San Diego begins construction on Downtown Mobility Plan

The city of San Diego has started construction on the first phase of the Downtown Mobility Plan to make it easier and safer for cyclists to traverse the streets of downtown San Diego.

The project calls for the installation of two-way cycle tracks on major arteries in downtown for use by cyclists and scooter riders, creating safer passage from Balboa Park to the San Diego Convention Center as well as other popular destinations.

The first phase of the Downtown Mobility Plan will redesign three main corridors with cycle tracks. They are: Beech Street, from Pacific Highway to Sixth Avenue; Sixth Avenue, from Beech Street to Harbor Drive; and J Street, from 1st Avenue to Park Boulevard.

The two-way cycle tracks will be painted green and will be separated from vehicular traffic by parked cars, flex posts or grade variations. The 9.3 miles of cycle track in the Downtown Mobility Plan accounts for 16.5% of the total downtown street network.

The second and third phases of the mobility plan will be completed over the next three years, including some sections that are part of SANDAG infrastructure projects. Once completed, there will be several primary paths of travel throughout the downtown area, including: Pacific Highway; State Street; Third Avenue; Fourth Avenue; Fifth Avenue; Park Blvd; Hawthorn Street; Grape Street; B Street; C Street; and Broadway west of Third Ave.