Encinitas Awarded $33.6M Grant For Rail, Pedestrian Safety Improvements

ENCINITAS, CA — Encinitas has been awarded $33.6 million in federal funding for improvements along its railroad corridor, including new crossing gates and a pedestrian and bicycle undercrossing, city officials announced.

The city will provide a 20% nonfederal match for the project, which is aimed at improving safety and access for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.

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The project includes:

• New vehicle and pedestrian gates at the E Street, D Street and Leucadia Boulevard crossings.
• Closure of one pedestrian crossing.
• Two new pedestrian and bicycle at-grade crossings.
• A new pedestrian and bicycle undercrossing.

"Our railroad corridor is a vital transportation link, and these improvements will create safer crossings, improve connectivity, and better protect residents and visitors," Encinitas Mayor Bruce Ehlers said in a statement.

The funding is part of a $5.3 billion federal package for rail safety improvements announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Nearly $190 million of the funding was awarded to California projects, including improvements along the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner route.

The Encinitas project is part of broader efforts to improve safety and reliability along the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo rail corridor.

The San Diego Association of Governments was also awarded $124.4 million for rail improvements in North County, including double-tracking and pedestrian access improvements.