VENTURA RAIL TRAIL
Ventura, California

Project Background:
In efforts to complete Ventura’s urban section of the Santa Paula Branch Line multi-use path, the city is seeking funding for project design and implementation through Caltrans ATP Cycle 6 program. The project closes a gap/deficiency in our current active transportation network on the east end of Ventura, and will provide new, safe connections to existing community connection places. The Ventura Rail Trail aims to benefit many pockets of disadvantaged communities along the Santa Paula Branch Line within Ventura City limits.

Design:
In 2022, Pacific Coast Land Design was hired to aid the lead consultant in the public outreach necessary for the grant application. Working with the city of Ventura’s Communications team, the PCLD project team lead a robust outreach effort targeting local community councils, special interest groups, and residents to a virtual community forum, and an online survey. To support the primary consultant’s design work and provide meaningful feedback for the grant application, PCLD queried community members on which community connections would become more accessible through the implementation of the trail and offered many proposed design sections at key areas of the trail to decipher which trail amenities are most important for budgeting and future design considerations. Also notable, PCLD’s efforts unlocked great connections between city, county, and regional stakeholders in opportunities to bridge goals of the area ATP, area specific plans (unincorporated Saticoy), and the regional transportation masterplan (VCTC) in a Saticoy trail head at the existing Saticoy Railroad Depot (a registered National Historical Place).