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Council approves Fairview Road lane reduction and protected bike lanes to improve safety and transit access
Summary
Council approved construction of protected cycle tracks, a pedestrian hybrid beacon and two transit boarding islands along Fairview Road after staff said current volumes are far below roadway capacity; the measure passed 6-1.
The City Council on Tuesday approved construction of active‑transportation improvements on Fairview Road that will convert an overbuilt six‑lane segment to a four‑lane configuration with protected cycle tracks and upgraded pedestrian and transit features.
The 6‑1 vote authorizes a $2.86 million construction contract with Hardy & Harper Inc., plus a 10% contingency, to build the city’s first pair of transit boarding islands, a new pedestrian hybrid beacon (HAWK) at a new crosswalk near Valley Forge and continuous, protected two‑way cycle tracks for the corridor between Fair Drive and Wilson Street.
Why it matters: Staff said traffic volumes for that section of Fairview average roughly 13,000 vehicles per day — well under the corridor’s capacity — which creates an opportunity to repurpose roadway width for bikes and pedestrians without creating congestion. Council members highlighted the route’s role for students and transit riders: the segment passes College Park Elementary, Davis Magnet, Costa Mesa High School and Orange Coast College, and Planning staff told the council it is the city’s busiest bus corridor during peak hours.
Project features: The design narrows travel lanes, installs green bicycle conflict markings and crosswalks, upgrades signal hardware with yellow border backplates, adds accessible pedestrian signals and creates two boarding islands that allow buses to load passengers without crossing the protected bike lanes.
Public response and timing: Supporters told the council the project improves safety for schoolchildren and transit riders; a handful of residents opposed lane reductions on principle. Staff said the project is funded with a combination of Measure M fair‑share funds, gas tax and a state grant and that construction will be phasing to keep park and pedestrian access open where possible.
Vote and next steps: The contract was approved 6‑1 (Council member Pettis opposed). Staff will issue a notice to proceed, implement staging plans and return with construction progress reports.
