Commission endorses CATS school-safety projects and asks council to raise annual traffic-safety fund to $200,000

The commission received an update on the Comprehensive Active Transportation Strategy (CATS) and Safe Routes to School work on Aug. 27 and voted to ask City Council to raise the Traffic Management Program List (TMPL) annual allocation from $50,000 to $200,000.

Katie Cole, a consultant working on the CATS project, described the plan’s goals: combining bicycle and pedestrian master-plan work into a single active-transportation strategy, refreshing the city’s mobility element, and compiling project lists for funding consideration. "The purpose of the CATS project is to develop and implement active and sustainable transportation in Escondido," Cole said, summarizing outreach that included school-focused listening sessions, walk audits and community engagement.

Why it matters: CATS and the mobility-element refresh identify near-, mid- and long-term projects intended to increase safe walking and biking, close sidewalk gaps and improve access for residents who do not drive. The commission considered which Safe Routes to School projects could be candidates for the TMPL, the city fund used for traffic-safety projects.

Cole described a prioritization that sought one candidate project in each council district. The consulting team estimated that near-term improvements across all schools would total about $2,000,000; the larger, long-term suite of projects across the district was estimated at about $44,000,000. The team proposed four relatively small, near-term high-visibility crosswalk projects as candidates: North Ash and East Lincoln (near Pioneer/Farr area) estimated at about $20,000; East El Norte Parkway and Valley Parkway (Valley High) at roughly the same order; South Broadway and East Fourth (about $15,000); and West Valley Parkway and West Ninth (Del Dios Academy area), plus associated striping and curb-ramp alignment work.

Commissioners and staff noted data gaps and constraints. Cole said pedestrian counts from the district were used where available but that Valley High did not have pedestrian counts available. Craig (City staff) and Cole said the TMPL currently receives about $50,000 annually and that several council members have expressed interest in increasing the allocation to address many identified projects. Craig said staff would prepare materials to present the case to City Council.

Measure I — the local ballot measure recently approved by voters — was cited during the discussion as containing transportation and traffic priorities, a factor commissioners said supports seeking more TMPL funding.

Formal action: Commissioner Durney moved to forward the CATS/TMPL recommendations to City Council with a request to increase the annual TMPL allocation to $200,000; the motion was seconded and passed on a recorded vote of 4–2. Commissioners discussed alternative amounts (one speaker suggested $75,000 as a CPI-based adjustment) but the motion as moved sought $200,000.

Next steps: Staff said there is a major budget adjustment coming to City Council in October and will prepare an expanded presentation and supporting materials. Commissioners asked staff to notify them of the council date so commissioners who wish to attend may do so. If Council approves an increase, staff indicated the commission’s TMPL candidate projects could be funded in sequence beginning with the highest-priority short-term projects.

Ending: Commissioners praised the outreach and recommended moving the list to Council for consideration; staff will return with materials and timing for council consideration.