Lafayette Secures $3.7M State Funding For Portion Of Walking/Biking Pathway

From the City of Lafayette

Lafayette, CA: The City of Lafayette has secured $3.7 million in State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds to construct a key segment of the Aqueduct Pathway, a safe, fully separated route for people walking and biking through downtown Lafayette.

The newly secured funding, combined with other sources, will allow the City to construct the segment of the pathway between Dolores Drive and the Lafayette BART station.

The Aqueduct Pathway is a planned multi-use trail located within the existing East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) corridor that runs through Lafayette parallel to Mt. Diablo Boulevard, BART, and State Route 24. When complete, it will provide a continuous, car-free route connecting neighborhoods, downtown destinations, and regional transit.

The segment from Dolores Drive–to–BART will close a critical gap in Lafayette’s walking and biking network, making it easier and safer for residents to access BART, local businesses, schools, and community amenities without needing to drive. The start of construction of this segment is anticipated in 2029.

Lafayette Aqueduct Pathway Project Map 2026

The City is currently seeking federal funds to help construct the segment east of Brown Avenue to Pleasant Hill Road. Last week, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier announced that he advanced $2.8M for this segment of the project to be considered by the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 federal budget process.
A westerly segment of the pathway is already complete. The segment between Risa Road and Dolores Drive opened in 2025 and is currently in use. In addition, design work is currently underway for the next phase of the Aqueduct Pathway, easterly to Pleasant Hill Road. The City previously secured $300,000 from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to complete design for this segment, which is approximately 1.9-miles.

The City’s long-term vision is to ultimately extend the pathway east to the existing regional trail network that connects to Walnut Creek, as well as establish connections to the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail.

“The Aqueduct Pathway will provide a safe alternative to busy roads like Mt. Diablo Boulevard and Deer Hill Road,” said Lafayette Transportation Program Manager Patrick Golier. “By creating a fully separated route, the project will make it easier for people to walk and bike to BART, downtown, and other everyday destinations.”

The project also supports planned housing growth in downtown Lafayette by providing safe and convenient first- and last-mile connections to transit. As new housing is developed, the pathway will help reduce reliance on driving, lower transportation costs, and support a more sustainable and connected community. The City is coordinating closely with regional partners, including BART, to ensure seamless connections between the pathway, the BART station, and downtown Lafayette.

Together with the Lafayette BART Town Center and Bike Station project, the Aqueduct Pathway will help create an integrated network of safe and accessible routes linking housing, transit, and downtown destinations. For more information, visit the Aqueduct Pathway Project webpage.