FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2026
Contact: Jeremy Bloom, Chief Operating Officer
619-841-2258 | [email protected]
Nominees Announced for Circulate Planning & Policy’s 2026 Momentum Awards
SAN DIEGO (September 10, 2026) – Circulate Planning & Policy is proud to announce the nominees for the 2026 Momentum Awards, the region’s premier celebration of leadership in safe streets, public transit, and sustainable growth.
Earlier this year, Circulate changed its name from “Circulate San Diego” to “Circulate Planning & Policy.” Along with the new name, this year’s Momentum Awards feature updated categories to reflects where the region’s momentum is building fastest.
Circulate is proud to spotlight the Housing Innovation Award, recognizing projects that use policy tools creatively to produce more homes, and to elevate the Planning Award, honoring the plans that lay the groundwork for walkable, transit-connected communities. Alongside these categories, this year’s Advocate and Public Servant Awards shine a light on the community advocates and the unsung heroes inside public agencies whose persistence, coalition-building, and behind-the-scenes leadership move real projects across the finish line.
“Our favorite part of the year is when we get to recognize those who are making our region a better place to live, work, and move around,” said Colin Parent, CEO and General Counsel of Circulate Planning & Policy. “This year we're taking that celebration to a new level at Nova. Club Circulate is going to be our biggest Momentum Awards yet."
For over 27 years, Circulate Planning & Policy has worked alongside local governments, community groups, and the private sector to push for safer streets, better transit, and more sustainable growth. The Momentum Awards celebrate the people and projects that are turning those goals into reality across the region.
The 2026 Momentum Awards will also debut a new home this year: Nova in Downtown San Diego. Save the date for October 23rd at 5:30 p.m., and get ready to celebrate at Club Circulate, a night of music, community, and momentum honoring the people and projects moving San Diego forward. Registration and event details are available at www.circulatesd.org/awards2026.
The event invitation and photos from past Momentum Awards are attached oronline.
2026 MOMENTUM AWARD NOMINEES
Safe Streets Award
- Oceanside Inland Rail Trail (OIRT) Feasibility Study — City of Oceanside, Caltrans, Kimley-Horn
- Bike Anywhere Day — SANDAG
- Comprehensive Speed Management Plan — City of San Diego, LLG Engineers & Planners, Kittelson & Associates, Evari GIS Consulting
- Multimodal Team — City of San Diego
- Building Safe Routes to School — San Diego Unified School District
Public Transit Award
- Wakeland Housing Mobility Access Program — Wakeland Housing, Price Philanthropies
- Mid-City GO! — City Heights Community Development Corporation and North Park Main Street
- Finish the Rapid 215 — BikeSD, RideSD, SD350, and DSA SD
Planning Award
- SDSU on the Move, Transforming Transportation for a Growing Campus (TDM Plan) — San Diego State University, Feer & Peers
- Moments — NewSchool of Architecture & Design
- A Living Village for Learning — NewSchool of Architecture & Design
- Thrive — NewSchool of Architecture & Design
- College Area Community Plan Update — City of San Diego
- San Diego Bike Share — San Diego Bike Share Alliance, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, SDSU, Circulate Planning and Policy
Transit Oriented Development Award
- SkyLINE — Affirmed Housing, San Diego MTS
- Ridge Walk North Living and Learning Neighborhood — UC San Diego
- Sprawl to Stack: Rethinking of Suburban Land Use Through Densification — NewSchool of Architecture & Design
- Kettner Crossing — BRIDGE Housing Corporation, AVRP Studios, R.D. Olson
Housing Innovation Award
- San Diego Shared Housing Collaborative — Townspeople
- Jacaranda on 9th — Community HousingWorks, Stephen Dalton Architects, Highland PM LLC, Pasco Laret Suiter & Associates (PLSA)
- San Diego Community College District Affordable Housing Project, City College — San Diego Community College District, Developer: The Michaels Organization
- Black Oak Hall and Kwíila Dining Project — Cal State San Marcos Corporation, CSUSM Facilities Development & Management, Office of Facility Services and Office of Planning, Design and Construction, Division of Student Affairs
- Evolve Student Housing — SDSU, Swinerton
Advocate Award
- Amelia Broadnax — GLM House Inc
- Harry Bubbins — BikeSD/Respect Bird Rock
- Madison Cranford — BikeSD
- Zack Defazio-Farrell — YIMBY Democrats of San Diego County
- Adam Deutsch — Riding Bikes in San Diego (YouTube channel)
- Aaron Eckhouse — California YIMBY
- Ian Hembree — San Diego County Bicycle Coalition
- Juliana Kapovich — Families for Safe Streets
- E. Chloé Lauer — San Diego County Bicycle Coalition
- Benjamin Nicholls — Hillcrest Business Association
- Jillian Quint — San Diego River Park Foundation
- Adriana Rizzo — Californians for Electric Rail
- Martha Wudka — UC Bike Bus
Public Servant Award
- Brittany Bailey — City of San Diego Mayor's Office
- Nicholas Buenviaje — Caltrans
- Hillary Ego — City of La Mesa
- Ariel Kroll — San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS)
- Jordan Latchford — Office of City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn
- Maya Rosas — Office of Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, Council District 9
- Hannah Stern — San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
- Coby Tomlins — City of San Diego - City Planning Department
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