The La Mesa Bikeways Project is a multi-location initiative designed to enhance bicycle and pedestrian mobility throughout the City of La Mesa. The project focuses on improving connectivity, safety, and accessibility by creating designated bikeways and pedestrian routes that link neighborhoods, parks, and the downtown urban core. Collectively, these improvements aim to support active transportation, reduce barriers to movement, and complement the city’s existing suburban character.

Rail Trail
The Rail Trail Connection Project will improve mobility to the downtown urban core by providing safe paved paths with lighting and designated rest areas with benches for the commuting community.  Additionally, grading and drainage improvements will include stormwater landscaped bioswales to clean and allow water to infiltrate into soil substrates. New right-of-way fencing will line both edges of the bikeway separating the bikeway from private and MTS right-of-way areas for a safe pathway for pedestrians and bicyclists. The improvements will improve mobility and complement the suburban visual character of the City of La Mesa.

Collier Trail
The Collier Trail Project will improve mobility by providing bicyclists and pedestrians with a designated route to and through Collier Park with eventual connection to the future community center development on site.  The pathway would be ten-feet wide with one-foot wide shoulders, fencing along the edge of the downward slope for safety.  Stairs would be provided from midpoint of the pathway down slope to the plaza space of Pathway lighting.

Pasadena Ramp & Sidewalks and Mariposa Paseo Projects
The Pasadena Ramps & Sidewalk Project is intended to provide access and connection from Spring Street east down to Pasadena Avenue with new sidewalks along the south side of the street with ultimate access to Collier Park.

The Mariposa Paseo Projects would provide a connection from Collier Park through an existing City right-of-way street easement toward the east on Mariposa Street, giving pedestrians and bicyclists a designated route through this part of the City.  The paseo would require many steps, retaining walls, pedestrian ramps with handrails and a traversing alignment for access through this location. In review of this project, La Mesa residents noted that this project would be very expensive and would provide access to only a few bicyclists in this area and not warranted.

Although these projects provide improved access, community review with little support for these projects does not merit further consideration as the Rail Trail project provides a better solution in getting to downtown La Mesa.