Community workshop focuses on making Solana Beach more pedestrian- and bike-friendly

By Kristina Houck

Solana Beach pedestrians and bicyclists gathered Aug. 28 at City Hall to share their thoughts on how the community can be more pedestrian- and bike-friendly.

It was the city’s second and final workshop for its active transportation master plan process. “Active transportation” is defined as any self-propelled mode of travel, such as walking or cycling.

Solana Beach received a grant from the San Diego Association of Governments last year to prepare its first Comprehensive Active Transportation Strategy, or CATS, which will identify opportunities to improve bicycle and pedestrian networks by increasing connectivity and enhancing safety for walkers and riders.

The city hired Chen Ryan Associates, a transportation planning and engineering firm, which kicked off the master plan process in February with the first community workshop.

The goal of CATS is to make active transportation an easier and more attractive way to travel.

During the workshop, Chen Ryan Associates presented two maps proposing a variety of walking and biking paths, including a one-way cycle track from Pacific Highway to Lomas Santa Fe Drive and a two-way cycle track along Stevens Avenue.

The firm also presented two additional maps with suggested prioritization for the projects.

Community members were asked for their feedback.

“Prioritization is important because we want to, as part of this planning process, identify a set of projects that we will prepare concept drawings for, preliminary engineering drawings and cost estimates. That set of projects becomes the action plan for the city,” said Sherry Ryan, principal of Chen Ryan Associates. “Your input on the prioritization is pretty important because we want to know what would you like to see first.”

Taking into consideration the public’s feedback, Chen Ryan Associates will prepare the implementation plan, with a draft expected in September. After environmental review and a public hearing, a final plan is scheduled for December.

For details, visit

www.sbcats.info.