CMABS Action Items: Tell Your Reps You Want Safe Streets and a Local Bus Hub!
Two Wins for Safer Streets at Costa Mesa City Council: Tonight
Costa Mesa City Council meets tonight, Tuesday, October 6, and two items on the agenda would make our streets safer for kids, families, and everyone who walks or bikes. It would be GREAT if the City Council heard from residents directly: we want these projects! We’ve put together email links below, but it would be even better if you made a public comment at the meeting tonight or called in via Zoom. Here is the Zoom link for the meeting below. Hint: you can use our email text as the starting point for your public comment!
Costa Mesa City Council Meeting, October 6, 2026
Zoom Webinar: Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81240015399?pwd=enxyg2Co6llwWMwaXikRABCbesJV5T.1 Or sign into Zoom.com and “Join a Meeting” Enter Webinar ID: 812 4001 5399/ Password: 085857
Here’s what we want to flag on the agenda:
Slower speeds near our schools (New Business Item #2)
Right now, most Costa Mesa school zones are on 25 mph streets with a 25 mph school limit. In practice, drivers don't have to slow down at all near our schools. Tonight, Council can adopt a 20 mph school zone limit now instead of waiting for the state to require it in 2031. Staff could also lower the limit to 15 mph where conditions warrant.
We're also asking the City to go one step further. Flashing beacons and signs with posted school hours tell drivers exactly when the lower limit applies, and flashing beacons have the highest rate of driver compliance of any school zone sign.
👉 Email Council to support slower school zones
Fair Drive for All (New Business Item #3)
Fair Drive connects City Hall, Vanguard, the Fairgrounds, Neth Park, and College Park, but it's no place to walk or bike. When CMABS joined Council Member Arlis Reynolds for a community ride a couple of years ago, riders needed a police escort to stay safe on Fair Drive and Fairview Road. Tonight, Council will vote on the design contract to rethink the corridor, including a long-requested safe crossing at Fordham Drive for College Park families.
We're also asking the City to extend the project across Newport Boulevard to Del Mar Avenue, so Eastside residents get a truly safe way across one of the hardest crossings in town.
👉 Email Council to support Fair Drive for All
Prefer to speak? Call in or come to City Hall (77 Fair Drive) and give a one-minute comment during the item. Call-in instructions are on the meeting agenda. Even a single sentence ("I support this item, please vote yes") counts.
Bring the New Transit Center to Costa Mesa: 90-Second Survey
OCTA is studying where to relocate the Newport Transportation Center, and Costa Mesa is in the running. A new transit hub here would mean better bus connections for our residents and a real anchor for walking, biking, and transit in town!
The survey takes about 90 seconds and closes October 18. On Question 6, choose one of the three Costa Mesa options:
F: South Coast Metro area
G: Orange Coast College area
H: Triangle Square area
👉 Take the survey | Learn more about the study
Santa Ana Is Considering a Pause on Protected Bike Lanes: Tonight
Our neighbors in Santa Ana have set the standard for active transportation in Orange County. Tonight, the Santa Ana City Council will consider Item 31, which would pause all future protected bike lanes in the city. In the last decade, more than 920 people on bikes have been injured in Santa Ana and 18 have been killed.
If you live, work, or ride in Santa Ana, or simply want Orange County to keep moving forward, please tune in and let the Council know you oppose this item. Emailed comments should go in by 4 p.m. if possible.
👉 Email Santa Ana Council to oppose Item 31 | View the agenda item | Staff report
That’s all for now!
