Downtown Makes an Ambitous Plan for Our Future

prioritydowntownNothing showcases the plan to prioritize people over motor vehicles better than the visual above. This exciting approach (for San Diego) is part of Civic San Diego’s plan to transform downtown San Diego, and do so quickly. And it’s all part of a plan that is being worked on called the Downtown Mobility Plan.

Civic San Diego is not afraid to dream big, and tonight they are hosting the second of three workshops to determine the public’s preferred network of corridors for pedestrians, bicycles and autos for Downtown San Diego. How is all this being funded? Through SANDAG’s Active Transportation Program and the Downtown Parking District.

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Join Us at Community Workshop #2
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
6pm – 8pm
Civic San Diego Board Room
401 B Street, Fourth Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
(RSVP here)

The Downtown San Diego Mobility Plan will establish policies, programs and projects that will improve overall mobility throughout the Downtown San Diego area.  The Mobility Plan will provide for the development of a balanced and cohesive network of complete streets, which will increase priority and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, provide desirable connections for all users to key destinations, and support reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

If you can’t make it out in person, why not complete this questionaire to state your preferences and vision for downtown?

From the Downtown Mobility website:

Covering approximately 1,450 acres, the plan area’s population of approximately 37,000 is anticipated to grow to 90,000 residents by 2035. Presently, 75,000 people work downtown and it is projected that by 2030 the workforce population could increase to 168,000.

But who or what is Civic San Diego?

Civic San Diego (“CivicSD”) is a public non-profit corporation, which,among other functions, provides planning services to the City of San Diego in the Downtown Community Plan area.
The colored area of the map represents downtown.
The colored area of the map represents downtown.

From the overview, the mobility plan will provide for the development of a cohesive network of complete streets, which will:

  • increase priority and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians by providing supportive facilities and amenities;
  • provide desirable connections for all users to public parks, main shopping areas, entertainment facilities, major attractions, the waterfront, surrounding communities, and the regional transportation network; and
  • support reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

The goal is to have this plan adopted by City Council by next May and get right to implementation. It is refreshing to see such change happen quickly in San Diego.