DATE: January 22, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Public Works Department
TITLE: APPROVAL OF THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE FEASIBILITY STUDY TO WIDEN AND IMPROVE THE COASTAL RAIL TRAIL FROM MORSE STREET TO THE OCEANSIDE/CARLSBAD CITY BORDER
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council approve the recommendations of the Coastal Rail Trail Feasibility Study.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Coastal Rail Trail is a planned continuous 44-mile-long multi-use trail that, once completed, will connect the City of Oceanside to downtown San Diego. In 2003, the City completed a 0.55-mile segment of the Coastal Rail Trail from Morse Street to Vista Way. In 2014, the City, in coordination with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), completed a 0.4-mile-long segment between Oceanside Boulevard and Wisconsin Avenue, creating a continuous 0.8-mile-long segment from the Oceanside Transit Center to Wisconsin Avenue. Once all segments within Oceanside are constructed, the Coastal Rail Trail will be a two-plus mile trail from the Oceanside Transit Center to the Oceanside/Carlsbad city border.
Design standards have changed since the earlier trail segment from Morse to Vista Way was constructed in 2003, and a Caltrans grant award was accepted and approved by the City Council on June 22, 2022 to update that segment of the trail. The Caltrans grant, in the amount of $300,000, was awarded for the review and recommendation of a trail design similar to the portions of the trail to the north of Wisconsin Avenue.
The Feasibility Study focuses on improving the existing Coastal Rail Trail from Buccaneer Park/Morse Street to the southerly City limits on Coast Highway. In addition to the mainline Coastal Rail Trail, the study also included creating a pedestrian path to provide access from Morse Street, east of the rail line, to Buccaneer Beach Park. The study investigated alternative trail alignments and evaluated them through analysis and extensive community engagement, and provided a 30% design.
The Study recommends an alignment that includes a bridge crossing over the railroad tracks, north of Cassidy Street, connecting Myers Street and Broadway Street. The trail would then align along Broadway Street to Eaton Street, and then connect with the trail in the City of Carlsbad via Coast Highway. A linear park along Broadway Street from Morse Street (the segment located on the east side of the railroad tracks) to the current Lion’s Club Park was also recommended to provide greater community trail access. Options for that area of Broadway Street may be further refined following additional community outreach. The study estimated the project cost is approximately $12 million in today’s dollars. Staff will be seeking grant opportunities to fund the project. Capital Improvement Program funds may be requested as a City match option.
The Oceanside Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee (an independent, non-City Council-appointed, citizen’s advisory organization) assisted in the review and provided recommendations during the study along with a Technical Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from North County Transit, the San Diego Association of Governments, City of Carlsbad, local South Oceanside residents, the City’s Arts Commission, and Parks & Recreation Department. In addition, extensive community outreach was conducted which included five “pop-up” weekend events, two community out-reach in person meetings, and one virtual community outreach meeting. The Coastal Rail Trail Feasibility Study was conducted by Alta Planning and Design and funded through a Caltrans grant, in the amount of $300,000, with a required City match of $39,000.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
Does not apply.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
Does not apply.
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Prepared by: Teala Cotter, City Traffic Engineer
Reviewed by: Hamid Bahadori, Public Works Director
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. Feasibility Study
3. Plan Set