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Board backs county effort to convert bikeways plan into comprehensive Active Transportation Plan
Summary
After years of advocacy, the Board directed Public Works to pursue state grants (targeting ~ $1 million) and work with SLOCOG to convert the county bikeways plan into a higher‑resolution Active Transportation Plan to access more funding and better prioritize pedestrian and bicycle projects.
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted to authorize staff to pursue grant funding and to begin work toward converting the county’s 2015 bikeways plan into a comprehensive Active Transportation Plan (ATP) that includes pedestrians, transit connections and higher‑resolution project inventories.
Public Works staff told the board that a contemporary ATP modeled on successful county examples (Ventura, Santa Barbara) improves competitiveness for state funds and allows community‑level prioritization of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Staff estimated the conversion and plan development would cost in the range of about $1,000,000 and recommended pursuing competitive state programs including the Sustainable Transportation Planning Program, with follow‑up grant opportunities available in 2026–27. The board also directed staff to return with a recommendation for updating the Bicycle Advisory Committee once funding is secured.
The discussion drew supporters from bicycle and pedestrian advocates who urged full commitment to implementation, and critics from rural residents and some property‑rights advocates who warned of unwanted trail growth and potential land‑use friction. The board voted to authorize grant pursuit and ATP conversion planning; one supervisor recused on the item.
