Council hears detailed plan to elevate and widen Bayshore Bikeway to address flooding and habitat restoration

City staff and consultants presented a multi-year coastal resiliency project to raise and modernize the Bayshore Bikeway, add habitat-friendly ecotone slopes and construct a joint-use park at Bayside Elementary.

Resource Director Helmer described the project as principally a flood-control effort that also advances public access, recreation and ecological restoration. The design team proposed elevating the bikeway where needed (a living levee), widening the bikeway to a 12-foot paved path with a 5-foot separated pedestrian route, adding access nodes and pocket parks, repairing stormwater infrastructure and replacing failing culverts with a habitat-opening bridge to restore tidal flushing to Pond 10.

Consultants said the project required unusually deep agency coordination because the project footprint crosses jurisdictions including the Port of San Diego, state and federal resource agencies and tribal consultations. They reported roughly 40–50 public outreach events and about 1,700 public contacts to date; the team has completed geotechnical surveys and is moving from 30% to 60% engineering design before environmental permitting (CEQA/NEPA). The timeline anticipates construction starting in 2027, with likely phasing to limit community disruption.

Council and public commenters focused on safety, lighting, maintenance, parking and joint-use arrangements with the school district. Staff said design features would be refined based on feedback and that memoranda of understanding and maintenance agreements will be pursued with partner agencies and the school district. The council voiced broad support and asked staff to continue outreach and to pursue construction funding.