Yuba supes OK mobility plan: Bike lanes, sidewalk improvements and more anticipated in south Yuba County

Michaela Harris, Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif.
·3 min read

May 14—The Yuba County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved projects for the Yuba County Bike and Pedestrian Mobility Plan on Tuesday, aimed at integrating more active transportation routes in unincorporated communities.

Over the past several months, Yuba County has worked closely with Dokken Engineering to assess current bike and pedestrian routes in the area and identify future projects to integrate as funding becomes available.

In 2022, Yuba County received a $205,000 grant awarded by Caltrans to help develop the mobility plan and create an extensive bike and pedestrian transportation system. Yuba County introduced its Bikeway Master Plan Update in 2012, which identified ways to make bike and pedestrian travel more accessible on a county-wide level. However, this new iteration will focus on unincorporated areas of south Yuba County, including Linda, West Linda, Olivehurst and Plumas Lake.

After holding a series of community outreach sessions and auditing existing bike paths, Dokken identified a list of transportation projects to supplement the mobility plan and bolster Yuba County's standing for future transportation grants, Senior Engineer Ashley Orsaba-Finders said.

Dokken recommended nine high-priority projects to address gaps in pedestrian safety and mobility throughout south Yuba County.

On McGowan Parkway through Highway 70 in Olivehurst, officials recommend sidewalk improvements with curb and gutter installations on both sides as well as class II bike lanes. The project for this 1.3-mile segment is estimated to cost $4.19 million and would effectively allow cyclists and pedestrians to safely navigate areas southwest of Olivehurst Avenue.

Improvements to Hammonton Smartsville Road are also included in the plan, covering approximately 4.3 miles between Lindhurst Avenue and Alberta Avenue in Linda. Key enhancements include 6-foot sidewalks with curb and gutter installations, ADA ramps at 15 intersections, and a combination of class II and III bike facilities with upgraded pavement sections. This project is estimated at $8.8 million and aims to increase connectivity to recent street improvements on North Beale Road, Dokken officials said. Dunning Avenue in Linda could also receive 6-foot sidewalk installations with curbs and gutters as well as ADA ramps on eight intersections, with an estimated cost of $1.1 million.

Lindhurst Avenue in Olivehurst could receive sidewalk improvements and class IV bike facilities on the west side, Orsaba-Finders said. This could also include 6-foot buffers with flexible delineators. Total project costs for the 1.8-mile segment are estimated to be $5.5 million.

Improvements are also planned for the northern and southern portions of Arboga Road, including a class IV bikeway with buffers and a class III facility with a combined cost of over $10 million. Approximately 1.7 miles on Simpson Lane could also receive a class IV bikeway and a class II lane in order to safely connect cyclists from Linda to Marysville.

Dokken and Yuba County officials also plan to create a 17-mile multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists on Levee Road in Marysville. The extensive trail could enhance connectivity across the entirety of Yuba County's valley region while promoting recreational opportunities, Orsaba-Finders said. Estimated costs to implement this trail are $35.7 million. Similarly, officials propose another multi-use path on abandoned railroad segments along Feather River Boulevard, which would cost around $8.8 million.

The Bike Pedestrian Mobility Plan will continue to enhance connectivity and active transportation for the whole of Yuba County, officials said. Moving forward, Dokken Engineering will submit one of these bike projects for funding from the state Active Transportation Program.