Temecula Seeks to Improve Its Bike Lanes And Trails

The city of Temecula is beginning the process of updating its Master Plan for bicycle lanes and trails, a blueprint for the future that is expected to include new lanes and upgrades for existing ones.

The search for a consultant to update the plan began last week, according to Mayor Mike Naggar and Councilman Chuck Washington.

“The vision is to build on the city’s trail network by enhancing our existing trails and bikeways, and to create new links where there are missing segments,” Naggar said in a statement. “We plan to make the city’s trail system a fantastic amenity for residents and families to safely ride their bicycle, walk or even horseback in some areas, on trails and bike lanes that will connect throughout the city.”

The selected consultant will be tasked with developing and prioritizing strategies on connecting bike lanes and trails, improving safety throughout the system, and analyzing if the city can better benefit from Safe Routes to School, a federal program administered by the state Department of Transportation that funds improvements to biking and walking routs that students use to get to and from school.

The plan will include new trail heads, signage, bike racks and storage areas. The cost of implementing the plan’s projects will be factored into Temecula’s five-year Capital Improvements Program, according to the city.

“This is a top priority of the city’s overall Quality of Life Master Plan,” Washington said in a statement. “Temecula has great air quality with a climate that allows us to be outdoors nearly year-round, so it makes sense to ensure the city’s trails and bike lanes are functional and more enjoyable to our citizens.”

The consultant will hold public-outreach workshops to collect input from citizens before updating the Multi-Use Trails and Bikeways Master Plan.

The city is accepting bids from potential consultants until March 11.

A current map of bike lanes and trails is attached to this article in the PDF section.