Paved Multi-Use Paths

With nearly 80 miles of bike-friendly routes within the town, including 33.5 miles of signed bike routes, 24.5 miles of paved shoulders, and 30 miles of multi-use paths, plus access into Pima County’s paved Loop network, cycling is a booming activity in town. Paved multi-use paths are an extremely valuable piece of Oro Valley’s outdoor recreation system. Of survey participants, 90% noted that paved MUPs were “important,” or “very important.”  

Strava is a popular fitness monitoring app; approximately 25% of survey respondents reported using it to track their outdoor fitness routes. Examining Strava data of users within Oro Valley reveals frequently used routes and hot spots of current paths and trails, as well as popular current sidewalks or “desire paths” that could be formally incorporated formally into OV’s  paths and trails network. While not perfect and not a complete picture of every user, the data is a helpful guide.  

INSERT STRAVA PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE MAPS 

The most popular MUPs for pedestrians within Oro Valley according to Strava data include along Rancho Vistoso Boulevard (5,065 trips in 2024) and Naranja Drive (4,455). For cyclists, the MUPs along Tangerine Road (5,380) and Rancho Vistoso Boulevard (4,810) are most visited. These MUP sections were the third and fourth most frequently visited areas within OV by pedestrians and the fourth and fifth most frequently visited areas by cyclists.  

While the majority of streets are often used for fitness and connectivity is crucial throughout Town, sections of key thoroughfares that are currently sidewalks stand out as heavily tra)icked enough that warrant major examination for transition to MUPs. These include the full length of:  

• Rancho Vistoso Boulevard 
• Tangerine Road
• Lambert Lane
• Oracle Road
• Ina Road
• Magee Road
• La Cañada Drive 

Embed as iframe with limited function? MUP_Existing_Small.pdf 

Multi-use paths currently along Lambert Lane, Naranja Drive, La Cañada Drive, First Avenue, and Tangerine Road (the paths along Cañada del Oro Wash and Big Wash are part of Pima County’s Huckelberry Loop System). Many paved MUPs run parallel to streets and connect neighborhoods, parks and other trail systems, and other destinations around Town. The MUP system currently connects to five Level-1, two Level-2, two Level-3, and two Level-4 trailheads.  

The trailhead classifications are as follows:  

• Level-1: Restroom, Water, Parking, Amenities, and Info 
• Level-2: Parking, Amenities, and Info
• Level-3: Parking and Info
• Level-4: Amenities and Info  

Community engagement was a major part of the OV Trails Connect process. Full public outreach results from the online survey, Trailside Chats, and meetings with stakeholder groups and regional agencies can be found in the Public Outreach Summary(PDF, 10MB). Some key MUP-related findings from the OV Trails Connect public outreach process were as follows:  

• When asked to rank 10 choices for paved path improvements, 71% of respondents chose “performing preventive upkeep and regular maintenance” as their top priority, by far the most significant and popular choice.
• 95% reported that surface conditions were “okay,” “good,” or “excellent.” This is especially noteworthy when respondents also ranked surface conditions as their most important topic/amenity within the MUP system.
• Current connectivity and access are working for many people, with 90% of respondents finding connectivity to places and proximity and ease of access to be “okay,” “good,” or “excellent,” with 85% reporting the same about connectivity to other trails and paths. 
• Of survey respondents, 81% said they used Oro Valley’s path and trail system for walking. As the second most popular choice, 55% said they use it for road biking (paved surface).
• 86% of respondents classified etiquette and courtesy of other users as “okay” or better.
• Nearly 80% reporting that published maps and guides as well as wayfinding signage was “okay” or worse.

Many of the comments in the Trailside Chats and stakeholder groups praised the “connectivity to local businesses and other trails and paths.” Common requests centered around reinvesting in existing assets through maintenance and increased comfort amenities such as shade or seating areas, as well as adding safer road crossings where necessary.

(MUP_Proposed_Small.pdf embedded or other)

Future paved paths within Oro Valley should follow the same high-quality design and construction standards that users expect, for safety, uniformity, and ease of maintenance. New paved paths should follow the standard sections found here (LINK).  

•  Design should consider pedestrian and cyclist safety, including issues like adjacency to vehicular traffic and landscape buffer elements, radii of turns, site visibility of oncoming cyclists, and signs to notify of potential hazards. Design should also consider safe road crossings where applicable (including weighing visibility, flashing beacons, and accessibility).
• Proposed improvements include two additional Level-2 trailheads (one along E Ina Road and the other along N Rancho Vistoso Boulevard where it connects with Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve) with parking, amenities, and path information.

Many proposed MUPs take the place of existing landscape-separated sidewalks, while others are entirely new segments where there is currently landscape area. As each segment is developed, creating a site-specific master plan and studying relationships with ADOT, HOAs, developers, and other landowners will be critical. Utilizing easements, sharing funding with developers, and other ways of getting creative to construct future segments may be necessary at certain portions of the path.

INSERT MUP IMPLEMENTATION TABLE 

As multi-use paths get extended or developed across town, the most optimal routes may cross private property, future development areas, HOA land, or dip into other jurisdictions like ADOT. Care should be taken to fully research and develop these opportunities as these routes are optimized and present themselves. As the Town and the paved multi-use path network expand, care should be taken to preserve fragile desert habitats and specimen plantings, incorporate landscape buffers between the path and roadway for increased habitat value and user safety, and bring users into the natural world in a safe and conservation-minded manner. 

Maintaining current routes and expanding new routes were consistently ranked higher by residents than tasks like installing mile markers and wayfinding, public art, or etiquette signage. These may be lower cost improvements or opportunities for partnerships with non-profits, so should still be examined as part of the path/trail maintenance and expansion plan in the future.  

With the CDO Shared Use Path and Big Wash Shared Use Path being funded with a combination of ADOT Transportation Enhancement Funds, Pima County bond funds, Town funds, and by developers, the Town should explore grants, use fees, taxes, and donations for future expansion funding possibilities.  

The implementation table includes timelines for work as follows: 

• Short-Term goals and actions should take place within 1-3 years, and would address safety goals like installing signage and maintaining areas, quick wins like mapping an inventory, trailheads, path/trail conditions, minor amenities, and new easements. 
• Mid-Term goals and actions should take place within 3-6 years, and would address larger maintenance actions, implementing new trails and paths, installing restrooms and water fountains, and implementing a staff position.
• Long-Term goals and actions should take place in 6-10+ years, and would include long-term goals such as maintenance and new trails and paths.

Goals and corresponding actions may shift between timelines and categories based on changing needs and funding priorities of an evolving community.  Priority rankings are based on a blend of community input and priority levels, “quick wins,” and funding level required (1 being the highest priority, and 10 being the lowest). Thie plan is heavily dependent on volunteer coordination and participation. 

Many comments from the OV’s Path Forward public outreach process referenced potentially dangerous spots where paths narrow across washes or going downhill and sand accumulates so more regular sweeping is needed—this can be a big safety hazard for cyclists especially. Maintaining current routes, making sure that repairs to asphalt don’t create new cracking or bumps, and investing in increased comfort and aesthetic amenities improve the experience for current and future users. 

Increased shade from trees or fabric/metal structures, restrooms, water stations, picnic areas and ramadas, and lighting can all improve the experience and well-being of paved multi-use path users. Increasing public art and other aesthetic amenities can add cultural value, tie into Loop artwork and make the Town’s trail and path system as a whole feel more cohesive, and add a sense of place and local flavor to different areas. These pull-off areas can provide tourism value with “instagrammable” moments of recognizable art or views.

This plan proposes adding the following multi-use path segments in the future (see map for full graphic representation of proposed segments here: HYPERLINK PROPOSED MUP MAP)

• W Moore Road from N Gibson Trail to N Rancho Vistoso Boulevard
•  N La Cañada Drive from W Moore Road to Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve
• Connection between N Moore Loop and Existing multi-use path
• N Rancho Vistoso Boulevard from E Tangerine Road to N Oracle Road
• N Oracle Road from N Rancho Vistoso Boulevard to N Innovation Market Drive
• N Oracle Road from Rams Pass to E Orange Grove Road
• E Tangerine Road to Loop Path by Oro Valley Marketplace
• Connecting existing proposed unpaved path with Loop under Oracle, near Rams Canyon (two segments)
• N 1st Avenue from the Loop to N Oracle Road
• W Naranja Drive from N La Canada Drive to N 1st Avenue
• N La Cañada Drive from W Naranja Drive to W Lambert Lane (two segments)
• N La Canada Drive from Saddle Valley to W Orange Grove Road
• W Lambert Lane from N Thornydale Road to N La Cholla Boulevard
• N Shannon Road from W Tangerine Road to W Magee Road
• W Overton Road from N Thornydale Road to N Oracle Road
• W Magee Road from N Thornydale Road to Iris Dewhirst Pima Canyon Trailhead (two segments)
• W Greenock Drive from N Oracle Road to proposed MUP along CDO River Park
• W Ina Road from the Loop to N Campbell Avenue
• N La Cholla Road from W Old Magee Trail to W Orange Grove Road
• Connection from Cañada del Oro Riverfront Park to the Loop
• Connection from the Loop to Oro Valley Aquatic Center and Linda Vista Trailhead (two segments)
• W Calle Concordia from Oro Valley Aquatic Center to N Calle Buena Vista
• N Calle Buena Vista from W Calle Concordia to Tohono Chul
• N Westward Look Drive from E Ina Road to proposed trailhead

During the public outreach process, certain segments and intersections of the Town’s multi-use path network were identified as uncomfortable or potentially hazardous. Proposed pathway links that would address these problems include: 

• Extending the existing multi-use path south along the west side of E Rancho Vistoso Boulevard to connect to a traffic light crossing at E Vistoso Commerce Loop Road
• Converting the existing detached sidewalk on the east side of E Rancho Vistoso Boulevard to a true multi-use path from N Oracle Road all the way around to E Tangerine Road 

Beyond adding pathway extensions that would improve safe circulation, the Town may consider adding flashing beacons or grade-separated/protected crossings at key areas as warranted. Paved multi-use paths also provide an opportunity for accessible routes for users of all abilities (vs. narrow, steep, or rocky back-country trails that have reduced access). Where possible, slopes should be kept to ADA standards to allow for universal access around town.

During the OV’s Path Forward public outreach process, many comments were received about wanting more directional signage pointing to major destinations like Catalina State Park, the OV Country Club, or shopping areas like OV Marketplace. Of survey respondents for OV Trails Connect, 30% found that wayfinding signage was “not good” or “terrible,” and 44% found it to be “okay.” Improved directional signage and wayfinding points should be an evolving effort both for existing and future routes. “Branding” important intersections with public art, or theming certain routes/segments of the path with colors or desert plants or animals could help increase notoriety and usability.  

About a third of residents also called published maps and guides availability “not good,” or “terrible.” Providing map data that can be utilized within common fitness and hiking apps like Strava and All Trails will benefit many path users. Installation of wayfinding, mile markers, and educational signage will take funding priority over etiquette signage, with the exception of speed limit signage on multi-use paths heavily frequented by cyclists that could pose issues sharing with pedestrians. Etiquette and speed limit signage, as well as highlighting which areas are appropriate and accessible for e-bikes, would help the community have improved experiences on multi-use paths.