The Fullerton City Council voted unanimously to approve an updated concept for the Union Pacific Trail Phase Two project on January 16, 2024. The approval signifies a step forward in the city’s commitment to sustainable development and enhanced recreational infrastructure.
The updated concept plan for the Union Pacific Trail Phase Two project aligns with the proposed Rail District Specific Plan (RDSP), emphasizing transit-oriented development in the area south of the tracks. It envisions the former Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way transforming into the Union Pacific Trail and Bike Path, connecting various neighborhoods.
The draft concept plan reserves approximately ten feet on both the north and south sides of the project between Highland and Richman Avenue. This reserved space is intended for future redevelopment of adjacent properties, with private developers improving these areas over time at no cost to the City. The updated concept plan enhances the 30-foot right-of-way (ROW) between Highland and Richman Avenue to include a Class I bike lane, a dedicated pedestrian walkway, lighting infrastructure, and landscaping. The landscaping plan includes the planting of at least 176 new trees, contributing to environmental sustainability.
Mayor Nicholas Dunlap expressed his support for the updated plan, stating, “This concept plan represents a holistic approach to community development, aligning with our vision for a sustainable and connected city for bicyclists, pedestrians, and families. The approval showcases our commitment to a well-thought-out development that not only provides recreational amenities but also contributes to the long-term growth of our community.”
By accommodating future redevelopment and planning initiatives, the Union Pacific Trail Phase Two project becomes not just a recreational trail but a catalyst for community development. The reserved spaces for private development aim to create a harmonious blend of green spaces and transit-oriented development.
About the City of Fullerton:
Nestled in the heart of Orange County, California, Fullerton is a dynamic city blending small-town charm with urban sophistication. With a rich history, a vibrant arts scene, and a strong sense of community, Fullerton offers residents and visitors a unique experience. Our city is known for its beautiful parks, excellent schools, and a bustling downtown district that serves as a central gathering place.
01152024 - UP TrailShare this:
Discover more from Fullerton Observer
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: Downtown, Health, Local Government, Local News
Is this an official City press release?
Hey, Daisy, how come Phase 2 doesn’t connect to Phase 1?
And how come Phase 1 is a derelict mess?
“how come Phase 2 doesn’t connect to Phase 1?”
What do you suggest? The chicken has to cross the road to get to the other side.
I am suggesting that Phase I doesn’t connect to Phase II. A reasonable person would suppose that to be true. I don’t think Daisy can read her own map. It’s right there. Even you can see it. They don’t connect. And they never will.
A good solution would be a bicycle / pedestrian bridge.
Short of that pedestrians will walk over and cross at the nearby crosswalk.
Cyclists will likely just cross, hopefully after having stopped and looked.
I walk the phase one trail everyday. It is not a derelict mess. The maintence and parks department keep it very clean. I is a beautiful trail and a safe place to walk my dog. The trail connects just fine to the other side. All you have to do is use the crosswalk on Highland/Walnut. My dog loves walking on the phase 2 section now and I am excited to be able to walk to Independence park on a well maintained trail.
A great step forward, although I do not support the concession of reserving space on either side for future commercial development.
That doesn’t bother me… there’s only so much space needed for a class 1 trail and pedestrian path.
What does bother me is they’re directing the City Manager to continue to try to move the grant to some other project! Why?
Very confusing how they ever got so off-track in the first place, and even with this vote there is still an ongoing effort in trying to derail the project for arbitrary other projects that have no community support and are fundamentally incompatible with this grant.
Keep it simple. Just build the long-planned trail. Have long term planning in place for other improvements ready to take advantage of other funding sources as they become available.
That is not true! I was in the audience at the meeting demanding trail support. They unanimously voted to approve option 1. PLEASE DON’T SPREAD MISINFO.
Sorry, my error, Bradley. I misread the last slide as being and “OR”
Also, watch it, friend. It’s one thing to provide a correction or counterpoint, it’s entirely another to fire up your CAPS LOCK and call it “misinformation.”
Sounds like a threat friend. Watch the keyboard warrior machismo. I’m with you on the trail man.
No, I didn’t threaten you. A threat would be telling you something you don’t want to happen if you don’t change behavior. Which I didn’t do.
Yet you’re continuing with false accusations, “warrior.”
I think John has a control disorder. He is responding to everything and everyone. Near every article with comments I click on has something from John.
That’s nice.
It worries me because almost half the width of the trail is being given to nonspecific future commercial development without any details. It’s clear that some kind of business interest is being planned without informing the public.
Guess Bushala realized he was squeezing too hard and risking the reelection campaign of his council cronies. So, yes, stay closely tuned for future shenanigans. Just because the council majority is on its best behavior leading up to the election doesn’t mean it’s off the hook. I highly doubt that these guys magically grew a conscience overnight.
The trail doesn’t help any business owner… and you assuming and making up rumors is ridiculous! Amy you are such a contradiction!! You cried and whined about this trail.. it’s finally approved and now you wanna bash them.. . never happy.. as Bernard says “SHAME ON YOU!”
ZING! BUUURN!!! You got me, Jeff!
It’s bonkers the way you parse information. Go troll elsewhere, please.
Go troll in Anaheim where you live Bernard!!!
“The trail doesn’t help any business owner”
Huh? Then what do you think is the point of reserving parts of the wider sections to businesses like concessions?
I think it is fine.. maybe food carts. Perhaps vending machines with bicycle parts for the cyclists and pedestrians. Snacks and cigarettes for the e-bikers.
Sorry Jeff, I don’t feed trolls.
Amy, you are the Observer biggest troll!! Go kick rocks on your dump trail!
Jeff, please keep your comments on the topic and not make personal attacks. If you can not follow these simple rules, you will be blocked. Thank you. Saskia Kennedy
Saskia, I would say practice what you preach!! Calling people names. I would hope that this is addressed also to the people who called me troll first!! hahaha
On the agenda for January 16, 2024 City Council Meeting
Saskia Kennedy
January 16, 2024 at 3:12 pm “….so it is not a path to no where as Bullshytes like to call it.”
Jeff, are you saying that you are a bullshyte?
No, I am saying you as the Editor should not be calling people names and should practice what you preach! Or is this Do as I say, not as I do??
Very unprofessional for an • EDITOR: Saskia Kennedy!!
I agree, it is unprofessional of me to use the word Bullshyte. I should have said: I do not think any future construction projects would have the place look like a dump when trying to show what it could look like. Also, it is a portion of the trail that will eventually link up with neighboring cities and pass by the newly refurbished Hunt Library, so it is not a path to no where as Bushala followers like to call it.
When was the Rail District Specific Plan approved by the city council?
Are Class 2/3 ebikes allowed along the path? I’m always all for this trail, just curious – could potentially reduce my commute time somewhat… also, are crossings at-grade?
Class 2/3 ebikes will probably be prohibited as they are on most class I trails, which I support, as a lot of ebike users exceed safe speeds on such paths.
Re: crossings – this is a great question and I’d love to know as well. I expect at-grade, as tunneling would cost way more than the grant funds allow.
Ebikes are usually allowed on class 1 trails (but not gas or electric mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, etc).
There are no trail police regardless.
The issue is more if someone gets hurt. So if you injure someone riding on an ebike with a disabled governor or you’re simply travelling at an unsafe speed depending on conditions on any bicycle it could be a tort or a crime.
Some things that look like an ebike are actually off-road only underpowered motorcycles or have been modified to be. Those are illegal on the road and on the local trails. Yet I see kids tearing up the shared use dirt trails on these things. Someone is going to get hurt or killed if it hasn’t happened already.
In CA, class I and II ebikes are allowed on class I bike paths like UP Trail. Both of these types of ebikes are limited to 20 MPH; class I only has pedal-assist, whereas class II has an independent throttle. Class III ebikes have a max speed of 28 MPH and a throttle; they (and gas-powered mopeds) are permitted on class II and III bike lanes (painted bike lanes and sharrows, respectively) but are prohibited on class I bike paths and IV bike lanes (separated and protected, respectively).
By contrast, I can comfortably cruise at 15-17 MPH on my road bike, and burst to 20-22. A little kid or family might cruise around 8-10 MPH.
Not all, but a lot of, ebike owners exceed safe limits on paths/lanes. Some also modify their bikes after-market to remove speed limiters and raise max speeds. In my experience, ebike users also tend to maneuver unsafely around pedestrians on shared paths without the expected ‘on your left’ announcement. So, I would support the usual ebike restrictions on the UP Trail.
Excellent work by the residents of nearby neighborhoods including community leader Egleth Nunnci who worked on the original request for the $1.78 million grant which was officially accepted by council in May 2021. Those residents did not give up over the past three years of meetings on this trail and deserve medals for their amazing persistence, patience and on-going work. Also thanks to residents of other districts in Fullerton who came to council meetings, made calls, and wrote letters in support of the trail. Former Mayor Jesus Silva and current Councilmember Ahmad Zahra, from the beginning – and Councilmember Shana Charles (who took office in 2022) should also be recognized for doing the right thing in supporting the residents and the trail.
I wish there had been this kind of support when the council majority fired excellent City Manager Ken Domer without reason and hired an unemployed friend with zero qualifications – apparently thinking they could control him. This was a seriously incompetent decision for our city made by Jung, Whitaker and Dunlap. This enormous waste of money – coming just as our town was struggling with the economic impacts of covid – also triggered an exodus of experienced top employees who fled to other cities. Happily, after Danley was fired the next two interim City Managers selected were experienced and qualified – so the hope was that council majority had learned something.
Of course, councilmembers are just regular people and some just lack competence, vision, and sometimes unfortunately, integrity. Most of us don’t want the job and are happy that someone does. Any of us, in that position, would welcome help with the sometimes very complicated issues. And residents can help elected officials with competence and/or vision problems – by giving advise and coming up with good ideas – and of course those ideas and advice must be discussed in public.
But, lack of integrity is not acceptable – we must not allow backroom secret influence of any outside faction or any self-dealing to take over our elected officials.
The publisher of the Observer, who was besties with the fired City Manager, bemoans his dismissal. How rich! We all know you think you are important and your opinion matters, but the facts are the facts. Domer never filled empty positions after the employee left or retired for “budget” reasons and left our staffing levels to anemic. Somehow that is Whitaker, Jung, and Dunlap’s fault? Two of them weren’t even on council when all the problems with the city festered.
@Christina Norris – I am curios if you think there a time when the city was perfect and did not have problems?
According to your comment you think it was perfect with Domer which it wasn’t..
Christina, All, but Shana Charles were on council and their decisions did effect staffing levels. They fired Domer “without cause” in April 2021, which required a $200,000 severance & benefit pay out and then hired an unqualified friend Danley to replace him the same day at $208,000. Not a smart fiscal move. I was not a personal friend of Domer’s but did see his excellence over the four years he served, including through the very difficult Covid period. Based on your comments, I follow the issues a little more carefully than you do – but your opinion is as welcome and gives opportunity for discussion.