The City of Carlsbad is committed to improving mobility throughout the city so people can easily and safely get where they want to go through their choice of travel such as driving, biking or walking. 

Tyler Street from Oak Street to Chestnut Avenue is one of the locations where improvements are being proposed. Tyler Street is comprised of single and multi-family homes and a variety of businesses. Currently only one side of the street accommodates parking and a continuous sidewalk. The Coastal Rail Trail is one street to the west.  

Tyler Street was identified for improvements in the Village and Barrio Master Plan, which the City Council approved in 2019 and updated in 2021. The city’s active transportation strategy and the General Plan Mobility Element identified potential improvement designs for the street. The policies in all these documents reflect the high value the Carlsbad community places on safety, healthy outdoor activities and the environment.  

The Tyler Street Complete Streets Study was identified in the Village and Barrio Master Plan, adopted by the City Council in 2018, as a priority project to enhance walkability and neighborhood connectivity. The plan included three conceptual design options for Tyler Street as a starting point for further evaluation. In April 2022, the City Council directed staff to accelerate this effort as part of Capital Improvement Program, or CIP, Project No. 6103.

In response, staff proposed a revised approach that focuses specifically on pedestrian accessibility. The updated concept transitioned the project from a full complete streets design to a more targeted sidewalk improvement effort. It includes sidewalk and driveway reconstruction along the east side of Tyler Street to enhance the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, access and walkability.

This refined approach not only responds to community priorities but also represents a more fiscally responsible investment. By narrowing the project scope, the city can achieve meaningful improvements in accessibility and safety while staying within the existing CIP budget and avoiding the need for additional funding.

Community input 

The city gathered public input at various points during the development of the Village & Barrio Master Plan and more recently, specifically about the potential options for Tyler Street. This public involvement helps ensure the changes to Tyler Street reflects the community’s values, needs and priorities.

The city held a public workshop on May 17, 2023 and received input through an online survey and door-to-door business visits. View the public input report. 

Based on community feedback, feasibility studies and input received from the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission at their July 2024 meeting, staff updated designs to focus on sidewalk reconstruction and ADA improvements on the east side of Tyler Street. 

• The project is now proposed to rebuild the sidewalk and driveway ramps to create a smoother, continuous and ADA-compliant path.
• Project features that were previously proposed, such as curb extensions, a new sidewalk on the west side of the street, mid-block crossings and changes to on-street parking, are no longer recommended.

This approach improves walkability and makes it easier for people with mobility limitations to use the sidewalks.

July 15, 2025 | City Council
Approved the refined concept, renamed the project title to the Tyler Street Sidewalk Improvement Project and authorized staff to proceed with its final design and engineering.

July 1, 2024 | Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission
Reviewed the project and did not support staff's recommendation to proceed with Tyler Street improvements option 1. Instead, the commission voted to recommend to the City Council to not proceed with the Tyler Street project improvements. 

June 6, 2023 | Traffic & Mobility Commission
Reviewed the project and provided input on options to improve connectivity and safety on Tyler Street.

April 26, 2022 | City Council
Voted to accelerate the Tyler Street traffic circulation study, as part of a review of Capital Improvement Projects planned for the next five years. 

Nov. 16, 2021 | City Council
Voted to support option converting Tyler Street to a one-way street and complete a street feasibility study, among additional amendments to the Village and Barrio Master Plan to better align with the community’s vision for the heart of the city. 

July 24, 2018 | City Council
Approved the Village and Barrio Master Plan, which became effective in August 2018. 

May 16, 2018 | Planning Commission
Recommended City Council approval of the Village and Barrio Master Plan. 

April 18, 2018 | Planning Commission
Held public hearing to consider Village and Barrio Master plan, continued to May 16 meeting

Oct. 19, 2016 | Planning Commission
Directed staff to revise or study potential revisions to the Village and Barrio Master plan

July 13, 2016 | Planning Commission
Workshop to hear public and commissioner comments on Draft Village and Barrio Master Plan

April 13, 2016 | Planning Commission
Heard information presentation on Draft Village and Barrio Master Plan