By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–Local leaders and bike advocates on Wednesday morning gathered at the Salvation Army Kroc Center to celebrate the groundbreaking of San Diego Association of Government’s (SANDAG) University Bikeway in San Diego.
The 2.8-mile University Bikeway will run along University Avenue between Estrella Avenue and 69th Street and on Estrella Avenue between University and Orange Avenues.
“Construction of the University Bikeway is an important milestone for our region that will make our streets safer and more accessible for everyone in our community. This investment will strengthen connections between neighborhoods, and encourage healthy and environmentally friendly modes of transportation,” said SANDAG Vice Chair and City of San Diego Council President Joe LaCava. “The University Bikeway will give people safer options for traveling through the area, benefitting those who bike and walk, and those who travel by bus and car.”
Once complete, the University Bikeway will connect to a larger collection of bikeways through Mid-City, North Park and the City of La Mesa-creating an important new link in the regional bike network. Project features include improvements to traffic infrastructure, including speed bumps, bike signals, and curb ramps that will improve sidewalk access for people with mobility limitations and families with strollers. Other improvements are high-visibility pavement markings and buffered bikeways that separate bicyclists and pedestrians from cars, making a more enjoyable and safer commute for everyone.
“The University Bikeway project isn’t just an infrastructure project. It’s an invitation for more people to feel safe moving through their neighborhood,” said California Transportation Commission Chair Clarissa Falcon. “What makes University Bikeway worth celebrating is the partnership behind it. It’s a true example of what a regional collaboration looks like when it works.”
The project will also incorporate bus boarding platforms at 14 major intersections for more efficient bus boarding. In addition, SANDAG partnered with the City of San Diego to resurface University Avenue for the length of the project.
“For too long, communities like ours have gone without the infrastructure investments needed to keep people safe and connected,” said City of San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera. “The University Bikeway is a meaningful step toward transportation justice — directly addressing longstanding problems to create safer streets and expand access for the people who walk, bike, take transit, and drive in District 9.”
The project was strategically selected and designed to enhance transit and roadway operations and maximize safety for all road users. SANDAG worked with local businesses, residents, schools, and community groups to incorporate input on project aesthetics and design features.
The University Bikeway is part of the Regional Bike Plan Early Action Program, an initiative approved by the SANDAG Board of Directors in 2013. The University Bikeway project is one of six bikeways SANDAG is currently constructing, totaling more than 18 miles of new bikeways.
“Caltrans helps make projects like this possible by administering the statewide Active Transportation Program and facilitating other funding sources to bring millions in funding to support construction of the University bikeway,” said Caltrans District 11 Director Ann Fox. “This project helps meet our goals of building a transportation system that serves everyone and strengthens the region we share. We will continue to work with our partners, like SANDAG and the City of San Diego, to support safer, more comfortable biking and walking improvements for the community.”
The approximately $44.5 million project is funded by a combination of a state Active Transportation Program grant and federal and local funds. Local funding includes TransNet, the regional half-cent sales tax for transportation administered by SANDAG, and funds from the City of San Diego.
The University Bikeway is anticipated to open to the public in late 2027.
