An Update On The Orange Avenue Family Friendly Bikeway!

After seven years of hard work, the community is celebrating a landmark vote this morning, July 26, at the SANDAG Board of Directors in support of the Orange Avenue Family-Friendly Street Project!

Since 2012, we’ve actively organized community meetings, strategy sessions, public workshops, bike rides, walk audits, and calls to action to ensure that this multi-million dollar infrastructure opportunity would be shaped by residents.

Community members want a street that is safe for anyone from age 8 to 80 to walk or bike on, and that’s what we have successfully and collectively worked together to achieve, along with the funding to build it.

This project, officially known as the Orange Bikeway, is unique because it includes a comprehensive traffic diverter network which will be the first in the San Diego region; meaning that the new street design will reduce car traffic volume to create a low-stress, safe corridor. Additional traffic calming features include raised crosswalks, buffered bike lanes, sidewalk curb extensions, and neighborhood traffic circles.

Congratulations and thank you to community leaders, to the Built Environment Team, to the Environmental Health Coalition, and to our partners throughout the years who have supported this community-driven campaign! Thanks to the City Heights Area Planning Committee for their 16-1 vote in support. Thanks to Council President Georgette Gomez for their commitment to a transformative project. Thanks to SANDAG - San Diego Association of Governments staff, Transportation Committee, and Board of Directors.

Today, after many years, the community’s support for a safe, family-friendly Orange Avenue will become a reality.

It’s yet another reminder that the community knows what it needs, and the voices of the people are a powerful means of transformation! Adelante!