$2.5M Grant Means Improvements for Bayshore Bikeway

Improvements are in order for the Bayshore Bikeway, thanks to a $2.5 million grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy.

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) will use the money to turn existing bike lanes into a bike path on a 2.8 mile section of the bikeway between National City and 32nd Street in San Diego, acccording to SANDAG Senior Regional Planner Stephan Vance.

The new funding will allow the building of a two-lane bike path from National City Marina, going north along Tidelands Avenue/Civic Center Drive, along the fence line of Naval Base San Diego, continuing up Harbor Drive to 32nd street in San Diego, according to Vance.

This development is an important step in encouraging the use of alternative transportation among San Diego County residents, according to Vance.

“When we provide quality bike facilities, more people are interested in riding a bike,” he said. “They have a healthy transportation choice.”

Currently, the Bayshore Bikeway along the east side of the bay, from Chula Vista to downtown San Diego, consists of painted bike lanes on busy city streets, with the exception of the section near the Sweetwater River.

The bike path will parallel city streets, typically taking up 10 feet of paved surface, and include a two-foot shoulder on either side, according to Vance.

"No streets will need to be widened. There is space available."

Funding will be provided by the California State Coastal Conservancy, via Proposition 84 bond funds.

For maps of existing and proposed sections of the Bayshore Bikeway, click here.

This summer, work on a new bike path between Palomar Road and H Street in Chula Vista is nearing construction. Long-range plans involve extending the bike path all the way up Harbor Boulevard to downtown San Diego, according to SANDAG.