Transportation and Land Use

Verdant Hills continued implementing the transportation priorities established through the Comprehensive Plan. New and reconstructed transportation projects improved sidewalk continuity, pedestrian crossings, bicycle connections, and accessibility in several priority areas. The City also strengthened coordination between transportation planning, capital improvement programming, and development review so that network connections can be addressed earlier in the planning process.

The City will continue advancing high-priority network improvements while pursuing regional, state, and federal transportation funding. The City will place particular emphasis on closing short but important gaps, improving connections to transit, and creating safer routes to schools, parks, commercial areas, and community facilities.

Verdant Hills advanced improvements at selected transit stops and strengthened connections between transit, sidewalks, trails, and bicycle routes. The City supported a seasonal shared-mobility demonstration that provided information about potential demand, preferred locations, safety needs, and program accessibility. Several local employers also began promoting transit, bicycling, carpooling, and flexible commuting options using City and regional resources.

Verdant Hills will evaluate lessons from the shared-mobility demonstration and determine whether a longer-term program is appropriate. The City will also continue improving transit-stop access, expand employer participation, and explore commuter incentives that could be incorporated into municipal employee-benefit programs.

Verdant Hills adopted targeted zoning updates that allow a broader range of housing types and mixed-use development in locations served by transit and existing infrastructure. Updated development-review practices place greater emphasis on pedestrian connections, bicycle access, open-space connections, climate mitigation, and compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods. The City also began tracking how new development supports housing choice and access to daily destinations.

The City will monitor the effects of the zoning changes and identify adjustments needed to improve implementation. Staff will continue working with developers, residents, and community partners to support equitable development, protect natural resources, and ensure that growth strengthens access to transportation, housing, services, and open space.

Verdant Hills added its first group of electric vehicles to the municipal fleet and expanded charging capacity at City facilities. Fleet-replacement planning now considers total ownership costs, operational requirements, available incentives, and emissions performance. The City also strengthened lower-emission vehicle expectations in applicable service procurements and continued promoting residential, workplace, and publicly accessible charging.

Verdant Hills will prepare for additional light- and medium-duty vehicle replacements, pursue funding for charging infrastructure, and evaluate specialized vehicles as suitable models become available. The City will also continue improving public information about electric transportation options and incentives.

Verdant Hills incorporated telematics review and eco-driving expectations into routine fleet management. Departments used vehicle data to reduce avoidable idling, improve routing, identify maintenance needs, and make more informed vehicle-replacement decisions. The City also improved coordination between fleet-efficiency efforts and its longer-term zero-emission fleet transition strategy.

The City will refine fleet-performance indicators and continue targeted training for vehicle classes and departments with the greatest improvement opportunities. Verdant Hills will also evaluate whether additional vehicles can be reassigned, downsized, shared between departments, or replaced with zero-emission alternatives.