TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY STRATEGIES
Enviroscreen 3.0 shows the Franklin District as a disadvantaged community with high levels of traffic and air pollution. Franklin Boulevard is still a wide and busy corridor that is often used by through-commuters to avoid Highway 99. For local residents, there is currently less biking and walking infrastructure and connectivity, transit, and shared mobility options than in more central parts of Sacramento less than 4 miles away.
It is thus not surprising that many households feel the need to own one or more vehicles and drive to most of their destinations. As shown in the table below, survey respondents indicated significant dependency on driving: 87% of those with a car drive to most destinations, and 55% of kids reported being driven to school.
For the six census tracts that include the Franklin District, the 2013-17 American Community Survey shows 16% of households without a vehicle. In FNDC’s survey with local residents, 25% of respondents indicated they didn’t have access to a vehicle. Yet, those who don’t have a vehicle and respondents who were elderly or disabled still reported driving or getting rides as their primary modes of transportation, although walking, public transit, and/or biking were more common among those groups.
Car dependence and a lack of other good mobility options has had negative consequences for many community residents. Many low-income households can only afford to buy older vehicles, but these are often less reliable and more expensive for gas and repairs, adding to living costs. Many of these vehicles are also more polluting than newer models, worsening air quality. And 19% of unemployed survey respondents said that lack of transportation was the main reason they are without a job.
A variety of transportation and mobility strategies can help increase clean transportation and mobility options in the Franklin District, benefitting residents, businesses, the environment, and neighborhood livability. Our four overarching strategies are therefore:
I. Streetscape, Bike, Pedestrian, and Safety Improvements
II. Public Transportation and SmaRT Ride Services
III. Increase Shared Mobility Services Access and Use
IV. Expand Electric Vehicle Use
These are described in more detail in the following sections.