Cal State Fullerton presents Titan Gateway pedestrian bridge; committee receives project details

Cal State Fullerton representatives briefed the City of Fullerton Active Transportation Committee on the Titan Gateway pedestrian bridge, a university-led project intended to improve pedestrian safety at the Nutwood Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue intersection.

Katie Hickey, project manager and bridge engineer with TY Lin International, said the bridge will provide ADA ramps and stair options, multiple entry points on both north and south sides of the crossing, LED lighting, drought-tolerant landscaping and a fenced truss to discourage climbing. "The Titan Gateway pedestrian bridge ... is something that the university has been looking forward to building for many years now," Hickey said, adding the bridge is intended to "protect pedestrians mainly" and reduce accidents at the busy intersection.

Hickey said the university had uploaded a second addendum and that bids are due in about two weeks; she said construction was expected to start in summer 2026, with a fabrication-dependent schedule of roughly 13 to 18 months and an optimistic opening as early as December 2027. She reported a construction budget just under $11 million and planning and design costs of about $1.3 million, which together total roughly $12.3 million.

The presentation covered design details that officials said were coordinated with the city and campus stakeholders: a series of ramps and staircases to reach the truss-level span, pervious concrete for stormwater management, lighting integrated into railings, and modifications to the College Park parking area to create a legal fire lane and new access onto Nutwood. Hickey also said the university is considering separate donor-funded elements for signage, benches and plaza features.

Committee members pressed for clarity about accessibility and pedestrian convenience. One member noted that long ramp circuits can be tiring for manual wheelchair users and questioned whether the bridge would actually increase pedestrian safety compared with improving the at-grade crossing. Hickey responded that the design includes required ADA landings and slopes and that stair access from both sides could offer a shorter route for some users; she acknowledged the bridge would not eliminate the existing at-grade crosswalk as an alternative.

Members also asked about night-time visibility under the truss; Hickey said project specifications require soffit lighting under the bridge and that the truss manufacturer will provide detailed designs for underside lighting. Questions about curb-ramp geometry and future perpendicular curb cuts were discussed; staff and the consultant said the bridge supports future curb-change options and that the university agreed to replant a city tree removed by the project.

Vice Chair Norby moved to "receive and file" the presentation. The motion was made on the record but no formal roll-call vote appears in the transcript.

What happens next: The presentation materials were provided to the committee for comment; the bridge procurement is moving forward on the university schedule (bid addenda and a near-term award). Because this is a Cal State Fullerton project, city involvement will focus on right-of-way coordination, fire access and signal modifications, and the committee's role is advisory.

Key details: construction budget just under $11 million; planning and design ~ $1.3 million; bids due in approximately two weeks (as of April 15); anticipated 13—18 months of construction; expected opening late 2027 to spring 2028 depending on fabrication.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A with Katie Hickey (TY Lin International) and city staff at the April 15, 2026 Active Transportation Committee meeting.