The City of Escondido is developing a Comprehensive Active Transportation Strategy (CATS). This strategy will serve as a guide to better connect and improve the City’s transportation network so that it provides alternative options to driving. Active transportation includes walking, wheeling, bicycling, scootering, and any other fully or partially human-powered travel mode. Active transportation also complements other modes of travel, such as public transit, as many people use active modes to complete the first and/or last mile of their transit trips (i.e., to get to/from transit stops). The strategy will look for opportunities to increase access to these active modes through supportive policies and new and improved infrastructure such as sidewalks, crosswalks, and bicycle facilities.

Additionally, the City is refreshing the Mobility and Infrastructure Element of the General Plan to incorporate the CATS and further incorporate “Complete Streets” concepts, as introduced in the 2012 edition of the Mobility and Infrastructure Element. “Complete Streets are streets designed and operated to enable safe use and support mobility for all users. Those include people of all ages and abilities, regardless of whether they are traveling as drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, or public transportation riders. The concept of Complete Streets encompasses many approaches to planning, designing, and operating roadways and rights of way with all users in mind to make the transportation network safer and more efficient” (U.S. Department of Transportation).

Finally, the City has been awarded a grant to conduct a Community Transportation Needs Assessment (CTNA) through the state's Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program (CMO). CMO is a statewide initiative that provides funding for zero-emission shared mobility options to under-resourced communities in California. CMO is available throughout California to all eligible disadvantaged and low-income communities and tribal governments, to increase access to safe, reliable, convenient and affordable transportation options. The CTNA will seek to identify the unmet community mobility needs of disadvantaged and low-income communities in Escondido and develop sustainable solutions in partnership with community members.

Over the next 18 months, we will be seeking community input on opportunities to increase mobility options in Escondido and where and what kinds of improvements are needed. Together, these plans will expand safe opportunities for active and zero-emission transportation options for all City residents and visitors to Escondido, helping people live healthier lifestyles, providing multimodal travel choices, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Note: CMO is part of California Climate Investments (CCI), a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in under-served communities, and California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Clean Transportation Program, which is investing more than $1 billion to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission transportation infrastructure and support in-state manufacturing and workforce training and development.

• Hear from the many diverse voices across the City of Escondido
• Understand how people currently travel and how they would like to travel
• Create opportunities for people to bike, walk, or take transit
• Identify viable multimodal infrastructure options that improve safety, access, mobility, and equity
• Implement active transportation elements of the Climate Action Plan
• Establish region-wide and multi-jurisdictional partnerships

Stay tuned for upcoming events!