
As we close out the year, we want to celebrate some incredible wins and share how we’re setting the stage for transformative land use and transportation policies in 2025. Your membership and support fuel Circulate San Diego’s advocacy and planning work, and we’re deeply grateful.
If you’ve already renewed your support for 2025, thank you! If not, now is the perfect time to recommit to our shared goals of fast transit, safe streets, and more housing. Corporate Membership renewals receive a 10% discount through December 31.
Together in 2024, we made San Diego a better place to live, work, and move around. Here are a few highlights:
Celebrated 25 Years of Advocacy: This year marked a milestone for Circulate San Diego, commemorating 25 years of shaping our region’s future. The merger of WalkSanDiego and MoveSanDiego in 2014 created Circulate, and for a quarter century, we’ve been a leading voice in land use and mobility innovation.
Enhanced Street Safety for All Ages: Our planning team engagedhundreds of young people and older adults in discussions about safe biking and walking, partnering with organizations across San Diego County to host transit, biking, and walking field trips.

Championed Access and Equity in the Coastal Zone: We released a groundbreaking report highlighting how over-regulation in the California Coastal Zone has delayed housing production and undermined recent state reform efforts. By spotlighting specific cases where policies have increased exclusivity instead of access, we reinforced the urgent need to align housing and transportation goals with the Coastal Act’s original vision. This report has become a rallying point for reform, ensuring the Coastal Zone serves all Californians, not just a privileged few.

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- Put Vision Zero in Focus: Our report,Vision Zero at 10 Years: Struggling Forward in Safety Crisis, revealed a troubling rise in pedestrian fatalities and called for urgent action from the City of San Diego to fully implement its plans, streamline processes, and complete quick build projects. Vision Zero has been a step forward, but without comprehensive implementation, it risks losing credibility—and lives continue to be lost. San Diego must do better.
- Achieved a visionary update to the UC Community Plan: After years of advocacy, the updated UC Community Plan delivers a bold vision for the future of University City. The plan paves the way for thousands of new homes and jobs near the trolley while enhancing connectivity through improved bus, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure. These changes will benefit the entire region, aligning with the goals outlined in our 2023 Making the Most of the Mid-Coast Trolley We were proud to celebrate this milestone by honoring Councilmember Kent Lee and the City of San Diego Planning Department at our Momentum Awards.
- Expanded Street Safety Engagement Across Communities: This year, we broadened our efforts to engage San Diego communities in building safer streets. With long-standing partners like the Office of Traffic Safety and the County of San Diego, as well as new collaborators like the City of Chula Vista and SDSU, we hosted bike rodeos, led walking field trips, and implemented demonstration projects. These initiatives empowered residents of all ages to envision and advocate for safer, more vibrant neighborhoods.
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- Transformed Street Safety Across Southern California: Partnering with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), we implemented the 2024 Go Human Safety Strategies program. This initiative focuses on advancing equity-centered mobility and traffic safety through impactful projects, including the Go Human Community Streets grant, the Go Human Kit of Parts Lending Library, and tailored safety resources and trainings. By supporting communities with these tools and expertise, we are helping to create safer, more inclusive streets throughout the region.
- Looking ahead to 2025. You can support this work by renewing and increasing your membership, joining as a report or campaign sponsor, and sponsoring our annual Momentum Awards. We’re focusing on:
- Advocating for a More Inclusive Coastal Zone: Building on the momentum from our 2024 report and advocacy for AB 2560, we remain committed to reforming Coastal Commission practices that hinder housing access. While the bill didn’t pass this year, we are partnering with legislative allies to push forward reforms that ensure the Coastal Zone becomes a place where all Californians can live and thrive.
- Connecting Transit to the Airport: For years, Circulate San Diego has championed a rail connection between Downtown and the Airport to improve transit access for travelers and workers. In 2023, we secured commitments from the Airport and SANDAG to advance this project. In 2025, we’ll publish a comprehensive report analyzing how San Diego can fully realize this essential connection, ensuring our region keeps pace with other major cities.
- Expanding Safer Streets in South County: Building on our success in Chula Vista, we’re excited to extend our efforts to Imperial Beach in 2025. With projects focused on pedestrian and cyclist safety, these initiatives will highlight South County’s leadership in creating safer, more accessible streets for all.
I’m immensely proud of our talented team of planners and advocates who rose to every challenge in 2024. None of this would be possible without you—our valued supporters and partners.
With your help, we’ll continue advocating for better transit, safer streets, and affordable homes.