The City is launching a Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Enhancement Plan to improve walking and biking, particularly in underserved areas. A major focus will be to complete a key section of the Brea-CSUF-Santa Ana River Trail extending on Nutwood Avenue from State College Boulevard to Placentia Avenue by creating safe pathways under the 57 freeway and planning for a future pedestrian and bicycle bridge.

Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. has been chosen to lead the project, and their proposal cost was reduced from $1,696,955 to $1,249,643, which fits within the City’s $1,300,000 budget for design services. The project is expected to be completed in a year, after which there will be presentations to City committees and CSUF.

Community input will be crucial as Kimley-Horn works on safety concerns and aligns the project with the Fullerton Bike Connection Plan. This item will be discussed at the March 4 City Council meeting at 5:30pm which will take place at City Hall located at 303 W. Commonwealth, Fullerton.

BACKGROUND

The City of Fullerton is located 22 miles southeast of metropolitan Los Angeles, in the heart of North Orange County, and has a population of 139,431 residents. Incorporated in 1904, Fullerton is a full-service general law city known for its diverse blend of residential, commercial, industrial, educational, and cultural environments, earning the title of the “Education Community.” During the school year, the population swells by an additional 60,000 people due to students and staff from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), Hope University, Fullerton College, and Ketchum School of Optometry.

Fullerton boasts 52 city parks, a museum, a cultural center, a public library, a golf course, and 29 miles of recreational trails, providing an outstanding quality of life for both residents and businesses. Covering 22.4 square miles, Fullerton is one of the largest cities in Orange County by area and ranks as the sixth most populous city.

The City has been awarded $7,140,000 in State Active Transportation Program (ATP) Grant Funds from the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to fully fund the development of the Nutwood Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Enhancement Project. The total project budget, including the local matching share, is $7,290,000. This budget covers design engineering services, environmental studies, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and construction management services.

The project addresses a key accessibility gap, enhancing connectivity on the Brea-CSUF-Santa Ana River Trail by implementing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure along Nutwood Avenue. This includes improvements for crossing under State Route 57 (SR-57). The project will connect several large residential developments with significant student populations and shopping areas on the east side of SR-57 to the campuses, existing infrastructure in Downtown Fullerton, and employment centers on the west side of SR-57.

Nutwood Avenue serves as a primary access route to two universities: California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) and Hope University, which together have over 44,000 students, faculty, and staff. This project will create nearly a mile of new Class I bike paths, Class II buffered bike lanes, and Class IV protected bikeways along both sides of Nutwood Avenue, where only Class III bike routes currently exist. The new facilities will enable students, faculty, and staff to safely travel along this section of Nutwood Avenue to connect with the CSUF campus bike path. Improvements will be made within the city’s right-of-way, Caltrans’ right-of-way, and on the CSUF campus.

The project will involve widening Nutwood Avenue under SR-57 by cutting back existing slopes and constructing retaining walls, building ADA ramp improvements, and adding conflict zone markings at intersections and driveways. Additionally, the project includes a bicycle roundabout, median modifications, lighting, traffic signal updates, landscape and hardscape improvements, and utility modifications.

CSUF is currently designing a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Nutwood Avenue at the eastern leg of the Commonwealth Avenue intersection. This bridge will provide a connection to CSUF facilities located on the south side of Nutwood Avenue and offer an alternative path for students and the public crossing Nutwood Avenue. The City and CSUF are coordinating the design of this bridge, ensuring that the proposed improvements are compatible with the bridge’s design. Authorization for bidding and construction of the bridge is currently scheduled for Summer 2025.