Mobility Network
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Woodland is relatively compact compared to other suburban communities in the Sacramento region, making transit, walking, and bicycling viable. However, automobiles will remain the primary mode of travel in the city for the next decade. As the city’s General Plan looks forward in the next 20 years, the CNU supports a regional rail network that connects southern Woodland directly with Davis and the Capital Corridor to the southeast and Sacramento
River Train Line to the north. The existing train tracks along East Street allow for a critical, future rail ink between downtown Woodland and Davis.
Public bus transportation through the Yolo County Transit District is an essential service to many residents of the City of Woodland and its surrounding areas. Transit services provide mobility to residents, including access to important medical, recreational, social, educational and economic services and opportunities including UC Davis students and faculty. Important to the quality of life of residents in the region, public transit services assist in the functioning of local schools, public and private employers, and social service programs throughout the region.
Through the use of small shuttles or autonomous-jitneys for local circulation and the “last mile”, transit will become more efficient and reinforce the city’s centers of activity and walkable neighborhoods. The train, the bus system, and shuttles will all reduce private vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
People must pay for the costs of both housing and transportation, and transportation costs can approach or exceed housing costs. Public investment in shared transportation services, from scheduled transit to future flexible on-demand shared vehicles, can significantly lower the cost of living, improve walkability, and in the case of transit increase the value of property. The proximity if this site makes it a good location for the provision of lower cost transportation options, and walking to trains, buses, and shuttles.
Autonomous Electric Bus Service
Prototypes of driverless buses or electric shuttles like Local Motors’ 3D-printed Olli, ply the streets in several countries and now as pilots within US cities. Scaled-down buses could reduce car ownership as people lose the need to purchase their own self-driving car.
Moving and especially parked cars consume enormous impervious land in our cities so introducing the concept of self-driving shuttles, vans, jitneys, taxi buses, mini-buses could help transform parking lots into playgrounds and housing sites.
