Irvine Inspired: Part 3 - Mobility

Irvine Inspired pa r t 3 : m o b i l i t y

A 10-part series celebrating the people and milestones in and around Great Park Neighborhoods as the community celebrates its 10th anniversary.

The Beauty of Having Great Ways to Get Around

Beacon Park resident Chris Scholl has a bike for every

“It’s a beautiful ride, I’m outdoors, not in traffic and I

occasion.

actually get to work a little quicker on my bike,” Scholl

On weekends, you might see him riding his road bike with family or navigating a lengthier route through neighboring cities with friends. Or find him tackling rougher terrain on his mountain bike.

Scholl also leaves the car in the garage during the week and commutes from his home in Beacon Park to his workplace near John Wayne Airport on his e-bike.

Nearly 85% of his 10-mile commute each way is by trail. The rest is within designated bike lanes.

said. “Using gas and emissions feels unnecessary.

I have a hard time justifying driving a car (to work) designed for six people as one person.”

Utilizing alternate forms of transportation is a lifestyle that’s shared by his family. His wife, 7 year-old son and 9 year-old daughter frequently bike to Wild Rivers in the summer, and Beacon Park School is a short walk from their home as well.

“We prefer to find ways to walk or ride our bikes

whenever possible rather than driving, and we can do so pretty efficiently and safely.”

U.S. Conference of Mayors to MONEY magazine.

Since its inception, Great Park Neighborhoods has

Getting around easily by bike, foot or car is one of

been planned and designed as a walkable and bikeable

the many reasons Irvine is celebrated as one of the

community that builds off of Irvine’s strengths. People

nation’s most successful master-planned cities. It has

are connected to a larger network of nearby parks,

been recognized as one of the most desirable places

trails, schools, sports and recreation facilities, and

to live in the country by organizations ranging from the

open spaces – all within close proximity to each other.

A bridge to pedestrianand bike-friendly adventures

To enhance the pedestrian-friendly and walkable

between Irvine Boulevard and Magnet (just north of

nature of the community, FivePoint’s joint venture

Great Park Boulevard), thus connecting residents from

(Heritage Fields El Toro, LLC) also built and/or

surrounding neighborhoods to each other and to the

participated in funding two pedestrian bridges in

adjacent Great Park. Extra safety precautions were

2016 and 2022, respectively. The first extends over

employed to include multiple street undercrossings

Irvine Boulevard at Ridge Valley, thus connecting

into its design, which provide contiguous trail use and

the first neighborhood (Pavilion Park) with adjacent

a safer alternative to street thoroughfares.

neighborhoods. The second crosses over the 133 toll road, and was built in collaboration with the Irvine Company and City of Irvine.

To further encourage residents to utilize pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, every new household at Great Park Neighborhoods is offered a signature

As part of its public-private partnership with the

Great Park Neighborhoods-branded orange bike as a

City of Irvine, FivePoint’s joint venture also designed

welcome gift from FivePoint’s joint venture, as part of

and constructed Great Park Trails and an adjacent

a unique homebuyer program.

children’s playground. The trail, which is owned and maintained by the City of Irvine, made its debut in 2019.

The 1.5-mile trail extends along Bosque street

Intentionally-wider sidewalks and bike pathways within Great Park Neighborhoods have multiple benefits as well.

To encourage GPN residents to utilize pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, every new household is offered a signature GPN-branded orange bike.

Charting a new path

FivePoint’s joint venture is initiating the latest phase

Once completed, the Marine Way Expansion will

of a Marine Way Extension project that includes

expand multi-modal mobility and further connect

a new road, sidewalks and related infrastructure

Great Park Neighborhoods to the Great Park, Irvine

connecting Bake Parkway with Alton Parkway. The

Train Station, and FivePoint Gateway (home to the

new segment of this road extends through currently-

recently opened City of Hope Orange County Lennar

undeveloped land zoned for commercial or industrial

Foundation Cancer Center, and the future hospital that

use, among other uses. The extension will connect to

is under construction and slated to open in late 2025).

a road, sidewalks and underpass that currently exists between Alton Parkway and Barranca Parkway.

In addition to reducing vehicle miles traveled (and the associated greenhouse gas emissions),

The Marine Way Expansion is also intended to open

the pedestrian-friendly, bike-friendly and public-

pathways and alleviate traffic in and out of the

transportation infrastructure helps people lead

Great Park through the planned construction of an

healthier lifestyles, connect with fellow residents,

underpass to be built under the train tracks, just

enhance climate resiliency, and contribute to a more

east of the Irvine Train Station, in collaboration with

sustainable transportation culture.

government and transportation agencies.

sharing is caring The Irvine Station, which is located in the Irvine Spectrum Area and adjacent to Great Park Neighborhoods, provides accessible public transportation options by bus, train and rideshare. As the county’s most active transportation hub, Irvine Station serves more than a million commuters annually.

To

reduce

traffic

impacts

and

further

incentivize

alternatives to one-driver-only commutes to businesses within Great Park Neighborhoods, commercial property owners contribute funds annually toward a nonprofit transportation management organization called GPN Go. GPN Go uses commercial property owners’ assessments to provide employers and their employees benefits such as free rideshare and carpool coordination, as well as discounts on bus and train passes.

fun fact According to the City of Irvine, there is a 113.24-mile system of off-street bikeway trails and 286.42 lane miles of on-street bikeways to encourage bicycle use as a safe and convenient means of transportation for both commuting and recreational purposes. The City of Irvine has been designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community at the Silver level by the League of American Bicyclists for creating safer streets, improving bikeways, ensuring pathways are accessible.