Lafayette and Moraga Unveil 50th Anniversary Historical Panels on Regional Trail Ahead of Res Run for Education

Lamorinda cyclists, runners, and local history enthusiasts are celebrating two autumn milestones this week as newly installed interpretive panels mark the 50th anniversary of the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail just days ahead of the annual Lafayette Res Run for Education. Coordinated by the City of Lafayette, the Town of Moraga, the East Bay Regional Park District, and local historical societies, the commemoration honors a half-century since the 7.65-mile former electric interurban rail corridor opened as one of California's premier suburban greenways.

The newly unveiled trailside displays trace the route's evolution from the early 20th-century Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Railway—later operated as the Sacramento Northern Railway—into a dedicated non-motorized pathway acquired and paved in 1976. Archival photographs, route maps, and engineering narratives mounted along the corridor from Olympic Boulevard in Lafayette through Saint Mary's Road to Moraga Commons highlight how citizen advocates and municipal council members preserved the right-of-way for generations of Lamorinda students commuting to Stanley Middle School, Campolindo High School, and Saint Mary's College.

Celebrations along the trail coincide with final preparations in downtown Lafayette for the annual Lafayette Res Run for Education, organized by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Lafayette and East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). Drawing thousands of runners, walkers, and elementary school families along Mount Diablo Boulevard and the scenic paved loop around the Lafayette Reservoir, the autumn race raises direct classroom funding for Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda public schools.

Lafayette police and Public Works crews reminded motorists to expect temporary Sunday morning street closures along Mount Diablo Boulevard between Moraga Road and Oak Hill Road during race hours. Residents can inspect the 50th anniversary trail exhibit locations, view race course maps, and check downtown shuttle details online at lovelafayette.org.