Description
Dedicating land for future construction of trails and multiuse facilities enhances connectivity and provides more attractive and safer facilities for active transportation. Regional entities can help plan a regional network and incorporate programming within regional plans, whereas municipalities can incorporate the network into General Plans and request the land dedication from developers as the required parcels are developed or redeveloped.
Implementation Details
- Require new residential subdivisions adjacent to CV Link or utility corridors to dedicate easements or construct Class I trail connections as a condition of approval.
- Amend local subdivision ordinances to include trail dedication requirements based on proximity to planned trail alignments in the CV Link Master Plan and Active Transportation Plan.
- Use conservation subdivision or Planned Unit Development (PUD) policies to preserve open space and provide regional trail connections, especially in growing areas.
- Secure rights-of-way along existing flood control channels and utility corridors to create trail spurs that feed into CV Link and planned connector routes.
Mitigation Potential
Dedicating land for trails and multiuse facilities will increase the likelihood of constructing active transportation infrastructure and influence developments to be more bike friendly. Bicycle infrastructure can increase safety, comfort, and convenience of biking, making biking a more attractive alternative to Single Occupancy Vehicle. Impacts on VMT will vary based on the location and connection of the bicycle networks to local/regional networks and transit stops.
For more details, see the resources listed below for VMT reduction quantification:
Linked Strategies
Equity Considerations
Dedicating land for Class I bike trails enhances low-stress transportation options for residents without vehicles and improves regional connectivity for historically underserved neighborhoods. Prioritizing trail development in communities lacking safe bicycle infrastructure helps reduce mobility barriers, particularly for youth and seniors. Trail design should ensure ADA compliance and safe access points from surrounding areas.
Funding Sources
Likely requires significant initial funding to construct, plus continued funding for maintenance and operations. Active transportation grants and other one-time sources are available (though competitive). Such funding sources include the Recreational Trails Program – Non-Motorized Trails (California Department of Parks and Recreation), the Dig In Program (International Mountain Bicycling Association), the PayDirt Program (PayDirt), and the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program – Sustainable Communities – Competitive and Technical (Caltrans).
Examples/Case Studies
CV Link Trail Corridor Easements (CVAG)
CVAG has collaborated with utilities like IID and cities like La Quinta to preserve easements and utility corridors for CV Link expansion, especially near Avenue 48
Santa Clarita River Trail Master Plan
The City of Santa Clarita preserved Class I bike trail alignments through subdivision approvals and coordinated with flood control agencies for implementation