Southwest Fresno Trail

Project Summary: This project will install a trail along Fanning ditch from the intersection of S. West Avenue at W. Florence Avenue to the intersection of E. California Avenue and S. Thorne Avenue. The project will also install trees to increase the tree canopy in the area and include trail and street lighting facilities.

Details: This project will install a Class I Trail along the Fanning Ditch Alignment, from West to Thorne. The project will also plant 102 trees and landscaping to increase the urban tree canopy and add trail and street lighting facilities. An associated project under the Community Engagement Plan led by USGBC-CC will facilitate community input during the design phase of the project. The City of Fresno Department of Public Works will provide long-term operations and maintenance of the trail and improvements.

A component of the CEP will be lead by the US Green Building Council of Central California ($138,540) and includes a bicycle trail design outreach process and a bicycle education program. An outreach process will engage residents and stakeholders in the planning of the Southwest Fresno Trail project (CCI Project #5) to provide input and valuable feedback into the Fanning Ditch Bike Trail. USGBC-CC and Urban Diversity Design will collaborate with appropriate city and planning and engineering consultants and stakeholders to ensure resident and stakeholder input in the planning process. The outreach process aims to build engagement around the new bike trail that will increase connectivity in Southwest Fresno and between TCC projects, the Yosemite Village Permaculture Garden (CCI Project #12) and the Southwest Fresno Community Food Hub (CCI Projects #15, 16, 17). A bicycle education program will prepare the transition to more active transportation usage in Southwest Fresno by educating and engaging active transportation users, and raising bicycle safety awareness among the general population. The program aims to increase rider safety and usage of existing bicycle facilities by promoting safe driving practices, encouraging bicycle usage, sharing information about current and future infrastructure (including TCC trail projects), and providing opportunities to promote current and future connectivity in Southwest Fresno.