75B - PH - GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT

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GPA No. 2011-01 February 28, 2011 Page 2 • Remove Flood Control Channel (Segerstrom Avenue to its south edge) Class I East West • Add Memory Lane (Bristol Street to Flower Street) Class II Project Background A Bicycle Master Plan was first incorporated into Santa Ana's General Plan Circulation Element in the early 1980s. Ten years later, the City initiated a citywide comprehensive bicycle facilities study and formed an advisory committee of interagency City staff and local stakeholders to reevaluate the Bikeway Master Plan. As a result of this effort, in 1995 an additional 4.2 linear miles of off-road (Class 1) and over 30 linear miles of on-road (Class II) bikeways were included in a Circulation Element Bikeway Master Plan update. Since that time, cycling has increasingly become a valued mode of transportation with the potential to reduce roadway congestion, promote health, and improve air quality. Given the importance of the bikeway system in Santa Ana's transportation and sustainability planning efforts, a City interagency staff team is pursuing grant funds to reevaluate and update the current Bikeway Master Plan. With funding secured, the City would undertake a comprehensive update of the Circulation Element to incorporate "complete street" policies including an updated Bikeway Master Plan and the Santa Ana GO Local Fixed Guideway transit plan. The purpose of this minor amendment to the Bikeway Master Plan is to enable the City to pursue grant funding currently being offered through the State of California Bicycle Transportations Account (BTA) that can pay for new capital improvements, such as the addition of these bike lanes. Project Analysis The bikeway network currently identified in the General Plan Circulation Element envisions over 83 linear miles of on-road bike lanes and off-road bike paths for Santa Ana's future. The proposed amendment will formally add approximately 1.1 linear miles of bikeways, with 0.61 linear miles on- road bike lanes proposed on segments of Memory Lane and Flower Street, and 0.49 linear miles of bike path along Bear Street. These proposed Bikeway Master Plan revisions will preserve and provide opportunities for bicycle travel linkages between residential neighborhoods, public parks, commercial services, and other destination points. Further, General Plan Amendment No. 2011-01 is consistent with the General Plan goals to promote sustainability, quality development, and encourage a variety of transportation alternatives to serve the Santa Ana community. Public Notification The proposed bikeway routes are located adjacent to the following Neighborhood Associations: Fischer Park, Morrison/Eldridge and Bristol/Memory Coalition. Each of the presidents listed for these Neighborhood Associations was notified 10 days prior to this public hearing. In addition, City