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Laguna Niguel adopts Active Transportation Plan to expand bike and pedestrian projects
Summary
The City Council unanimously adopted the Laguna Niguel Active Transportation Plan (ATP), a federally funded planning document that prioritizes pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, including expansion of buffered bike lanes and class 4 cycle tracks and a funding and maintenance roadmap to guide future engineering and grant applications.
The Laguna Niguel City Council voted 5-0 on Sept. 16 to adopt the city’s Active Transportation Plan, a federally funded planning study that recommends engineering and noninfrastructure strategies to improve pedestrian, bicycle and micromobility safety and to help the city pursue grants for design and construction.
Public Works Director Jackie Scott and consultant Sam Charvini of Mark Thomas and Company presented the plan, which the city developed after receiving a 2023 federal grant and an 18-month community engagement process. “The ATP is meant to enhance the safety of those who walk, bicycle, or use other forms of micromobility,” Charvini said.
Nut graf — why it matters: The ATP establishes priorities and an implementation framework that the city will use to seek funding and guide future engineering work. It recommends expanding class 2 buffered bike lanes and class 4 cycle tracks on major arterials, closing sidewalk gaps, and pursuing education and enforcement strategies for e-bikes and other noninfrastructure measures.
What the plan recommends: The plan groups recommendations into infrastructure and noninfrastructure categories. Infrastructure ideas highlighted include cycle tracks and buffered lanes on corridors such as Crown Valley Parkway, Alicia Parkway, La Paz Road and others; pedestrian improvements prioritized locations including the intersection near the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink station and segments along Crown Valley Parkway. Charvini described a pilot class 4 cycle track on Aliso Creek Road that tested three vertical treatments — flexible bollards, rubber parking stops and rigid bollards — and said the pilot has become a permanent feature.
Council reaction and next steps: Council members praised staff outreach and the plan’s focus on safety. “Well done on the report,” Council member Jennings said, noting heavy community participation. Council member Otto highlighted crash data cited in the plan: “Between 2018 and 2022, there were 101 crashes that involved bikes or pedestrians,” she said, and called the plan “much needed for safety.” Mayor Pro Tem Johns moved to adopt the staff recommendation; Council member Jennings seconded. The motion passed unanimously, 5-0.
Implementation and funding: The plan includes a ranking system that weighted safety most heavily (25 percent) and identifies federal, state, regional and local funding sources the city can pursue. Staff noted the ATP document must be posted to the city’s website to meet the federal grant requirements; the adoption positions the city to seek engineering and construction funding for prioritized projects.
Ending: Council members said they expect the ATP to help the city secure grants and guide future bicycle, pedestrian and micromobility investments. No construction was authorized at the Sept. 16 meeting; adoption authorizes the plan document and staff to pursue the next steps of engineering and funding.
