Fifteen new community projects and priorities will be receiving more than $17.7 million in new federal funding for California’s 49th District, the office of Rep. Mike Levin (D-California) and community leaders announced Friday.
The funds were allocated to the 49th District as part of a bill signed by President Joe Biden last month to fund the federal government through Sept. 30th. Each U.S. Representative was allowed to submit up to fifteen community projects for funding.
“I am proud to announce that federal funding secured as part of this funding package will go towards improving quality of life, upgrading our infrastructure, and strengthening public safety for all residents of the 49th District,” said Levin in a statement.
“My top priority in Congress is to secure federal funding for our district, and I look forward to continuing this effort as we begin to negotiate Fiscal Year 2025.”
Among the projects receiving funding are:
- $1,166,279 for I-5 (Caltrans): This funding will complete a project that adds nearly three miles of managed lanes on I-5 between SR-78 and Harbor Drive (southbound), helping to relieve congestion.
- $1,000,000 for Landes Community Center and Park Improvement Project (Oceanside): This funding will allow the City of Oceanside to continue necessary upgrades for the Community Center at John Landes Park. The center reopened in 2023, and now offers more services to Oceanside residents including a new library space as well as classes for kids and adults such as dance, pottery, and arts programming.
- $850,000 for Emerald Drive Complete Streets Project (Vista): This funding will address safety and access issues by slowing motor vehicle speeds and providing bicycling and walking facilities, as well as safe pedestrian crossings.
- $760,000 for Forensic Technology Advancement and Replacement Project (San Diego County Sheriff): This funding will provide the advanced technology for forensic DNA testing in cold case homicides and sexual assaults. The tools will be available to more than 30 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the region.
- $4,000,000 for the Coastal Rail Corridor Relocation Study (Orange County Transportation Authority): This funding will support a study for potentially relocating the rail line in South Orange County to ensure the second-busiest intercity rail corridor in the country can continue to function. The rail line has suffered multiple closures due to coastal bluff collapses and beach erosion.
- $2,683,000 for Fire/Emergency Response Station (53 Area) Replacement (Camp Pendleton): This funding will support planning and design to replace an old fire station on Camp Pendleton. It will include new living quarters, training facilities, kitchen and dining, vehicle apparatus bays, and more.
- $959,752 for Stormwater and Sewer Infrastructure Improvement Project (Del Mar): This funding will support the removal and replacement of the City of Del Mar’s most critical sewer and storm drain infrastructure.
- $959,752 for Poche Beach Water Reclamation Project (San Clemente): This funding will provide overflow diversion and advanced treatment to upcycle runoff from the 4,500-acre Prima Deshecha watershed while protecting beach water quality.
- $959,752 for Ranch Water North Open Space Well PFAS Treatment Facility (Santa Margarita Water District): This funding will help treat drinking water from a source that is currently impaired due to PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and high salinity. This will allow the facilities to produce 700 acre-feet of water per year and reduce dependence on imported water.
- $850,000 for Safe Routes to Schools Traffic Safety Improvements (Carlsbad): This funding will improve public safety on Faraday Avenue in Carlsbad by installing 140 high-visibility crosswalks and 105 speed cushions near schools. The project will also include resurfacing streets to enhance roadway conditions.
- $850,000 for La Novia Avenue Bridge Replacement Project (San Juan Capistrano): This funding will allow the replacement of a 60-year-old bridge. It will expand the traffic lanes from two to four and include new sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting, and channel improvements in San Juan Creek.
- $850,000 for Leucadia Boulevard/Hygeia Roundabout Project (Encinitas): This funding will install a roundabout at the intersection of Leucadia Boulevard and Hygeia Avenue. Bicycle and pedestrian improvements will be included with this roundabout project.
- $850,000 for Lomas Santa Fe Drive Corridor Improvement Project (Solana Beach): This funding will improve multi-modal access to community facilities and services in Solana Beach, while simultaneously introducing traffic calming and pedestrian safety features to reduce accidents along Lomas Santa Fe Drive.
- $500,000 for Crown Valley Parkway Mobility Project (Laguna Niguel): This funding will help the City of Laguna Niguel bridge a gap in the existing Crown Valley Parkway bicycle corridor. It will also update ADA-accessible features and enhance pedestrian pathways.
- $500,000 for Stonehill Widening/Improvement Project (Dana Point & San Juan Capistrano): This funding will add a third lane on Stonehill Drive from Del Obispo to the freeway on-ramp at Camino Capistrano.
More information about the projects, and others in California’s 49th, can be found here.