FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACTS:
Walt Seifert
Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates
(916) 444-6600
saba@sacbike.org
www.sacbike.org

Anne Geraghty

WALKSacramento

(916) 446-9255

ageraghty@walksacramento.org

www.walksacramento.org

Sacramento Coalition Hails Complete Street Bill

Sacramento, CA. May 1, 2008 Members of the Sacramento Complete Street Coalition rejoiced at the news that local Member of Congress Doris Matsui had introduced complete streets legislation. Sacramento has been in the forefront of the complete streets movement. In 2004, voters passed the Measure A sale tax renewal which requires all new transportation projects to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. The regional transportation planning agency, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, is working to develop detailed complete streets guidelines.

Walt Seifert, Executive Director of the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA), said, ≥With this legislation, Representative Matsui has taken a giant step that addresses vital national interests: the environment, energy use and public health. It will also have huge positive local effects. We all can think of streets in our region that are far from complete—that discourage the simple acts of walking and bicycling and limit healthy physical activity. This is a great opportunity to fix those streets and to make sure we build new streets the right way.≤

≥Breathe California of Sacramento- Emigrant Trails is extremely grateful for Representative Matsuiπs leadership in pursuing legislation that will accommodate all modes of transportation and encourage people to choose clean, healthy and safe alternatives such as walking, biking or taking transit. There are many benefits of Complete Streets including increased opportunity for safe exercise, better traffic flow and connected communities, but the biggest is reduced emissions resulting in healthier air quality. ≥

Jane Hagedorn, CEO of Breathe California of Sacramento- Emigrant Trails

≥Walking, the most basic form of transportation is also this countryπs primary form of recreational exercise. Completing our streets as advocated by Representative Matsuiπs legislation will go a long way to make our communities truly walkable,≤ said Anne Geraghty, Executive Director of WALKSacramento,

≥AARP California is pleased to join our national organization in supporting this bill. We think it is an important policy decision that will enable seniors and others to make their trips easier and safer.≤

Lavada DeSalles, Executive Council Member, AARP California

The Sacramento Complete Streets Coalition, formed by the Partnership for Active Communities in 2007, brings together individuals and organizations with an interest in supporting action to complete our streets – streets that are safe for all users at all times throughout Sacramento cities and the County of Sacramento. Active members of the Coalition include in addition to SABA and WALKSacramento, AARP California and Breathe California. The Partnership for Active Communities is funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

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