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Date: |
November 17, 2026 |
17 |
Title
Authorize the Advertisement and Award of the Bonita Road Bicycle Safety Improvement Project and Related CEQA Exemption (District: 1)
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Overview
The Department of Public Works (DPW) maintains and operates the unincorporated County of San Diego’s transportation network, which includes nearly 2,000 centerline miles of roadway serving over 500,000 residents and visitors. DPW prioritizes, designs, and constructs capital improvements on the roadway network based on feedback from community members and Community Planning and Sponsor Groups, health and safety benefits, operational considerations, and other safety plans. These capital projects enhance the roadway network and improve the quality of life for community members, businesses, and visitors. Today’s item is a request to approve the advertisement and subsequent award of a construction contract for the Bonita Road Bicycle Safety Improvements Project (Project).
The Project will install buffered bicycle lanes, solar-powered vehicle speed feedback signs, slurry seal, and striping along Bonita Road between Central Avenue and the County limits near Villas Drive in unincorporated San Diego County. The Project corridor extends approximately 2,800 feet and includes several intersections, including Bonita Christian Center Drive, Palm Drive, and Acacia Avenue. These improvements will enhance safety and mobility by creating a continuous bicyclist connection within the Project’s boundaries and improve traffic flow along the roadway.
These improvements are consistent with and support DPW’s Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) by advancing its core safety priorities and implementing proven countermeasures that reduce collision risk for vulnerable road users. The LRSP emphasizes data-driven strategies, multimodal safety improvements, and context-responsive design to address roadway segments with elevated crash histories. By installing dedicated bike lanes, upgrading striping, and enhancing visibility and separation between travel modes, this project supports the LRSP’s focus on reducing lane departure crashes, protecting vulnerable road users, and encouraging safer speeds.
This Project also supports the County of San Diego’s 2024 Climate Action Plan (CAP) by implementing transportation improvements that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage more sustainable travel behavior. By adding safer, dedicated bicycle facilities, clarifying striping, and improving multimodal visibility, the Project makes active transportation a more practical and appealing option for residents, thereby reducing dependence on single-occupancy vehicles. These enhancements directly align with CAP strategies that promote mode shift, expand low-carbon mobility infrastructure, and create safer corridors for walking and biking, and help minimize environmental impacts during construction and long-term operation, advancing the CAP’s goals for cleaner air, reduced emissions, and more resilient transportation networks.
Upon Board approval, the Department of Purchasing and Contracting will advertise and award a construction contract for the Bonita Road Bicycle Safety Improvements Project to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2027 and be completed by Summer 2027, with construction lasting approximately two and a half (2.5) months. The total estimated Project cost is $757,700. Construction is estimated to cost $416,750, including a 25% contingency for unexpected conditions during construction. This project is funded by the State Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) ($539,280) and Regional Transportation Congestion Improvement Program (RTCIP) ($218,420).
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Recommendation by Chief Administrative Officer:
1) Find in accordance with Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines that the proposed project is categorically exempt from CEQA review because it involves the minor alteration of an existing County‑maintained roadway involving no or negligible expansion of existing use.
2) Authorize the Director of Purchasing and Contracting to advertise and award a construction contract and to take any action authorized by section 401, et seq. of the Administrative Code, with respect to contracting for the Bonita Road Bicycle Safety Improvements Project.
3) Designate the Director of Public Works as County Officer responsible for administering the construction contract, in accordance with Board Policy F-41, Public Works Construction Projects.
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Equity Impact Statement
The Bonita Road Bicycle Safety Improvements Project (Project) delivers essential mobility enhancements that strengthen safety and accessibility for residents in unincorporated San Diego County. Along this 2,800-foot segment of Bonita Road traffic volumes and multiple intersections contribute to challenging conditions for cyclists. By installing buffered bicycle lanes, upgrading striping, and adding a solar-powered vehicle speed feedback sign, the Project will establish a continuous and clearly defined bicyclist connection through the corridor. These improvements create safer and more predictable interactions between all roadway users, particularly for individuals who rely on active transportation. The Project will improve equitable access by providing a designated facility that supports cyclists of all ages and abilities, including youth, elderly residents, and community members who do not have access to a vehicle. By addressing a documented collision trend and filling a critical gap in the regional bike network, the Project is anticipated to advance equitable mobility outcomes and enhance overall quality of life within this underserved area.
Sustainability Impact Statement
The Bonita Road Bicycle Safety Improvements Project (Project) supports the County’s sustainability goals by advancing infrastructure that encourages cleaner, lower carbon mobility choices and enhances long term environmental stewardship in an unincorporated community. By installing buffered bicycle lanes, improving roadway striping, and adding a solar-powered vehicle speed feedback sign, the Project promotes active transportation and reduces reliance on single occupancy vehicle travel, resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions and improved local air quality. These upgrades foster healthier, more sustainable travel behaviors and contribute to a more resilient transportation network. In addition, applying slurry seal renews pavement surfaces, extends roadway lifecycle, and reduces the frequency of future maintenance activities, thereby minimizing resource consumption over time. The Project’s focus on clearer travel delineation and safer multimodal connections aligns with the County’s broader sustainability objectives of supporting a transition to a carbon free economy, protecting public health, and improving quality of life for residents and visitors.
Fiscal Impact
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operational Plan in the Department of Public Works (DPW), Road Fund. The total estimated project cost is $757,700, consisting of $340,950 for design, environmental review, and contract administration and $416,750 for construction, including a 25% contingency for unforeseen conditions. The funding sources are Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) ($539,280) and Regional Transportation Congestion Improvement Program (RTCIP) ($218,420). There will be no change in net General Fund costs and no additional staff years.
Business Impact Statement
County of San Diego (County) construction contracts include provisions in the Working Families Ordinance, are competitively and publicly bid, and help stimulate the local economy by creating primarily construction-related employment opportunities and fostering growth through the County's Small and Local Business program. All workers employed on public works projects must be paid prevailing wages determined by the California Department of Industrial Relations, according to the type of work and location of the project. The prevailing wage rates are usually based on rates specified in the respective collective bargaining agreements.
Details
Advisory Board Statement
Department of Public Works (DPW) staff coordinated with the Sweetwater Community Planning Group (CPG) regarding the Project. The CPG expressed support for the Project and its objectives, and DPW will continue engagement with the CPG and community members during construction to ensure ongoing communication and collaboration. On September 8, 2026, the CPG voted 8 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstain, and 5 absent to recommend approval of this Project.
Background
Today’s item is a request to approve the advertisement and award of a construction contract for the Bonita Road Bicycle Safety Improvements Project (Project) which was identified as one of the County’s top safety priorities through its Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP), and developed using a comprehensive, data-driven safety evaluation of the County's entire roadway network. The LRSP focuses on identifying locations with a high incidence of severe and fatal collisions, particularly in rural and underserved communities. This approach ensures that safety interventions are both evidence-based and targeted in areas with the greatest need.
As part of the LRSP development, the Department of Public Works (DPW) undertook a detailed, systematic analysis of 23 communities, incorporating a multi-disciplinary approach. This analysis included collision data, collision severity rates, roadway conditions, and socio-demographic factors to prioritize locations for safety improvements. DPW also integrated the Healthy Place Index (HPI), a tool created by the Public Health Alliance of Southern California, into its evaluation process which considers a range of factors across eight policy areas: Economic, Social, Education, Transportation, Neighborhood, Housing, Clean Environment, and Healthcare Access. By incorporating this index, DPW ensures that health and equity considerations were key elements in identifying and prioritizing safety projects. This data-driven process allows DPW to focus on areas where safety challenges disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, aligning with broader public health and equity goals.
The Project was identified through this LRSP process as a critical safety concern because of its high concentration of severe collisions, many of which involved bicyclists. This project specifically addresses a segment of roadway that has experienced a severe crash involving a cyclist. The City of Chula Vista’s Active Transportation Plan also supports the significance of this project, as it shows a noticeable gap of Class II bike lanes needed to connect the east and west boundaries of the project area. This highlights a crucial gap in the bike network that, once completed, will provide an essential connection along a congested and highly trafficked section of Bonita Road.
The Project closes an existing gap in the bike lanes by adding 0.8 miles of infrastructure along Bonita Road that will connect to existing bicycle lanes north of Central Avenue and provides a direct connection to the City of Chula Vista’s bicycle lane network, improving regional continuity of approximately 1.8 miles for cyclists. In addition, the Project enhances bicycle access to several nearby destinations, such as the Chula Vista Golf Course, Bonita Centre East Plaza, the County Library Bonita-Sunnyside Branch, the Bonita Museum and Cultural Center, Bonita Montessori, and multiple surrounding shopping centers that serve residents and visitors.
The bike lane segment along Bonita Road is especially important as it serves as a critical link to multiple recreation facilities in the area. Upon completion, this project will significantly improve access for cyclists to destinations such as the Chula Vista Municipal Golf Course and Rohr Park, a popular community trail and recreational area. The Project will enhance the connectivity of Class II bike lanes along the Chula Vista boundary, making it easier and safer for residents and visitors to access these key recreational resources via non-motorized transportation. The Project is expected to reduce congestion by encouraging more active transportation and decreasing the dependence on motor vehicles.
The primary objective of the Project is to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by providing cyclists with a designated and buffered bike lane. These lanes help reduce the risk of collisions by offering a clear and protected space for cyclists, separate from motor vehicle traffic. In addition, buffered bike lanes increase cyclist visibility, foster safer interactions between drivers and cyclists, and promote greater awareness of non-motorized users on the road. The Project not only supports the County's traffic safety goals but also contributes to creating a more equitable and accessible transportation network.
Through this Project, the County aims to create a safer route for vulnerable road users, including children, elderly residents, and low-income communities that rely on active transportation. This project is a clear example of how data-driven evaluations and a focus on equity can guide the selection of safety projects that deliver both immediate safety benefits and long-term community well-being.
This is a request to approve the advertisement and subsequent award of the construction contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Project. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2027 and be completed by summer 2027. The total estimated Project cost is $757,700, which includes $416,750 for construction with a 25% contingency to cover unexpected costs. The construction phase is funded by Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) ($539,280), a federal grant program and Regional Transportation Congestion Improvement Program (RTCIP) ($218,420).
Environmental Statement
Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines exempts from CEQA review the “operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.” This includes the maintenance of existing highways, streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian trails. The key consideration in determining whether this exemption applies is whether the project involves “negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.” The proposed project consists of the installation of buffered bicycle lanes, a solar‑powered vehicle speed feedback sign, slurry seal, and striping within existing County‑maintained right‑of‑way to support existing non-motorized transportation uses. Therefore, the project is categorically exempt in accordance with Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines because it involves the maintenance and minor alteration of existing infrastructure involving no expansion of existing use.
Linkage to the County of San Diego Strategic Plan
Approving the recommended actions for the Bonita Road Bicycle Safety Improvement Project supports the Sustainable Environments/Thriving and Living Safety Initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2026-2031 Strategic Plan by providing infrastructure and by building safe communities to improve the health and quality of life for all residents.
Respectfully submitted,
DAHVIA LYNCH
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Attachment(s)
Attachment A - Vicinity Map