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HomeMy WebLinkAboutChap4_Circ 4.1 Existing Trail System Though no programmed trail alignments are currently proposed within the City of Temecula, the primary purpose of this study is to form a basis for developing a comprehensive City-wide trail system. Existing paved trails in Temecula are represented by several segments along Santa Gertrudis Creek and Temecula Creek, as well as within some planned developments. Few of these meet Caltrans Class 1 Bikeway requirements. Unpaved trails installed as part of adjacent residential developments currently exist along Rancho California Road east of Meadows Parkway and there is a new system within the Temeku development. In some cases, these routes include parallel paved and unpaved facilities. Other unpaved segments occur along Murrieta Creek near Old Town and scattered segments occur elsewhere across the City. (See Figure 4-1, Existing Trails.) Undesignated, “unofficial” trails are commonplace in Temecula, and are largely unmapped. These trails include the power line access roads owned and operated by Southern California Edison Electric Company (SCE), aqueduct access roads on easements owned by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), and access roads along the creeks operated by the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Most of these unofficial trails traverse fairly gentle terrain with mild grades, especially along the creeks. Some of SCE’s and MWD’s routes traverse steep, even rugged terrain, but this type of topography represents only a portion of the overall routes under consideration. 4.2 Existing Bikeway System The City of Temecula’s roadway system is in generally good condition and adequately serves the vehicular and bicycle needs of residents within the developed portions of the City. Virtually all proposed major roadways to be built or extended in Temecula are planned to include Class 2 bicycle facilities, according to the City’s General Plan Circulation Element. (See Figure 4-2, Existing and Programmed Bikeways.) The City of Temecula has a high percentage of major roadways already equipped with bicycle facilities. Virtually all major roadways have Class 2 facilities in place. Numerous existing unpaved paths and dirt roads along the creeks and aqueduct corridors exist. A few Class 3 facilities also exist in Old Town Temecula. The roadway system is not yet complete since the City is not fully built out. This accounts for isolated areas of the City that are not readily accessible by paved roadway. This situation may cause some inconvenience for commuter cyclists who may not have direct routes to their destinations. It is likely that motorists do not feel inconvenienced by the present roadway system since the indirect routes are relatively short for drivers, but for a cyclist the extra miles are much more tangible. (See Figure 4-2, Existing and Programmed Bikeways.) The paved Santa Gertrudis Creek Trail crosses Winchester Road via an underpass. Chapter Four CIRCULATION SYSTEMS Circulation Systems City of Temecula Page 4-2 Chapter 4 Promenade Mall Old Town Temecula Valley High School CRC/Sports Park Chaparral High School City of Murrieta De Portola Road Santiago Road JedediahSmith Road RanchoVista Road Meadows Parkway Pauba Road Margarita Road ButterfieldStageRoad Ynez Road SolanaWay La SerenaWay 79 15 15 79 Nicolas RoadNicolas Road Winchester RoadWinchester Road Jefferson Avenue Diaz RoadDiaz Road Rancho California RoadRancho Road Walcott LaneWalcott Lane Pala RoadPala Road 1 Mile N E X I S T I N G T R A I L S City of T emecula Multi-use T rails and Bik eways Master Plan Figure 4-1 *Does not include on-street bicycle facilities. PAVED UNPAVED Chapter 4 Page 4-3 Multi-Use Trails and Bikeways Master Plan EXISTING Class 2 (Bike Lane) Class 3 (Bike Route) PROGRAMMED Class 2 (Bike Lane) Nicolas RoadNicolas Road Winchester RoadWinchester Road Jefferson Avenue Diaz RoadDiaz Road Rancho California RoadRancho Road Walcott LaneWalcott Lane Santiago Road Jedediah Smith Road RanchoVista Road MeadowsParkway Pauba Road Margarita Road ButterfieldStage Road Ynez Road SolanaWay La SerenaWay SH 79SH 79 Pala RoadPala Road 79 15 15 79 DePortola Road Promenade Mall Old Town Temecula Valley High School CRC/Sports Park Chaparral High School EXISTING AND PROGRAMMED BIKEWAYS City of T emecula Multi-use T rails and Bik eways Master Plan Figure 4-2 1 Mile N Circulation Systems City of Temecula Page 4-4 Chapter 4 4.3 Trail and Bikeway User Types and Capabilities A number of different types of trail and bikeway users are anticipated to use the proposed system. Due to the possibility that virtually all of these user types could be present at any given time, trails should not be designated or designed for any particular user group to the detriment of other groups. (See Figures 2-2 and 2-3, Trail and Bikeway User Types.) Even where restricted use is preferred, enforcement is virtually impossible and difficult, at best. It is a goal of this study to provide a balance of trail facilities that benefits all users.