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CTC approves scope change and segmented delivery for Bob Jones Trail gap closure in San Luis Obispo County
Summary
The commission approved a scope amendment and segmentation to preserve $18 million in state Active Transportation Program funding and allow a revised alignment that avoids an unsecured easement while keeping the project termini and safety elements intact.
San Luis Obispo County — The California Transportation Commission voted to approve a scope change and segmenting amendment for the Bob Jones Trail gap‑closure project, allowing the county to alter the trail alignment to bypass an easement it could not secure and to split construction into two segments so both can be funded and delivered.
Commission staff said the change preserves the project’s core outputs—connecting two existing sections of the Bob Jones multi‑use trail—and ensures the Active Transportation Program dollars already programmed remain available. San Luis Obispo County said it could not obtain the originally planned easement and proposed an alignment that uses Caltrans right of way and local streets in places to complete the link while keeping required safety features.
Anya, commission staff who presented the request, said the county must complete both segments to retain ATP funds; if it does not, the ATP monies must be repaid. Construction allocation for ATP funds was being considered under a later item on the agenda.
Public support was strong at the meeting. Local residents, disability‑advocacy groups, and regional elected officials urged approval. Pete Rogers, executive director of the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, noted more than $17 million in local contributions and called the project “a layup.” Friends of the Bob Jones Trail and other advocates described safety incidents on surface streets that the multi‑use path would avoid. “If the Bob Jones Trail had existed, there is a high chance [a bicyclist who died] would not have been hit,” Friends of the Bob Jones Trail president Helene Finger said.
An attorney speaking for one affected property owner said his client is not opposed to the trail but has concerns about the proposed alignment’s interface with Clover Ridge Lane and requested protections and fencing to maintain safety where the path would share or abut local roads; commissioners and staff noted construction and safety details would be part of final design and right‑of‑way coordination.
Why it matters: The Bob Jones Trail is a long‑standing regional priority to connect inland neighborhoods and the city to coastal parks, improve safe access to the shore and reduce driving on local corridors. The project combines active transportation benefits with regional tourism and equity objectives.
What’s next: Staff will continue to work with San Luis Obispo County, Caltrans and local partners on final design, right‑of‑way and construction timing. The ATP construction allocation referenced in the meeting will follow the amendment and funding availability.
