March 2024
Sacramento Enhances Bicycle Safety
City Chooses ENNIS-FLINT® by PPG MMAX® Premium Area Markings for Infrastructure Project
With more than 1,700 miles of bikeways, Sacramento has earned a reputation as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the nation. As of 2023, Sacramento had more than 10 separate, active transportation projects, all part of the city’s continued investment in bicyclist safety.
Among these was the Central City Mobility project, earmarked to create more than 60 blocks of parking-protected bikeways. The gold standard for bicyclist safety, protected bike lanes function as dedicated riding spaces for bicyclists. Posts, parked cars, planters and curbs are used to separate bike traffic from automobile traffic.
To ensure that designated bike lanes in the Sacramento region contributed to overall roadway safety, city planners sought to specify the most effective pavement coating for those lanes. This came with a variety of considerations ranging from application temperatures, traction, color degradation and municipality regulations.
“Traditional paints fade in color and presence within a year or two due to UV exposure and traffic,” said Maria Wang, PPG director, product management – liquid coatings, Traffic Solutions. “Cities across the nation are shifting their focus to durable products that have high visibility, can withstand heavy traffic loads and have enhanced grip for cyclists.”
Leveling Up: Heat Resistance, Primed for Endurance
Sacramento specified ENNIS-FLINT® by PPG MMAX® Extended Season area markings in EF Green. Crews applied 33,000 square feet of MMAX area markings to bike lanes in the summer of 2023. This initiative dubbed the “Downtown Mobility Project,” included 21st, 19th, O and P Streets.
MMAX Extended Season area marking is designed to be applied to pavement surfaces as hot as 150°F (66°C), which occurs during a summer day with air temperatures over 90°F. The coating also offers triple the working time of other products on surfaces at 110°F (43°C) or more, enabling proper squeegee and back roll application for a skid-resistant texture. The same product can be used year-round, enduring cold temperatures and application down to 35°F.
Delivering Definitive Results
ENNIS-FLINT® by PPG MMAX area markings provided Sacramento with a high-visibility, skid-resistant coating that would be able to withstand the warm, sunny Sacramento climate and high traffic demands for several years. The marking uses methyl methacrylate resins, a hard-wearing aggregate and colorfast pigments to deliver an extremely durable, highly skid resistant and color stable coating. The result is a bright, long-lasting non-slip coating that helps enhance safety for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles for years to come.
By choosing Ennis-Flint by PPG MMAX Extended Season area markings for this infrastructure investment, crews could apply the pavement coating throughout the summer and during the day. This resulted in fewer work stoppages than if the city had opted for other MMA products that require cooler temperatures for proper installation. That cascaded into better road crew team efficiency, fewer traffic interruptions and a greater ROI for the city.
Ultimately, Sacramento delivered a bike lane surface coating with high visibility, less color fade and a longer lifespan. This has contributed to a safer overall road culture for bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike.
