In 2014, the County of San Diego Departments of Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Planning & Development Services and the Health and Human Services Agency collaboratively applied for grant funding through the California Active Transportation Program for a county-wide Active Transportation Plan (ATP). The project was awarded $500,000 last September and on April 8, 2015, the County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution authorizing Planning & Development Services to enter a grant agreement with SANDAG to begin development of the plan.

The ATP will integrate and update several existing bike and pedestrian plans, programs and documents into a comprehensive package for the County’s unincorporated communities. This ATP will serve as a master plan and policy document to guide the development and maintenance of active transportation infrastructure including sidewalks, pathways, multi-use trails, and bikeways, as well as Safe-Routes-to-School programs for the unincorporated communities.

“The plan will be a collaborative effort of many departments and the community; it’s an exciting time for active transportation with so much emphasis and engagement from many levels,” says bicycle commuter and ATP Project Manager, Everett Hauser.

The creation of an ATP aligns strongly with the Built and Natural Environment – Transportation focus area of the Live Well San Diego Thriving initiative. This key focus area of Thriving aims to broaden transportation options to improve accessibility and connections between destinations, a goal that includes developing active transportation plans for the County’s unincorporated communities by working with stakeholders and utilizing SANDAG technical assistance and grant funds.

“It’s really a good news item,” said Supervisor Ron Roberts upon approving the grant resolution. “As the Active Transportation Plan will serve as a framework to make infrastructure connections…it ought to help us in many ways to be healthy and thrive.”

Development of the ATP is just getting started. If you would like to be involved, contact the Project Manager Everett Hauser.