion; additional staffing for the City’s Urban Forestry Program, Vision Zero program, and other CAP-related activities; a Community Choice Energy local buildout study; a mobility monitoring program to measure bicycle, pedestrian, and transit mode share; and the addition of CAP social equity metrics.”

BikeSD is pleased that all Council members supported programs related to City’s Climate Action Plan and public safety including Vision Zero. But we continue to see a lack of clear direction with regard to exactly what projects should be prioritized. BikeSD Executive Director Judi Tentor spoke in favor of the Budget Priorities and encouraged Council to accelerate bicycle infrastructure projects as much as possible.

Councilmember Scott Sherman from the Seventh District was the only Councilmember who did not call out Pedestrian and Cycling Safety as a priority. All other Councilmembers cited many bicycle related infrastructure projects.

Eight Councilmembers prioritized projects in their memoranda designed to enhance pedestrian and cycling safety. A variety of requests were made as part of this priority including:

• Prioritizing funding for infrastructure improvements in the corridors identified as part of Vision Zero, especially the “Fatal 15” intersections
• Initiating traffic calming measures such as raised delineators or electronic (VCalm) signs
• Installing rectangular rapid flashing beacons, crosswalks, and constructing Safe Routes to Schools program improvements

This is good news. BikeSD will be reviewing bicycle infrastructure projects outlined in the report in the coming weeks. If we can hold the the Council to account on these projects, push for funding and accelerated timelines, we might come close to meeting our CAP goals for bicycle mode share. Maybe.