SF&A helps Central Sierra (CA) communities use trail development to support economic development.
SF&A is pleased to be part of the Sierra Jobs First effort supported by the Sierra Business Council.
This program funds, plans, and implements sustainable projects with a focus on equity and community-driven, green economic growth. Our work is focused on a Sustainable Mobility Partnership to support efforts across four counties’(Amador, Alpine, Tuolumne, and Calaveras) to use biking and its promise of sustainable mobility and active recreation to capture community and economic benefit. In this effort, we are advisors to the Motherlode Bicycle Coalition, which is a volunteer-led bike advocacy group serving the four-county region as a project of CalBike, the statewide bike advocacy organization.
In January, I had the opportunity to visit the area and was struck by the natural beauty of the rolling and mountainous setting, speckled with historic downtowns that retain their historic “Gold Rush” character. The region lies between California’s central plain and the highest peaks of the Sierras, between Sacramento and Yosemite. This location presents an opportunity to attract visitors to experience the Gold Rush locales, the downtown offerings, and the rugged locations and recreational opportunities at the doorstep of Yosemite.
The terrain is perfect for mountain biking, but over 90% of lands are controlled by federal government entities that have mixed approaches to visitation and trail development.
The cities have “Gold Rush” downtowns with narrow streets, designed in pre-automobile days. The sidewalks allow for walking and browsing, but in cities like Sonora the traffic can overwhelm the historic streetscape with its sheer volume and noise—preventing opportunities for outdoor dining and gathering. Adding human-scale space in the historic downtown would require reclaiming either travel space or parking space presently dedicated to automobiles.
Local planners are currently working on several active transportation initiatives in the area.
One is a pathway designed to connect Columbia to Chicken Ranch primarily along highway rights-of-way. This is a multi-phase project that would provide an active transportation spine through Sonora and reaching northward and southward.
The Sierra Rail Trail is a proposed use of former railroad right-of-way to provide a more separated path for bicyclists who wish to travel on trails with greater separation from roadway traffic.
The Angels Creek Trail is a planned trail through the town of Angels Camp, connecting its historic and “jumping frog”-themed downtown to city schools, parks, and desinations and recreation opportunities at the New Melones reservoir nearby.
Down in the valley, trail advocates are pursuing a concept for using EBMUD water infrastructure as the basis for a long-distance pathway providing a connection to these Sierra communities. This effort would provide a new opportunity for long-distance cyclists to reach the region, but comes with significant logistical challenges and costs.
SF&A has been engaged:
To help move these trail projects forward,
To provide an economic development plan for the regional use of bicycling infrastructure and investment to grow the tourism economy and maximize economic benefit, and
To help the Motherlode Bicycle Coalition build its capacity as a regional convener and advocate for these community-building and economic development investments.
We are excited to be part of the team working to grow biking and its community and economic benefits in the Motherlode Region. If you are interest in these efforts, whether in the Central Sierra Region or in your community, please get in touch.