Vista to remove Melrose Drive cycle track

The 3-2 vote followed a month of public outcry, with concerns over emergency access, school safety, and poor execution of the project

The Vista City Council approved the removal of a controversial cycle track along Melrose Drive during their June 24 meeting. Steve Puterski photo

VISTA — The city’s controversial cycle track on Melrose Drive will be removed after another passionate debate among the City Council.

The item was brought forward by Councilman Dan O’Donnell, who represents District 4 where most of the project resides. It was installed in May and since then has been a source of contention and debate among residents, the council and others.

The council voted 3-2 on June 24 to remove the cycle track with Councilwomen Corrina Contreras and Katie Melendez opposed. In addition, the council also approved pausing the East Vista Way cycle track until the city installs several medians between Williamston and Taylor streets, according to city staff.

However, O’Donnell said he spent hours upon hours speaking to dozens, if not hundreds, of people from engineers to cyclist groups to residents regarding the hot-button issue over the past month. In the end, he felt best the entire cycle track, berms included, were removed along Melrose Drive from near Hacienda Drive to Poinsettia Avenue. Additionally, all berms will be removed along Sycamore Avenue, although the delineators (bollards) will remain in place.

The delineators, though, will also remain in place along Buena Vista Drive from Sunset Drive to Melrose; from Shadowridge Drive to the southern city boundary, except for a 575-foot segment north and south of Green Oak Road; and on Sycamore Avenue. The cycle track on Longhorn Drive next to Rancho Buena Vista High School will remain in place, O’Donnell said.

“This decision was not made lightly,” O’Donnell explained. “It reflects extensive engagement with cyclists and advocacy groups, public safety officials, local organizations, and residents. My goal throughout this process has been to find a balanced solution that serves everyone who shares our roads — and I believe we have accomplished that.”

However, other projects slated across the city in districts 1 and 3 will move forward.

He said met with representatives from the San Diego Association of Governments, EDCO, the San Diego Bike Coalition, Swami’s Cycling Club, local cyclists, firefighters, traffic deputies, residents, city staff and the principal of Rancho Buena Vista High School. After speaking with experts, O’Donnell said the design wasn’t flawed, but the implementation and execution were, which he and the council are responsible for.