The cities of Orinda and Moraga have secured a $508,000 Federal Safe Streets and Roads (SS4A) grant to start planning a redesign of Moraga Way. Local officials were given federal funding in late 2025 to begin a study on adding a third bike lane on Moraga Way. The SS4A program is a federal effort designed to prevent traffic injuries and deaths through better planning. The main goal of the project is to improve the safety of pedestrians and bikers, while providing a dedicated lane for emergency vehicles and evacuations during disasters. The addition of a new bike lane is a step toward protecting the lives of students and local residents who commute on Moraga Way.
Shawn Knapp, the retired Moraga public work director and town engineer had the vision for adding a third bike lane after he finished the Moraga Way Improvement Project, which upgraded Moraga Way with new street pavement, bike lanes, and better sidewalks. However, Knapp realized there was still some work to be done. While the initial upgrades made the road smoother for daily traffic, he remained concerned about the safety of Moraga and Orinda residents. He recognized that both areas were in great need of emergency evacuation, especially during wildfires.
“Resident safety is our top priority and this funding is a critical first step toward a safer Moraga Way for everyone, whether you walk, bike, drive, or take transit,” Moraga Mayor Kerry Hillis said, “This study will help us evaluate a protected shared-use path and other practical safety improvements along a key connection to BART, while also exploring how the corridor can better support emergency response and evacuation when it matters most.”
The planning grant will determine the total construction costs and help officials decide if the project is actually realistic.
“If it is determined to be feasible to some extent or entirely feasible, cost estimates will be developed and a timeline for making improvements will be put together,” City Manager of Orinda Linda Smith said, “This won’t be easy because any improvements will likely involve negotiations with individual property owners along that stretch of road.” The project is being funded by the Safe Routes to Transit and Bay Trail Program Grant (SR2TBT), which uses money from regional measure 3: a 2018 initiative that raised bridge tolls to help lower traffic congestion.
“This project reflects a forward-thinking approach to how Orinda and Moraga plan for the future,” Orinda Mayor Brandyn Iverson said. “Moraga and Orinda are closely linked by our shared dependence on this corridor, and meaningful progress means reimagining it as a place that works better for everyone, supporting everyday mobility, strengthening resilience, and enhancing quality of life.”
Safety and emergency evacuation are the main concerns for this project. By adding a third bike lane, the town hopes to provide a faster way for residents to escape during a crisis, while giving emergency vehicles a clear path to get in.
“If more students biked to school, it could improve overall safety by reducing the number of cars on the road,” sophomore Cael Suba said, “More students biking could definitely benefit the environment by reducing emissions from cars. It could also make the neighborhood feel less crowded and more active.”
This project is designed to work alongside the Countrywide Emergency Evacuation Plan (CCTA), which provides funding to upgrade transportation networks in Orinda and Moraga. Beyond emergency safety, the project aims to make daily travel more accessible for students. By creating a protected space, the project could encourage more students to start biking.
“I would consider biking to school if there were a safe, dedicated bike lane because safety is probably the main concern that prevents me, and other students, from biking,” Suba said, “Having a protected space would make it feel much more comfortable.”
Miramonte has a shortage of parking, forcing many students, especially sophomores who aren’t allowed to park in the junior lot, to arrive at school extremely early to get a parking spot.
“Every morning I have to wake up at 6:00 am, so I can get to school at 7:15 am to get a street spot,” sophomore Madeline Moore said, “It is super annoying because I could sleep in an hour later if there were more parking spots, and I need at least 12 hours of sleep to feel good.”
The congestion lasts until after school, where the traffic adds even more stress to the students’ schedules.
“A bike lane could help reduce traffic by giving students an alternative way to get to school. Fewer cars at the end and start of school would help ease the traffic, it takes almost 30 minutes to leave the J-lot when I come home right after school,” Suba said.
While the grant is currently designated only for the planning phase of a third bike lane, it marks the first steps to addressing local road safety and congestion. After finding money advisors, the project will allow local residents to provide input and review additional details. For Knapp, the project represents a significant milestone in his career.
“I have completed so many different projects in Moraga during my engineering career. I look back proudly and feel that I have made a difference,” Knapp said, “Now, if the Moraga Way Regional Trail project is one day constructed, it would be my pinnacle of conceived safety projects for the community.”
