The City of Half Moon Bay plans to rehabilitate about 3.4 miles of the Coastal Trail between Mirada Road and the Seymour Bridge. This heavily used stretch of the California Coastal Trail serves pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized users. It also reaches many areas of Half Moon Bay State Beach, including Dunes Beach, Roosevelt Beach, Venice Beach, and Francis State Beach.
The existing 12-foot-wide trail has worn down from age, weather, and tree roots growing beneath it. Cracks, uneven surfaces, bumps, and tripping hazards are common. Plants and sediment have built up along the edges, narrowing the usable path in places, and overgrown vegetation blocks sight lines, which creates safety concerns for people sharing the trail.
The main repair will be a new layer of asphalt to improve safety, ride quality, and accessibility. Where the pavement is badly damaged, especially near Mirada Road, crews may make structural repairs or dig out and replace failed sections before resurfacing. Crews will also trim vegetation and clear sediment from the edges to restore the original shoulders, improve visibility, and recover the full width of the trail. The trail will not be widened. New striping, pavement markings, and regulatory and wayfinding signs will help people navigate and share the trail safely.
The Coastside State Parks Association (CSPA) has pledged $35,000 toward the repairs, on the condition that the City secures the federal grant that would fund the project. The CSPA Board of Directors voted unanimously to support it.
The San Mateo County Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan identifies the Coastal Trail as an important regional route for walking and biking. Rehabilitating this segment will preserve a key link in the countywide network, extend the trail’s life, and keep it accessible for residents and visitors traveling the San Mateo County coast.
– Edited from City of Half Moon Bay reports
