Project Background & History
In 2014, the City of Big Bear Lake received a planning grant from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to complete a sustainability plan for the Rathbun Creek Corridor. This sustainability plan was completed by a consulting Planning Firm and the process stressed considerable public engagement and buy-in; the process included several visioning meetings, a Community Field Day, and other opportunities to include feedback and comments from the public.
The Rathbun Creek Sustainability plan was completed in 2017 and included proposed improvements and expansions to public infrastructure including trails and recreation facilities and the lakeside within the vicinity of Rathbun Creek.
The project also included a vision for the Moonridge Corridor Streetscape which would include pedestrian and bicycle friendly improvements along an improved streetscape with thematic landscaping and amenities. The sustainability plan asserted that this section of Moonridge Road, from Elm Street to Clubview Drive, has the greatest influence on how the Moonridge Corridor would be perceived. What you see here, today, is the embodiment of that vision.
Once the Rathbun Creek Sustainability Plan was completed, the City went to work on putting the plan into action. In addition to completing portions of the Rathbun Creek Trail the City Council awarded a contract to KOA Corporation, an engineering design firm, to design what was envisioned as the Moonridge Corridor Improvements .KOA initiated their design work and the team continued their outreach efforts, including at a Capital Improvement Projects open house and other engagement with the stakeholders along the Moonridge Corridor.
In March and April 2021, the final project design was reviewed by the City Council and the project includes what you see today:
- Two traffic calming roundabouts
- A median separating both directions of traffic
- Widened sidewalks
- A Bicycle trail
- Lighted and safe crosswalks for people to safely move around
- Landscaped parkways and medians
- New streetlighting (which is still in progress)
- Benches including the ski-lift themed benches
- Water fountains
The design promotes pedestrian walkability and safety, traffic calming, and a sense of place for businesses to establish and flourish and gathering place for the community and visitors, alike. We are very pleased with the finished product of this project and hope that the community will enjoy it for years to come.
Project Funding
This project was funded through three (3) primary funding sources; San Bernardino County Measure I, Transient Occupancy Tax generated by overnight visitors to the City, and a funding award from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Measure I is a Countywide sales tax that is designated for the funding of transportation projects and some of the funding is available through the Major Local Highway Program. The SBCTA membership, which comprises all of the San Bernardino County cities, voted to authorize $3.2 Million in funding to the City of Big bear Lake for this project.
$1.25 Million of project funding was made available from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was a relief package authorized by the Federal Government during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The rest of the project was funded by Transient Occupancy Tax.
The initial engineer’s estimate for this project was $8.72 Million Dollars, making it the largest Public Works project that the City had ever contemplated.
Project Management & Execution
Granite Construction Company was the successful bidder for this project which was determined through a competitive process. KOA Corporation designed and engineered the project.
Moonridge Road Roundabouts & Realignment Project Plans & Specifications
For specific questions regarding this project, please contact the Engineering Department at (909) 866-5831 or by emailing
