Two Rivers Trail Phase II: Improving Pedestrian Safety

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June 17, 2020
Edward Smith

Sacramento’s Two Rivers Trail Phase II

The City of Sacramento has a top-notch trail system in its American River Bike Trail.  The trail provides an invaluable service to bicycle commuters and offers all residents endless options for recreation.  There are still some portions of the city that do not connect via the trail, however.  Soon, a new section of the trail, known as Two Rivers Trail Phase II, will provide more access points and incorporate more residents.

Progress on Phase II  

Construction of Phase II of the Sacramento Two Rivers Trail should be underway in the near future.  The final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was certified by the City Council on February 4, 2020.  Phase II of the project will provide a critical link to the Parkway trail that is already in existence.  It will consist of a multi-use path that will stretch nearly two and a half miles from Sutter’s Landing Park to the H Street/Fair Oaks Bridge.  This portion of the trail will provide safe, convenient, and protected off-street walking and bicycling and will connect Midtown, River Park, and California State University, Sacramento

Development along the American River Parkway is strictly limited, and the Phase II Trail is one of a few ways available to improve access.  In the future, the plan is to have the trail connect to the Sacramento River Parkway in order to create a continuous trail along both sides of the American and Sacramento Rivers.  

Key Design Features

Some of the key features of the design that were important for its approval are:

  • It avoids any disruption of natural areas of the existing American River Parkway.
  • It follows the existing maintenance road.
  • It avoids conflict with levee maintenance.
  • The design maintains privacy for those who have homes along the levee.

Benefits of Enhanced Trail Systems

The enhancement of our trail systems has many benefits for Sacramento residents, such as:

  • Comprehensive trails systems encourage people to bike or walk, which improves overall citizen health.
  • Homes near trails have higher property values by approximately 10%.  Second, only to convenient highway access, homeowners say trail access is a very important consideration when buying a home.
  • Popular bike trails have a tendency to result in crime reduction.  The landscape gets cleaned up, and more people are drawn to the area for recreational purposes.

Improved Safety for Pedestrians and Bicyclists

As we have discussed on our page previously, pedestrian accidents have been on the rise in recent years in Northern California, so the development of protected trails for bicyclists and walkers is an important safety improvement.  Providing safe transportation options that do not involve driving improves our health, the sense of community, and the environment.  

Documents related to the development of the Two Rivers Trail Phase II can be reviewed online here.

Below is a fun video showing a ride along the beautiful American River Bike Trail from Folsom to Sacramento:

Sacramento Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyer.  Sacramento has unfortunately seen a rise in pedestrian accidents, as have many other areas within Northern California.  If you or a family member were involved in a pedestrian vs. automobile accident and sustained injuries, I can offer free, friendly, compassionate advice.  My Sacramento-area phone number is (916) 921-6400.  If you happen to be outside the region, I can be reached toll-free at (800) 404-5400.  For those who prefer online contact, I have a form available here.

For more than 38 years, I have worked tirelessly on behalf of injured Sacramento residents.   Some of my case successes as well as reviews from past clients can be accessed at the sites linked below:

I am honored to be a member of the Top 1 Percent and Million Dollar Forum.

Photo Attribution: https://unsplash.com/photos/85p638jSWmY

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