Frequently Asked Questions

The Mariposa Avenue Extension Project is the next phase in the City of Citrus Heights' long-term vision to expand and connect the Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail system.

The project will create a safe, accessible, and convenient multi-use trail that extends the City's growing active transportation network, providing additional opportunities for walking, bicycling, running, and other non-motorized travel. Once completed, the extension will improve connections between neighborhoods, parks, schools, shopping areas, community destinations, and existing trail segments while providing residents with a safe alternative to traveling alongside busy roadways.

The project also supports the City's adopted General Plan, Active Transportation planning efforts, and long-term commitment to improving mobility, safety, recreation, environmental stewardship, and quality of life for residents of all ages and abilities.

The Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail is one of Citrus Heights' signature community trail systems and represents decades of planning to create a connected network of off-street walking and bicycling facilities throughout the city.

The existing trail follows portions of the Arcade and Cripple Creek corridors and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) utility corridor, creating a unique opportunity to connect neighborhoods without requiring users to travel along busy streets.

The trail serves many purposes. It is:

As additional trail segments are completed, residents will continue to benefit from a more connected trail network that provides safe and convenient travel options throughout Citrus Heights and, ultimately, connections to neighboring communities and regional trail systems.

Trails provide benefits that extend well beyond recreation. They improve transportation choices, public health, safety, environmental quality, and community connectivity.

The City continues to invest in trails because they:

Trails are increasingly recognized as critical pieces of community infrastructure, much like streets, sidewalks, parks, and public transit. They provide residents with additional transportation options while creating places where people can safely exercise, recreate, and enjoy the outdoors.

The Mariposa Avenue Extension is not a standalone project. It is one important piece of the City's long-term vision to develop a connected network of multi-use trails throughout Citrus Heights.

For many years, the City has identified creek corridors and existing utility corridors as opportunities to create safe, off-street pathways connecting neighborhoods and community destinations. The Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail is one of the cornerstone projects supporting this vision.

By extending the trail network, the Mariposa Avenue Extension will help eliminate gaps, improve connectivity, and expand access to existing community assets. Future trail improvements will continue building upon this network, creating additional opportunities for residents to travel throughout the community without relying solely on automobiles.

This long-term approach also supports regional transportation goals by improving connections with neighboring jurisdictions and future trail systems throughout Sacramento County.

Sidewalks and bicycle lanes are important parts of the City's transportation network, but they serve different purposes than an off-street multi-use trail.

Community outreach conducted over many years has consistently shown that residents are much more comfortable walking and bicycling when they are separated from vehicle traffic. This is particularly true for families with young children, older adults, recreational users, and individuals who may not feel comfortable riding alongside busy roadways.

Off-street trails provide:

Rather than replacing sidewalks or bicycle lanes, the Mariposa Avenue Extension complements the City's overall transportation system by providing another safe option for residents traveling throughout the community.

Although final design is still being refined, the Mariposa Avenue Extension is expected to include a variety of improvements intended to enhance safety, accessibility, and the overall user experience.

Potential improvements include:

As the project moves through design, the City will continue evaluating opportunities to improve the trail while minimizing impacts to nearby residents and the surrounding natural environment.

Yes. One of the primary goals of the Mariposa Avenue Extension is to provide an inclusive trail that can be safely enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities.

The trail will be designed in accordance with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements wherever feasible. In some areas constrained by existing topography, the trail follows California State Parks Accessibility Guidelines which allows for greater running slopes for short distances. This includes appropriate trail widths, accessible slopes, smooth pavement surfaces, accessible connections, and other design features intended to improve mobility for individuals using wheelchairs, mobility devices, strollers, bicycles, and other permitted users. Creating a trail that is accessible to everyone helps ensure that all members of the community can enjoy the recreational, transportation, and health benefits the project provides.

Safety has been one of the primary considerations throughout planning and design of the Mariposa Avenue Extension. The City recognizes that residents want a trail that is not only enjoyable to use but also feels safe for trail users and nearby neighborhoods.

The project is being designed using nationally recognized Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles. CPTED is a planning approach that uses thoughtful design, visibility, and maintenance practices to discourage criminal activity while creating public spaces that are welcoming and comfortable for legitimate users.

As design progresses, the City is evaluating a variety of safety features, including:

• Maintaining open sight lines along the trail where feasible.
• Selectively removing overgrown vegetation while preserving healthy trees and natural habitat.
• Providing appropriate lighting in locations where it improves visibility and user comfort.
• Designing safe roadway crossings and clear connections to sidewalks and neighborhoods.
• Providing emergency and maintenance vehicle access where appropriate.
• Installing directional signage and trail identification markers to assist emergency responders.
• Evaluating fencing and landscaping treatments that help define the trail while respecting adjacent properties.
• Designing the trail to encourage regular public use and natural surveillance.

In addition to physical improvements, the City will continue coordinating with the Citrus Heights Police Department and other public agencies throughout the design process to ensure public safety remains a priority before, during, and after construction.

This is one of the most common questions the City receives whenever a new trail is proposed, and it is an understandable concern for residents living near the project. No public facility—including parks, sidewalks, schools, shopping centers, or trails—can completely eliminate the possibility of criminal activity. However, experience from similar trail projects throughout California has shown that well-designed, well-maintained trails that receive regular public use generally do not result in increased crime simply because a trail has been constructed.

In many cases, the opposite occurs.

Areas that are isolated, heavily overgrown, difficult to access, or largely hidden from public view often provide greater opportunities for undesirable activity because there are few legitimate users present. Public trails introduce regular activity by walkers, runners, bicyclists, families, and commuters, creating additional "eyes on the trail." This increased activity improves natural surveillance and makes inappropriate behavior more likely to be observed and reported.

The Mariposa Avenue Extension is intended to improve existing conditions by:

• Increasing legitimate public activity throughout the corridor.
• Improving visibility where vegetation currently limits sight distance.
• Providing better access for police, fire, and maintenance personnel.
• Encouraging routine maintenance and inspection.
• Designing the corridor to discourage hidden or isolated areas whenever practical.
• Supporting safe connections between neighborhoods and community destinations.

The City also recognizes that maintaining a safe trail requires ongoing attention after construction. Routine maintenance, prompt response to vandalism, and community stewardship all contribute to keeping public trails safe and welcoming.

Residents are encouraged to report suspicious or illegal activity just as they would anywhere else in the community. If concerns arise after the trail is completed, the City will continue working with public safety partners to evaluate conditions and implement additional measures where appropriate.

The City understands that many residents are concerned about the potential for homeless encampments near public trails.

Homelessness is a complex regional issue that affects communities throughout California and is not caused by the construction of parks or trails alone. However, trail design and maintenance can influence how public spaces are used. Today, portions of the project corridor contain dense vegetation and limited visibility that can make routine maintenance and observation more difficult. The Mariposa Avenue Extension is intended to improve these conditions by creating a well-maintained public space that receives regular use throughout the day.

The City will continue enforcing existing laws related to trespassing, illegal dumping, vandalism, and unauthorized camping on public property. As with other public parks and trails throughout Citrus Heights, maintenance staff and law enforcement personnel will continue responding to reported issues. The City's experience with completed portions of the Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail has demonstrated that well-maintained public spaces with regular community use are generally more inviting for legitimate recreational use than for unauthorized activities.

Yes. Once completed, the Mariposa Avenue Extension will become part of the City's public infrastructure and will be incorporated into normal public safety operations. The Citrus Heights Police Department currently patrols parks, trails, neighborhoods, and other public facilities throughout the community. These patrols may occur using patrol vehicles or on foot, depending on operational needs and the location. Because the trail is designed to accommodate maintenance and emergency vehicles where appropriate, first responders will have improved access to portions of the corridor that are currently more difficult to reach.

Emergency access points, roadway connections, and trail identification signage will also assist emergency responders in locating incidents more quickly. The City encourages residents and trail users to report emergencies, suspicious activity, or maintenance concerns promptly so they can be addressed appropriately.

In addition to routine police patrols and emergency access, the City is evaluating a variety of design features intended to create a safer and more comfortable experience for everyone using the trail.

Potential safety features include:

• Appropriate pedestrian-scale lighting where warranted.
• Clear sight lines approaching trail intersections and roadway crossings.
• Wayfinding signage and trail markers.
• Emergency access locations for first responders.
• Durable pavement surfaces designed to reduce trip hazards.
• Landscaping that balances environmental protection with visibility.
• Removal of hazardous or dead vegetation.
• Regular maintenance to address graffiti, litter, damaged fencing, and other maintenance issues.
• ADA-compliant design features that improve accessibility and reduce conflicts between users.

Safety is not achieved through a single design element but rather through the combination of thoughtful planning, ongoing maintenance, active community use, and regular public safety presence.

Yes. The trail is being designed to accommodate maintenance and emergency response vehicles where appropriate. Access points will be strategically located to allow police, fire, emergency medical personnel, and maintenance crews to respond efficiently when needed. Vehicle access will generally be controlled through bollards or other security features designed to prevent unauthorized vehicle use while allowing emergency responders to enter quickly when necessary. Providing emergency access is an important part of the City's commitment to ensuring the trail remains safe and accessible throughout its lifespan.

The City understands that residents living adjacent to the proposed trail may have questions about how the project could affect their homes, privacy, and daily lives. The City is committed to working closely with adjacent property owners throughout the design and construction process to minimize impacts wherever possible.

The project has been planned to make use of existing public corridors and recorded easements wherever feasible, reducing the need to acquire additional property. If work is required adjacent to private property, the City will coordinate directly with affected property owners before construction begins. During final design, the project team will continue evaluating trail alignment, fencing, landscaping, drainage, and other design elements to reduce impacts while maintaining a safe and accessible trail for the community.

An easement is a legal right that allows a public agency or utility to use a specific portion of private property for a defined purpose while ownership of the property remains with the property owner.

Throughout Citrus Heights, easements exist for many public purposes, including utilities, drainage facilities, sidewalks, trails, and roadways. Property owners continue to own their land, but certain activities within the easement area may be restricted so the public purpose can be maintained. Many portions of the Mariposa Avenue Extension are proposed within existing public easements that have been recorded for many years. These easements were established through previous subdivision maps or other recorded documents and are separate from ownership of the underlying property. 

If you have questions about whether an easement exists on your property, the City can assist you in understanding the recorded documents associated with your parcel.

The project is intended to utilize existing public rights-of-way and recorded easements to the greatest extent possible.

At this time, the City does not anticipate widespread acquisition of private property for construction of the Mariposa Avenue Extension. If a unique circumstance arises where additional property rights are needed, the affected property owner would be contacted directly and provided information regarding the process well before any decisions are made. The City's goal is to minimize impacts to private property while delivering a safe and connected public trail.

The City recognizes that fencing is an important concern for adjacent property owners because it provides privacy, security, and defines property boundaries. If existing fencing located within a public easement must be temporarily removed or permanently relocated to accommodate construction, the City will coordinate directly with the affected property owner during design and prior to construction.

The project team will evaluate each location individually to determine the most appropriate solution while balancing public safety, trail design, property access, existing topography, drainage, vegetation, and long-term maintenance needs. Whenever feasible, the City will seek to minimize impacts to existing fencing while ensuring the trail can be safely constructed.

The City understands that privacy is an important consideration for residents whose homes are adjacent to the proposed trail.

During design, the project team will evaluate opportunities to preserve privacy while maintaining a safe public facility. Depending on the location, this may include: Preserving existing vegetation where appropriate, installing replacement landscaping, evaluating fencing improvements where necessary, maintaining adequate setbacks whenever feasible, designing the trail to avoid unnecessary visibility into adjacent backyards.

At the same time, maintaining reasonable visibility along the trail is an important public safety consideration. The City will work to balance privacy with the need for clear sight lines that help improve security for both trail users and nearby residents.

The completed Mariposa Avenue Extension will be a publicly owned and maintained recreational facility. The City will be responsible for maintaining the trail in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and maintenance practices. California law also provides liability protections for both public agencies and property owners who have granted public recreational easements under certain circumstances. These laws recognize the public benefit of recreational trails while helping protect adjacent property owners from liability simply because a public trail exists nearby.

Residents with questions regarding their individual insurance policies should consult their insurance provider for information specific to their property and coverage.

Like all infrastructure projects, construction of the Mariposa Avenue Extension will result in temporary activity within and adjacent to the project corridor.

Construction activities may include: Heavy equipment operating during approved work hours, temporary construction noise, delivery of materials, short-term access modifications, temporary trail or sidewalk closures (if necessary), and vegetation removal in designated work areas. The City and its contractor will work to minimize disruptions by maintaining access whenever practical, coordinating work with nearby residents, implementing erosion and dust control measures, and restoring disturbed areas following construction.

Residents will receive advance notification whenever construction activities are expected to directly affect adjacent properties or access.

Protecting the natural character of the corridor is an important priority for the City. Throughout planning and design, the project team is working to preserve as many healthy trees as possible while providing a safe and accessible trail. Before construction begins, qualified arborists and environmental specialists will evaluate trees within the project area to determine their health, condition, and potential impacts from construction. Whenever practical, the trail alignment may be adjusted, narrowed, or designed around significant trees to reduce impacts.

In some cases, tree removal may be necessary to: Construct the trail safely, improve visibility at crossings or intersections, remove dead, diseased, or hazardous trees, protect long-term public safety, and accommodate required drainage or utility improvements. When tree removal is necessary, the project will comply with all applicable environmental regulations and mitigation requirements. Replacement trees and other landscaping improvements will be incorporated into the project where appropriate.

The City's goal is not simply to build a trail, but to create an attractive green corridor that enhances the surrounding neighborhood while protecting existing natural resources whenever possible.

The Mariposa Avenue Extension has been planned to work with the natural environment rather than against it.

Environmental studies are being completed as part of project design to identify sensitive biological resources, drainage patterns, and habitat areas. These studies help guide project decisions and identify opportunities to minimize environmental impacts. During construction, contractors will be required to implement environmental protection measures such as erosion and sediment control, stormwater pollution prevention measures, protection of sensitive habitat areas, tree protection fencing where required, dust control measures, and Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect nearby waterways.

Where practical, disturbed areas will be restored following construction using native or drought-tolerant landscaping appropriate for the corridor. The project is also intended to improve drainage conditions by directing stormwater appropriately and reducing erosion where improvements are needed.

This project is funded through a state-granted Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant utilizing additional local funds (non-general funds) for the required local match. The project is fully funded through construction.

The state ATP is a statewide funding initiative specifically created to encourage bicycling, walking and other forms of active, non-motorized travel. The program application process is highly competitive and available only for projects that meet strict eligibility requirements related to active transportation. Using outside grant funding allows the City to deliver important community improvements while maximizing local resources.

This is another common question the City receives. Transportation grant programs are generally established for very specific purposes. Funding awarded for active transportation projects can only be used for eligible improvements such as sidewalks, trails, bicycle facilities, accessibility improvements, and pedestrian safety enhancements.

These funds cannot simply be redirected to roadway resurfacing, pothole repairs, or other unrelated transportation projects. If the City did not pursue these grants, the funding would typically be awarded to another community with an eligible project rather than being made available for local street maintenance. By pursuing competitive grant funding, Citrus Heights is able to invest in infrastructure that might otherwise not be financially feasible while continuing to seek separate funding opportunities for roadway improvements.

The Mariposa Avenue Extension is currently advancing through planning and design. As the project progresses, the City will continue to refine the trail design and complete environmental review, coordinate with adjacent property owners, and seek and secure project funding as necessary, finalize construction documents, and continue engaging the community before construction begins.

Project schedules may change depending on funding availability, permitting, environmental review, and final design. The City is committed to keeping residents informed throughout each phase of the project.

If you have additional questions about the Mariposa Avenue Extension Project, please contact the City of Citrus Heights project team.

Project Website: https://www.citrusheights.net/1436/Arcade-Cripple-Creek-Trail---Mariposa-Ex 

Project Email: acct-mariposa@citrusheights.net 

The City appreciates your interest in the project and your participation in helping shape the future of the Mariposa Avenue Extension and the Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail system.