Smart Mobility moves people and freight while enhancing California’s economic, environmental, and human resources by emphasizing convenient and safe multi-modal travel, speed suitability, accessibility, management of the circulation network, and efficient use of land. Smart Mobility is a basis for policy and action that responds to the transportation needs of the state’s people and businesses, the mandate to address climate change, and the commitment to a transportation system that complements land use as well as advances social equity and environmental justice.
The Smart Mobility Framework was originally developed over a 2-year period involving extensive outreach to Caltrans staff, partner agencies, and interest groups, and culminating in the release of Smart Mobility 2010: A Call to Action.
The following six principles express the priorities and values of Smart Mobility:
Location Efficiency. Integrate transportation and land use in order to achieve high levels of non-motorized travel and transit use, reduced vehicle trip making, and shorter average trip length while providing a high level of accessibility.
Reliable Mobility. Manage, reduce, and avoid congestion by emphasizing multi-modal options and network management through operational improvements and other strategies. Provide predictability and capacity increases focused on travel that supports economic productivity.
Health and Safety. Design, operate, and manage the transportation system to reduce serious injuries and fatalities, promote active living, and lessen exposure to pollution.
Environmental Stewardship. Protect and enhance the State’s transportation system and its built and natural environment. Act to reduce the transportation system’s emission of GHGs that contribute to global climate change.
Social Equity. Provide mobility for people who are economically, socially, or physically disadvantaged in order to support their full participation in society. Design and manage the transportation system in order to equitably distribute its benefits and burdens.
Robust Economy. Invest in transportation improvements—including operational improvements—that support the economic health of the State and local governments, the competitiveness of California’s businesses, and the welfare of California residents.
To implement the Smart Mobility Framework and achieve its benefits, Smart Mobility 2010 introduces two tools.
1. One tool is a set of place types and associated priorities for planning, transportation projects, and development. These place types are intended to capture the full spectrum of California communities. Planners can use the place types to help identify appropriate planning and project activities that maximize SMF benefits.
2. The other tool is a set of 17 performance measures that can advance the Smart Mobility principles. Smart Mobility 2010 identifies planning and project development processes in which each performance measure can be applied.