Vista Opens New Inland Rail Trail Link |
New 1.1-mile segment expands car-free access for cyclists, walkers and transit riders across North County |
Vista residents now have another safe, traffic-separated option for getting around North County with the opening of a new section of the Inland Rail Trail. The San Diego Association of Governments marked the completion of the latest trail segment on Sept. 26, opening a paved 1.1-mile route between Mar Vista Drive and Civic Center Drive. The celebration coincided with Vista’s Cyclovia event, giving community members an opportunity to explore the new path by bike, on foot and other forms of active transportation. The project, called Phase 3 of the Inland Rail Trail, connects with existing segments to create approximately 12 uninterrupted miles of pathway away from vehicle traffic. Users can now travel from the Escondido Transit Center through San Marcos and into Vista, reaching the Civic Center Sprinter station without relying on busy roadways. Built alongside the Sprinter rail corridor, the route includes ADA-accessible features, trail lighting, drought-tolerant landscaping and drainage upgrades. A pocket park and rest area near Mar Vista Drive provides a place for trail users to pause along the way. Construction began in 2024 and involved challenging terrain, including slopes that rose as much as 25 feet above the adjacent railroad tracks. The $27.9 million project was financed through a combination of federal, state and local funding, including TransNet transportation sales-tax revenue and the California Active Transportation Program. Regional and local leaders said the project demonstrates the value of cooperation among cities, transit agencies and transportation planners. The trail is designed not only as a recreational amenity, but also as a practical travel route that links neighborhoods, jobs, schools and transit stations. The new Vista segment advances a broader plan for a 21-mile Inland Rail Trail connecting Escondido, San Marcos, Vista and Oceanside. A remaining two-mile gap between Civic Center Drive and North Drive is in final design. When that work and future segments are completed, North County will have a continuous inland trail corridor stretching from Escondido to Oceanside. |
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When is that last two mile gap between Civic Center and North Drive actually going to get done? Always "in final design" for years with these things.
The Cyclovia timing was smart. Got to check out the new stretch with a bunch of neighbors. Real community feel out there that day.
I had no idea you could already go all the way from Escondido to Vista without touching a busy road. Going to try it this weekend with the kids.
27.9 million dollars for 1.1 miles though. That math is a little hard to swallow when our roads are full of potholes.
Rode this yesterday from San Marcos all the way to the Civic Center station. Absolutely worth it. The lighting and that little rest area near Mar Vista are a nice touch.