OCEANSIDE — The city of Oceanside is seeking public feedback on its plan to complete the final segment of the 21-mile Inland Rail Trail after presenting three options to the community.
The multi-use rail trail parallels the North County Transit District’s Sprinter line and will connect Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido.
For the final 7.4-mile segment, Oceanside is conducting a feasibility study – paid for by a Sustainable Communities Planning Grant from Caltrans. Once complete, the study will present a “grant-ready” project that will “be well-positioned to compete for local, state, and federal funding for final design and construction,” according to a statement from the city.
Oceanside residents and business owners can offer their feedback in several ways:
- Take the online survey at www.OsideInlandRailTrail.org through March 31;
- Stop by one of the city’s pop-up outreach booths: Saturday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to noon at Mance Buchanon Park near the San Luis Rey River Trail entrance, or Saturday, March 22 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Oceanside Pier at Pacific Street; or
- Attend the Open House Community Workshop between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. March 17 at the Civic Center Library Community Rooms, 330 N. Coast Highway.
Construction on the Inland Rail Trail began in 2009 when the easternmost portions of the bikeway were built, connecting seven miles between the Escondido Transit Center and the intersection of West Mission Road and North Pacific Street in San Marcos. Then, in 2017, a one-mile segment was completed between North Pacific Street and Cherimoya Drive.
Phase 2, which opened to the public in early 2021, was divided into two segments: Cherimoya to Mar Vista Drive, and North Drive to North Melrose Drive where the cities of Vista and Oceanside meet.
Construction began on Phase 3 of the Inland Rail Trail last June between Mar Vista and Civic Center Drive in Vista. Phase 4 will connect Civic Center and North Drive.
Oceanside will complete the final segment through its boundaries.
According to SANDAG, the project’s current budget is $34.2 million. Phases 1 and 2 were funded by various sources including Bicycle Transportation Account grants, TransNet, the Transportation Enhancement Act, and the State Transportation Improvement Program. Phases 3 and 4 are funded by various sources including TransNet and grants from the California Transportation Commission’s Active Transportation Program.
Samantha Nelson contributed to this report.
