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City Council Adopts Laguna Niguel’s First Active Transportation Plan
The City Council recently adopted the City of Laguna Niguel’s first-ever Active Transportation Plan (ATP), marking a milestone in advancing safe and accessible mobility options for residents. Funded through a $200,000 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant from the Federal Highway Administration, the plan focuses on improving walking, biking, and the use of small mobility devices, such as scooters, throughout the City.
Developed over the course of 2024 and early 2025, the Active Transportation Plan was shaped by extensive community input. City staff and consultants gathered data, hosted in-person events, conducted public surveys, and held stakeholder meetings with representatives from public health, education, law enforcement, and transportation agencies. This robust engagement process helped shape the plan’s recommendations for future improvements.
The ATP is a planning study that analyzes active transportation data and considers input from the community to identify potential improvements to the City's active transportation network. Recommended projects include new Class II and Class IV bike lanes, upgraded crosswalks, sidewalk gap closures, and enhanced trail connections. Notable examples include improvements along Alicia Parkway, Crown Valley Parkway, Dorine Road, and La Paz Road, as well as sidewalk enhancements near the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Station.
The Active Transportation Plan will guide future infrastructure investments, ensuring that Laguna Niguel continues to provide safe, sustainable, and enjoyable transportation options for all residents. To learn more about the plan and its recommendations, visit cityoflagunaniguel.org/atp.
2025 State of the City: Turning Vision into Victory
Last month, Mayor Ray Gennawey proudly presented the ‘2025 State of the City Address’, appropriately themed, Turning Vision into Victory! This year's State of the City video highlights the many victories we’ve accomplished together. From ensuring public safety and strengthening community engagement, to advancing innovation and practicing sound financial stewardship. The State of the City video is available on the City website.
City Council Approves Community Preferred Roundabouts for La Paz Road
The City Council has approved the community preferred alternative for the La Paz Road Mobility Enhancements and Permanent Repair Project, marking an important milestone in improving safety, accessibility, and mobility along La Paz Road. The approved design includes roundabouts at the intersections of La Paz Road at Yosemite Road and at Rancho Niguel Road. It also features Class IV on-street separated bike lanes, pedestrian and landscape improvements, and stabilization of the hillside adjacent to the County Regional Park.
The project, funded through State and Federal grants totaling $15.5 million, aims to enhance the long-term safety and usability of La Paz Road between Aliso Creek Road and Crown Valley Parkway. Public feedback played a key role in shaping the design. Through a robust community outreach campaign, including open houses, neighborhood meetings, and an online survey with 400+ submissions, residents supported the installation of roundabouts and separated bike lanes as the preferred options.
Roundabouts were selected for their proven ability to improve traffic flow and reduce collision risks by minimizing conflict points and lowering vehicle speeds. The inclusion of Class IV bike lanes will provide a safer, dedicated space for cyclists while maintaining smooth traffic operations for motorists.
With City Council approval, the project now moves into the final engineering design phase, bringing the City one step closer to completing the permanent repairs along La Paz Road.
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Help Make a Difference: Volunteer at the Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade
This winter, residents have the opportunity to get involved and give back to the community by volunteering in this year’s Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 13, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Your volunteer participation will help ensure that the event runs smoothly and that everyone has a memorable experience. All parade volunteers must attend a mandatory volunteer meeting that will be held on Thursday, December 6, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Crown Valley Community Center. To sign up to volunteer, please visit cityoflagunaniguel.org/volunteers. For more information on how you can get involved, please call the Parks & Recreation Department at 949-425-5100.
Expanded Online Services: All Permits in One Place
The City has further enhanced the Online Permit Center by making all permit types available in one centralized location. This enhancement streamlines the process for submitting building, grading, and planning permit applications. The entire permitting process can now be completed remotely, whether from home, the office, or out in the field, at any time. The Online Permit Center can be accessed directly from the homepage of the City website.