San Diego Set to Receive Over $220M from State for Road, Bike, Pedestrian Projects

Caltrans will spend approximately $930 million over the next four years to improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure throughout the state, in addition to continued spending on roads, according to a plan approved this week.

The California Transportation Commission pushed forward a plan – with significant funding set aside for San Diego projects – that includes 265 miles of new and improved bike lanes on state highways and the addition of more than 1,300 safety elements by mid-2028, according to a news release from Caltrans.

The commission also approved a series of transportation projects totaling approximately $1 billion to improve the transportation infrastructure on rural and urban projects throughout the state.

The latest allocations include nearly $375 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and $276 million via Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

The bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure spending plan is part of the 2024 State Highway Operation and Protection Program.

The biggest chunks of the funding coming to the region are mostly for freeway and highway projects, many of them though the San Diego Association of Governments, or SANDAG, as the agency is commonly known.

In the city of San Diego, from Interstate 15 to state Route 52, $91.6 million will be spent to add and upgrade Transportation Management System elements, rehabilitate pavement and drainage, replace signs and enhance highway worker safety.

On SR-78 in and near Poway, $37.1 million has been allocated to rehabilitate asphalt pavement, restore drainage systems, upgrade curb ramp and guardrails and enhance crosswalk visibility.

SANDAG will apply $33.8 million to the San Onofre to Pulgas Double Track, constructing 1.1 miles of additional second main track capacity adjacent to the main track, including new bridges.

On Interstate 805 in San Diego, $18.75 million will cover repairs for winter storm damage by excavating the roadway, and working on retaining walls and culverts, while repairing pavement and concrete damage.

Other local projects include:

• $5.4 million for the Bayshore Bikeway to SANDAG for bike paths, bike routes and more.
• $339,000 for the Mission Hills to Old Town Bikeway to SANDAG to install bike lanes and routes, while enhancing existing crosswalks, reconstructing sidewalks and more.
• $1.4 million on I-15 in and near the cities of San Diego and Escondido for 20 new Americans with Disabilities (ADA) curb ramps, and other accessibility and safety improvements.
• $407,000 on state Route 76 near Rincon to widen the shoulder, construct a retaining wall with a safety barrier, relocate and reconstruct a drainage system to improve safety and more.
• $2.3 million on Interstate 8 near Boulevard to replace maintenance station building, construct wash rack, install solar panels and a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) charging station and more.
• $2.8 million on SR-76 in Oceanside to rehabilitate pavement and drainage systems, upgrade traffic signals and roadside signs, and upgrade facilities to ADA standards.
• $2 million on state Route 79 near Julian to rehabilitate pavement, replace signs, construct Transportation Management System elements and upgrade guardrail.
• $6.5 million and $5.5 million on I-15 in San Diego to SANDAG to construct a bridge structure at Vesta Street, install Signal Prioritization Technologies, widen the southbound Main Street offramp and more.
• $6.5 million on I-5 to SANDAG to introduce connected all-day and off-peak dedicated truck lanes and Intelligent Transportation Systems technologies along Harbor Drive and connecting arterials to I-5 and the 15 in San Diego and National City.
• $3.8 million for the Pacific Coast Highway Coastal Rail Trail Airport Connection to SANDAG to install bike paths and cycle track, two traffic signals, lighting, bike racks and more.
• $563,000 and $3 million to SANDAG for the SDConnect: San Diego Rail Improvement Program in Del Mar to stabilize eroding areas of the Del Mar Bluffs.