Shift Sonoma County
In early 2014, RCPA applied for and was awarded a Strategic Growth Council Planning Grant to develop Shift Sonoma County – a strategic action plan to promote a shift in both the mode and fuel used for personal transportation in Sonoma County. In 2014-2016, The RCPA is working with SCTA to develop gap analysis, strategic planning, and implementation strategies for transportation demand management (including car share, bike share, rideshare, transit integration, education, incentives, and land use), as well as strategies to promote electric vehicle use. This planning effort was identified as the crucial next step towards implementation of the SCTA Comprehensive Transportation Plan, Climate Action 2020, and the regional Plan Bay Area.

Santa Rosa Car Share Pilot Program
SCTA has partnered with Zipcar to introduce the first robust publicly available car sharing system in Sonoma County. The Pilot Program aims to help break barriers for increased use of transit, carpool, vanpool, and biking, and to increase the availability of affordable transportation options.

On August 25, 2017, the Santa Rosa Car Share pilot project launched two Zipcars in City-owned parking spots at the Downtown Santa Rosa Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Station and in a downtown Santa Rosa surface lot at 730 5th Street. The two Zipcars—a Honda Civic named “Alfred” and a Ford Escape named “Sparky”—are available for reservation by the hour or by the day with gas, insurance, maintenance and 180 miles of driving included. Santa Rosa residents and employees can take advantage of complimentary annual Zipcar memberships thanks to a grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. To receive a discounted membership, visit Zipcar.com/SantaRosa.

Carma Ridesharing
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission approved grants totaling $1,975,000 for the implementation of real time ridesharing program, Carma. Carma is in Sonoma, Contra Costa and Marin counties. The SCTA, with its partners, developed a region-wide program, one of the largest in the world. Coordination between non-profits, potential affinity groups and the private software vendor created the “backbone” of a real time rideshare network. As the funded pilot wrapped up in Sonoma County, the project gained support from MTC’s 511 Rideshare, and grew to accommodate users throughout the Bay Area.

Electric Vehicles
Plug-In Hybrid vehicle SCTA and RCPA are working with city and county fleet managers and private sector partners to promote the purchase of electric vehicles and hybrids. SCTA and RCPA will be working with PG&E and other partners to encourage and coordinate electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Sonoma County Local Governments Electric Vehicle Partnership has been working together to build out an electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure over the past 2.5 years to support mass introduction of EVs in late 2010. As local governments, it is our responsibility to provide public infrastructure and to set the standard in responsible use of our resources. We are approaching this through working to provide charging stations for public and private use as well as converting our own government fleets to EVs.

Bicycle & Pedestrian Count Program
SCTA continues to work with all jurisdictions to collect peak hour bicycle and pedestrian counts. Counts were completed at thirteen locations in the fall of 2014. The SCTA has completed six consecutive years (2009–2014) of bicycle and pedestrian counts at specific locations around the county. This data is useful for improving bicycle and pedestrian planning, documenting need for funding, as well as updating our travel model.

SCTA has purchased automated counters to assist with the bicycle and pedestrian count program. These automated counters will allow SCTA to expand the data collection of bicycle and pedestrian travel, including 24-hours, weekends, and for longer durations such as weeks or months. All jurisdictions in Sonoma County will have the ability to borrow the automated counters to conduct bicycle and pedestrian counts within their own jurisdiction. SCTA staff developed the automated counter program in 2014 and began testing and using the automated counters in the fall of 2014.