Naval Base San Diego helps city with bikeway
10/13/2009
by Maile Y. Baca
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) in collaboration with the City of San Diego, San Diego Association of Governments, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and Chula Vista is supporting the Bayshore Bikeway, a 24-mile bicycle pathway around the San Diego Bay.

The bikeway is built off the main traffic roads for a safe and secure bicycle ride attracting hundreds of riders daily, some of whom use the path for recreation and others who use it to commute to work.

The bike path starts on Coronado from the Ferry Landing, goes through Silver Strand, passing Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and through Imperial Beach. It continues into Chula Vista, National City, past NBSD and ends in downtown San Diego.

"This is a major project years in the making for the safety of civilians and Sailors, said the manager of the Bayshore Bikeway Project, Robert Ripley, naval facilities southwest asset manager NBSD. "It's built to take cyclists off the main roadways and on to a safe and secure route. Cyclists can go from downtown to Coronado to Chula Vista… all around San Diego Bay safely."

The project has been completed from Coronado to Chula Vista. The current section under final design is from Chula Vista, through National City, NBSD and up to 32nd Street. The preliminary project cost estimate for this portion is a little under $7 million.

When planning the current section, it was determined that a portion of the bike path near NBSD was undevelopable without the Navy's help. "If the Navy hadn't collaborated in this project, the bike path would have had to go over train tracks - not very safe," said Ripley. Through collaboration with the cities and local community, NBSD decided to pursue an easement to help complete the bike path. An easement will allow use of the property by the cities for the Bayshore Bikeway while the Navy will continue to retain ownership of the property, consisting of five sections totaling a little over 3 acres of land.

Along with the easement, NBSD is moving back 30 yards of the fence line along the wet side of the base just south of 8th St, so the bike path can be built. "For the safety of the community on the bike route, we are working with the cities of San Diego and National City to ensure the Bayshore bikeway is constructed safely," said Capt. Rick Williamson, NBSD commanding officer. "If we hadn't moved our fence line back a little, the bike path in the area would not have been as safe for those using it. We felt this was in the best interest of our community and our Sailors."

The Navy has gone through the appropriate steps to request an easement and fence line adjustment for the portion of land needed from NBSD to complete the bikeway in a safe location. The approval was granted by Commander, Navy Installations Command.

By granting the easement, fence line adjustment and allowing the city of San Diego and National City to maintain and make all repairs to the bike path property owned by the Navy, the bikeway will be able to be completed in a safe area away from traffic for the public to use at no cost or liability to the Navy.