Rep. Mike Levin Announces Over $17.7 Million for Local Projects and Priorities
Oceanside, CA – Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) and local community leaders announced over $17.7 million in new federal funding for 15 new community projects and priorities throughout California’s 49th District. The funds were allocated as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bill signed by President Biden in March to fund the federal government through September 30, 2024. Each U.S. Representative was allowed to submit up to 15 community projects for funding. Landes Community Center was one of the 15 projects that was awarded the money.
• $1,166,279 for I-5 Managed Lanes Segment 5 South Bound (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.
“In March, after months of uncertainty, Congress passed a government funding package to keep our government open through September 30, 2024,” said. Rep. Levin. “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. 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.”
“John Landes Park was closed to the residents for over 10 years, causing a rise in crime and a sense of isolation,” said Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez. “This $1M federal grant is breathing new life and sense of community, reflected in the newly painted colorful murals on the "community center," bringing hope to families and youth.”
"My constituents have faced serious issues on Emerald Drive, including property damage and death,” said Vista Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez. “Thanks to the funding from Congressman Levin, we are now moving forward with a project that will provide safer streets for all modes of transportation."
“The secured funds will allow the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Regional Crime Laboratory to on-board state-of-the-art Forensic Biology, specifically DNA technology, with next generation sequencing instrumentation,” said Sheriff Kelly Martinez. “Enhancing forensic DNA analysis testing allows the Crime Lab to leverage new DNA innovation strategies for the region's unsolved cases such as cold case homicides and sexual assaults, as well as produce profiles that can be used for investigative genetic genealogy.
“This project would help develop nearly three miles of managed lanes on I-5 between State Route (SR) 78 and Harbor Drive in the southbound direction,” said SANDAG Vice-Chair Lesa Heebner. “This three-mile managed lane segment is part of a broader $6 billion, 27-mile program of integrated highway, rail, active transportation, and environmental improvements planned and designed as one system – referred to as the North Coast Corridor (NCC). 24 miles of the first phase are under construction or complete. This project is the last segment of phase I (design) of the proposed managed lanes network and will make this final segment “shovel ready”.
Other projects and priorities that will receive funding and directly benefit California’s 49th District include:
• $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 (County of Orange in 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 in San Juan Capistrano): 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.
To view a map of all the projects Rep. Levin helped fund, click here.
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