Lafayette wants to cozy up to WC, Orinda with $3.7M trail money

LAMORINDA, CA — A newly secured $3.7 million state grant pushes Lafayette’s long-planned Aqueduct Pathway closer to construction, setting up a major upgrade in how residents reach downtown and the regional transit system without relying on cars.

The city secured funding through the California transportation improvement program to build a key segment of the Aqueduct Pathway between Dolores Drive and the BART station. City officials say the project will create a fully separated walking and biking route through the downtown corridor and improve access to schools, businesses, and transit.

The pathway runs within the East Bay Municipal Utility District corridor, managed by the East Bay Municipal Utility District, and parallels Mt. Diablo Boulevard and State Route 24.

Once completed, officials said the system will connect neighborhoods to transit and regional trails through a continuous, car-free network.

The Dolores Drive-to-BART segment will eliminate a major gap in Lafayette’s active transportation network and strengthen first- and last-mile access to transit. City officials expect construction to begin in 2029, pending additional funding and approvals.

U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier has also advanced $2.8 million in federal funding for a separate eastern segment between Brown Avenue and Pleasant Hill Road, which is now under consideration in the congressional appropriations process.

A western portion of the Aqueduct Pathway, between Risa Road and Dolores Drive, opened in 2025 and is already in use. The city is currently advancing design work on the eastern extension, supported by a $300,000 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, according to the city.

City officials describe the project as a long-term effort to link Lafayette more directly to the regional trail network and nearby communities, including Walnut Creek, while tying into the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail.

“The Aqueduct Pathway will provide a safe alternative to busy roads like Mt. Diablo Boulevard and Deer Hill Road,” said Lafayette Transportation Program Manager Patrick Golier. “By creating a fully separated route, the project will make it easier for people to walk and bike to BART, downtown, and other everyday destinations.”

Planners also say the pathway supports downtown housing growth by improving access to transit and reducing reliance on driving. The city is coordinating with BART and regional partners to align station access, bike facilities, and downtown connections into a network.