Civic San Diego has released a draft of the long awaited Downtown San Diego Mobility Plan. It proposes significant changes to the street grid with a goal of reducing travel by car and increasing trips by bike and foot. Another objective is to lower carbon emissions in accordance with state law.

DOWNTOWN MOBILITY VISION: An integrated transportation network of greenways, sidewalks, bikeways, transit services, roadways and freeways that provides for the safety of all travelers… It is a transportation network that supports community health and well-being, promotes a strong economy, and also builds social capital. Excerpted from Chapter 1 Introduction.

Perhaps the most ambitious idea is the network of Bike Paths, Lanes, Routes and Cycle Tracks detailed in Chapter 5 Bicycling. For example, a two-way cycle track separated from traffic would run along the west side of Sixth Ave from Beech St down to L St. Cycle tracks are also proposed along sections of Pacific Highway, State St, Park Blvd, Grape St, Hawthorne, Beech, Broadway, C St, and J St.

The number of workers and residents is projected to double over the next 20 years according to the 2006 Downtown Community Plan. The Mobility Plan, produced by consultants Chen Ryan, suggests a layered grid to support that growth in the 1450 acre urban core. It builds on fine work done for the 2011 Downtown Public Open Space Implementation Plan.

The public review period is open until March 11, 2016. Comments may be submitted at the Mobility Plan website. A public workshop is scheduled for February 23rd, 6 – 8 PM, at the Central Library. For more info and RSVP, click here. Presentations will also be made at various neighborhood community meetings, and at Downtown Community Planning Council and Civic San Diego meetings.