1. $4,000,000 for the American Indian Health Las Positas Project
2. $2,500,000 for the City of Goleta Community Center Project
3. $3,000,000 for the City of Lompoc - Water Treatment Modernization Project
4. $2,400,000 for the City of Morro Bay - Bonita Fire Station
5. $1,275,000 for the City of Ojai - Multi Model Emergency Alert
6. $1,000,000 for the City of Santa Barbara - Low Barrier Emergency Shelter
7. $1,350,000 for the City of Santa Maria - Real Time Information Center
8. $2,750,000 for the City of Santa Maria - Simas Park ADA Improvements
9. $630,000 for the City of Ventura - Water Purification Backup Generator Project
10. $750,000 for the County of Santa Barbara - Mobile Dental Clinic Project
11. $2,013,000 for the County of Santa Barbara - Oasis Senior Center
12. $5,000,000 for County of San Luis Obispo Arroyo Grande Watershed Action Plan
13. $5,000,000 for the County of San Luis Obispo - Lopez Resilience Project
14. $800,000 for the County of Ventura - Ojai Library Roof Replacement
15. $3,000,000 for the Ventura County Sheriff - Aviation Equipment Technology Project
16. $2,607,090 for the Five Cities Fire - Aerial Ladder Truck
17. $2,000,000 for SBCAG - Rincon Trail Project
18. $2,000,000 for SBCAG - Highway 101/135 interchange Project
19. $2,800,000 for the SBMTD - Bus Fleet Expansion Project
20. $1,500,000 for SLOCOG - Edna-Price Canyon Trail Project
In Fiscal Year 2026, Congressman Carbajal submitted 15 community projects for funding. Those projects can be found here.
In Fiscal Year 2025, Congressman Carbajal submitted 15 community projects for funding. Those projects can be found here.
In Fiscal Year 2024, Congressman Carbajal submitted 15 community projects for funding, 14 of which were funded through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024. Those projects can be found here.
Agriculture
City of Morro Bay - Bonita Fire Station Project
Amount Requested: $2,400,000
Project Location: 460 Bonita Street, Morro Bay, CA 93442
Description: The funding would be used to redevelop a long unstaffed fire station into a modern, two story living quarters facility. The facility would be designed for a three-person company with three bedrooms and two baths and would be expected to provide over 30 years of service. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the station would greatly reduce response times to North
Morro Bay potentially by 50% as well as improve overall levels of service to the entire community.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
San Luis Obispo County- Arroyo Grande Watershed Action Plan Project
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Project Location: 1055 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Description: The funding would be used for a project to address flood risk, habitat conservation, and water quality challenges across the Arroyo Grande Creek watershed. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the watershed includes flood-prone communities, agricultural lands, critical infrastructure, and habitat for federally listed threatened and endangered species. Sedimentation, channel modifications, and altered hydrology have increased flood risk, degraded habitat and impacted water quality. This project will address these concerns and will help attain endangered species goals.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
Commerce, Justice, Science
Ventura County Sheriff's Office - Aviation Technology Equipment
Amount of Request: $3,000,000
Project Location: 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura, CA 93003
Description: The funding would go towards the purchase of various aviation equipment including the purchase of 2 new aviation cameras, one to be added to Ventura County Sheriff's patrol helicopter and one to their primary search and rescue helicopter. Additionally, this money would allow the Department to upgrade their avionics in one of their aging Bell Huey rescue aircraft as well as pay for the cost of either a replacement hoist or future overhauls of current hoists which are used in rescues of injured individuals.
The Ventura County Aviation Unit is the sole aviation unit in the county and handles all law enforcement, rescue, medivac, and firefighting. The purchase and upgrade of the equipment would better prepare the unit for all of these missions including the ability to locate missing or injured persons as well as better real-time fire mapping in wildland fires. This county resource not only benefits the citizens of Ventura County but as a regional resource under state mutual aid it has the ability to positively affect those throughout the state.
This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will directly benefit public safety through more effective and efficient police services as well as assisting in the providing the ability to more quickly locate and rescue missing and/or injured individuals. As a regional aviation asset this will also assist in mutual aid responses in neighboring regions.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
City of Santa Maria Real-Time Information Center (RTIC) with an integrated Drone as a First Responder (DFR) Program Project
Total Request: $1,350,000
Project Location: 110 E. Cook Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454.
Description: The funding would be used to establish a Real-Time Information Center (RTIC) with an integrated Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program within the Santa Maria Police Department. The Department serves a population of more than 110,000 residents with 114 sworn officers and 60 professional personnel — staffing levels essentially unchanged since the late 1990s despite decades of population and business growth. Specialized units including the Traffic Bureau, Gang Suppression Team, Narcotic Suppression Team, and Community Services Unit all operate below the staffing levels they maintained a quarter century ago.
The City has already invested in over 140 public safety cameras citywide and operates an effective Records Management System and Automated License Plate Reader network — but these assets remain siloed. The RTIC will fill that gap by integrating existing camera feeds, CAD, ALPR data, and body camera footage into a unified real-time operational platform. The integrated DFR component will add five drone platforms capable of deploying automatically from fixed docking stations upon dispatch, arriving on scene in approximately 90 seconds — compared to the current 3-to-4-minute average officer response time. Drone operators will monitor 911 calls in real time, enabling aerial deployment before officers are formally dispatched. Upon arrival, operators can verify the nature of an incident, relay situational awareness to ground units, support de-escalation through onboard speakers, and cancel unnecessary officer response to redirect resources to higher-priority calls.
Federal investment in Santa Maria's RTIC and DFR program is justified because it delivers a force-multiplying public safety upgrade at a fraction of what comparable investments have cost elsewhere — and in a community where the need is documented, the groundwork is already laid, and the fiscal capacity to act independently does not exist.
The City has already invested in over 140 public safety cameras, an ALPR network, and a Records Management System. The federal request does not build from scratch — it activates infrastructure already in place by providing the integration platform and DFR capability needed to make those assets operationally useful in real time. That is an efficient use of taxpayer dollars by definition.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
Homeland Security
City of Ojai, Ojai Ready Multi-Modal Emergency Alert and Communication System
Total Requested: $1,275,000
Project Location: 401 South Ventura Street Ojai, CA 93023
Description: The City of Ojai’s proposed Multi-Modal Outdoor Emergency Notification System is a one-time capital investment designed to strengthen public safety through a comprehensive, resilient alert system. The project includes system design and engineering—such as site assessments, acoustic modeling, environmental review, and integration planning with the Ventura County Emergency Operations Center and regional partners—as well as the procurement and installation of high-audibility outdoor sirens with necessary mounting hardware, backup power, and testing. To ensure reliability during disasters, the project invests in communications and resiliency infrastructure, including wireless redundancies, backup power connections, weather-resistant components, and system-wide monitoring. Finally, funding will support installation, full system integration with state and federal alert protocols, training for city staff and emergency responders, and a public education and testing program. The system will integrate with Ojai’s existing emergency management protocols and will be operated by authorized City personnel and emergency responders. This integration supports real‑time messaging consistent with state and federal emergency standards and strengthens regional coordination during large‑scale disasters affecting Ventura County and surrounding areas. Supporting infrastructure—including backup power systems, wireless communication redundancies, and weather‑resilient components—ensures that the system remains operational even during grid outages or telecommunications failures.
This project represents a highly responsible and impactful use of taxpayer dollars because it directly strengthens public safety, protects lives and property, and reduces long‑term emergency response costs for the community. Ojai faces recurring and increasingly severe natural hazards; including wildfires, extreme heat, flooding, mudflows, and power outages; that can unfold rapidly and with little warning. These events threaten residents, visitors, and critical infrastructure, and they place significant demands on emergency services. Investing in a reliable, redundant emergency notification system ensures that the community receives timely information during life‑threatening situations, ultimately reducing harm and minimizing costly disaster impacts.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
Interior and Environment
City of Lompoc Water Treatment Plant Modernization Project
Total Requested: $3,000,000
Project Location: 601 E North Ave, Lompoc, CA 93436
Description: The requested federal funding will be used to design, procure, and construct four project components as part of the City of Lompoc Water Treatment Plant Modernization Project. This includes rehabilitation and replacement of flocculation basins that have been in continuous service since the plant's 1964 construction; replacement of aging polymer storage tanks that have exceeded safe service life; structural rehabilitation of sedimentation basins, the largest and most capital-intensive component, where decades of hydraulic loading and chemical exposure have caused significant concrete and structural degradation; and, replacement of aging valves, piping, and hydraulic control structures that are critical for safely routing water flow during maintenance shutdowns and emergency repairs. Safe drinking water is the most fundamental public health obligation a city can fulfill. In Lompoc, that obligation depends on a treatment plant that was built in the early 1960’s — a plant whose core treatment processes are now more than 60 years old and have been in continuous operation ever since. Lompoc occupies a distinctive position in California's 24th Congressional District — it is a community with significant strategic and military importance, deep agricultural heritage, and a population that faces genuine economic hardship. Understanding that context is essential to understanding why this investment matters beyond the treatment facilities themselves. The project is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will help with drinking water reliability and also support our national security. Vandenberg Space Force Base — the nation's primary West Coast launch site for military and commercial satellites, including national security space missions and NASA payloads — is directly served by the Lompoc Water Treatment Plant. The plant provides drinking water to personnel, facilities, and operations on base. A drinking water treatment failure in Lompoc is not merely a local inconvenience — it is a potential operational risk for a federal installation of significant national security importance. Ensuring the reliability of Lompoc's water treatment infrastructure is, in this respect, a matter of readiness.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
City of San Buenaventura Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) Backup Generator
Total Requested: $630,000
Address: 501 Poli Street, Ventura, CA 93001
Description: The requested funding will support the purchase and installation of an emergency backup generator for the City of Ventura’s Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF), a central component of VenturaWaterPure, Ventura's potable reuse program that will create a long term, drought resilient local water supply. The AWPF will purify secondary treated municipal wastewater using membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, and UV advanced oxidation to drinking water standards, producing up to 20% of the City’s supply once operational. The purified water will be injected into the local groundwater basin, reducing discharges into the impaired Santa Clara River Estuary and strengthening regional water security for approximately 113,500 residents. In addition to protecting treatment systems, the generator will provide backup power to administrative and operational areas, supporting continuity of operations during emergencies, earthquakes, extreme weather events, and grid disruptions. The project directly advances federal priorities for climate resilience, sustainable water supply development, and efficient use of existing water resources.
This is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it safeguards a critical, drought-resilient drinking water supply, ensures uninterrupted operations during emergencies, and maximizes the reuse of existing water resources—reducing environmental impacts while strengthening long-term water security for the community.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
County of San Luis Obispo Lopez Integrated Water System Resilience Program
Total Requested: $5,000,000
Address: 1055 Monterey Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Description: The funding for this project would provide upgrades to existing drinking water systems to ensure safe and reliable water supplies to the communities of Arroyo Grande, Avila Beach, Grover Beach, Oceano, Port San Luis, and Pismo Beach.
The Lopez Water Project is over 50 years old and includes two dams, a water treatment plant, a water transmission system and distribution system. The Lopez Water Project provides drinking water to a wholesale population of approximately 47,708 people in the following Zone 3 communities: Arroyo Grande, Avila Beach, Grover Beach, Oceano, Port San Luis and Pismo Beach. This project focuses on improving the safety, reliability, and security of the Lopez water system. First, it will modernize outdated cybersecurity and control systems at the water treatment plant by upgrading software, replacing aging hardware, and adding surveillance cameras to better protect against both digital and physical threats. Second, it addresses water quality and system reliability issues after a recent contamination incident by investing in pipeline inspections, replacing key components, improving maintenance plans, and rehabilitating aging infrastructure to prevent future risks. Finally, the project includes required safety upgrades to the Lopez Dam spillway following state orders, with funding supporting analysis, design, and eventual construction of improvements. Overall, the funding will help ensure safe drinking water, strengthen system resilience, and bring critical infrastructure up to modern standards.
This is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it proactively protects public health and extends the life of critical water infrastructure—saving money over the long term while ensuring a safe and reliable water supply.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
American Indian Health & Services - Las Positas Project
Total Requested: $4,000,000
Address: 3227 Las Positas Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Description: American Indian Health & Services' Las Positas Project aims to expand access to critical dental and healthcare services for low income and underserved individuals in Santa Barbara County. The funding would support new construction to house expanded dental services and administrative functions. This would allow American Indian Health & Services of Santa Barbara to increase patient capacity, reduce wait times, improve care coordination, and meet growing regional demand for accessible, competent healthcare. Dental health disparities remain significant in the area, particularly among Indigenous populations. The project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will directly address these gaps by providing modern, appropriately sized clinical space, supporting preventive care, chronic disease management, and improved health outcomes while strengthening the local healthcare safety net.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
Santa Barbara County - Mobile Dental Clinic Project
Total Requested: $750,000
Address: 105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Description: The funding would be used to purchase and customize a three-chair Mobile Dental Vehicle (MDV) for County Public Health Department clinical operations. Access to dental care is a challenge and many of the underserved population served by community health centers in Santa Barbara County cannot afford or easily schedule seeing a dentist. The use of an MDV is flexible and effective. Due to their high mobility, they are particularly valuable for the underserved populations living in rural areas. It could be parked in school parking lots, churches, or community centers where people can access services.
This project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because a Mobile Dental Vehicle would be a dedicated part of the health care safety net in Santa Barbara County. It could easily travel between five clinics serving Carpinteria, Franklin, Santa Barbara, Lompoc, and Santa Maria. In addition, it would be available to serve other areas of need such as Guadalupe and Cuyama. By adding an MDV to the County Public Health Department clinical operations, it would significantly improve access to dental care in the area.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
Transportation and Housing and Urban Development
City of Santa Barbara - Low Barrier Emergency Shelter
Total Requested: $1,000,000
Address: 816 Cacique Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Description: The funding would be used to make critical repairs and upgrades at the emergency shelter located at 816 Cacique Street, focusing on priority life-safety, accessibility, and core building system needs identified through a facility assessment. Improvements include plumbing repairs and replacements (such as leak remediation, fixture and line upgrades, and ADA-compliant restroom improvements), HVAC repairs to ensure reliable heating and cooling in dorm and service areas, enhanced safety and security features (including lighting, access control, and camera coverage where needed), and a kitchen renovation to support safe, code-compliant meal service for approximately 100 shelter residents.
Santa Barbara faces a growing homelessness challenge, making the preservation of this 100-bed shelter a high-impact and cost-effective investment. The City’s 2024 Point-in-Time Count identified 987 individuals experiencing homelessness, while the countywide total reached 2,119, underscoring sustained demand for shelter and supportive services. With more individuals entering homelessness than can be placed into housing each year, maintaining existing shelter capacity is essential to reduce unsheltered homelessness and stabilize individuals as they connect to services and housing opportunities.
This project will modernize and stabilize a 24,423-square-foot facility that serves as a cornerstone of the local homelessness response system. Originally built in 1974 and last renovated in 2002, the shelter provides beds, meals, hygiene services, case management, and housing assistance to approximately 100 individuals at a time. The transition to Mercy House as the interim operator ensures continuity of care, and these upgrades will improve safety, habitability, and operational reliability during this period and beyond. The project represents a good use of taxpayer dollars because it preserves an existing public asset, avoids far more costly emergency repairs or replacement, and delivers immediate, measurable benefits by maintaining safe, stable shelter capacity for a vulnerable population while reducing long-term strain on local emergency and public service systems.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
County of Santa Barbara Oasis Senior Center
Total Requested: $2,013,000
Address: Corner of Foxenwood Lane and E. Clark Avenue, Old Town Orcutt, Santa Maria, CA 93455
Description: Federal funding will be used support construction of the OASIS Senior Center component of the Orcutt Community Center Project. The proposed Orcutt Community Center will bring together the long-standing Orcutt Area Seniors in Service (OASIS) programming and the Orcutt Branch Library into a shared, expanded facility designed to serve residents of all ages throughout the Santa Maria Valley. The center will offer increased library services, vital working areas, and flexible space for community residents.
The requested $2,013,000 of federal funding will be used for construction of the OASIS Senior Center, which is slated to be built on land that will be leased from the County. In addition to serving seniors, the facility will be available to function as a regional gathering place for community meetings, educational programs, nonprofit services, and emergency coordination or public information distribution during local disasters or public safety events. The facility will serve seniors, families, students, and community organizations, ensuring broad public benefit across northern Santa Barbara County.
This funding is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it leverages shared infrastructure to deliver senior services, expanded library access, and emergency response capabilities—benefiting a broad cross-section of the community.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
County of Ventura - Ojai Library Roof Replacement
Total Requested: $800,000
Address: 111 E. Ojai Avenue, Ojai, CA 93023
Description: The proposed project would replace the aging roof of the Ojai Library to extend its functional lifespan, prevent water intrusion, and prepare the structure for potential future solar panel installation to support a recently added battery backup system. These upgrades will help ensure the library remains open and operational during extreme weather events and Public Safety Power Shutoff scenarios, reinforcing its role as a critical community resource. The project represents a good use of taxpayer dollars because it addresses deferred maintenance in a cost-effective way while preserving an essential public facility that provides climate-controlled shelter, access to power and internet, and emergency support for residents during outages and severe weather. By reducing ongoing repair costs and strengthening the library’s reliability, the project supports long-term fiscal responsibility and the County of Ventura’s priority to maintain robust infrastructure that enables vibrant and sustainable communities.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
Five Cities Fire Authority Aerial Ladder Truck Purchase
Total Requested: $2,607,090
Address: 140 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Description: Funding would be used to purchase an aerial ladder truck to enhance emergency response capabilities across Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and nearby unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County. FCFA serves approximately 37,000 residents within a 10-square-mile area and operates three fire stations that respond to more than 4,500 calls each year, including structure fires, wildland fires, vehicle collisions, and technical rescues. This funding would support acquisition of the region’s first aerial ladder truck, a specialized apparatus designed for effective operation in dense neighborhoods, coastal environments, and areas with narrow or constrained access.
The project will provide FCFA with a modern Tractor Drawn Aerial (TDA) ladder truck capable of extended reach, elevated rescue operations, roof access, and improved ventilation during structure fires. Its maneuverability makes it especially well-suited for older downtown corridors and mixed-use areas where traditional fire apparatus can be limited. This added capability will improve firefighter safety, increase operational efficiency, and strengthen the department’s ability to protect life and property in complex emergency environments.
The Five Cities region faces elevated fire risk, with surrounding areas designated by the State of California as Fire Hazard Severity Zones due to vegetation, terrain, and seasonal weather conditions. Dry periods and coastal winds can rapidly intensify fire behavior, making it critical for local agencies to maintain modern, adaptable equipment capable of responding to both structural and wildland incidents.
This investment will modernize FCFA’s fleet by replacing aging equipment that has exceeded its reliable service life with a versatile, high-capability apparatus. The project represents a good use of taxpayer dollars because it improves emergency response and public safety while generating significant long-term savings by reducing maintenance and operational costs associated with older equipment. The new ladder truck is expected to save approximately $206,000 annually—totaling roughly $4 million over 20 years—effectively offsetting its upfront cost while delivering enhanced service to the community. By combining improved response capabilities, firefighter safety, and measurable cost savings, the project ensures FCFA is equipped to serve a growing population efficiently and reliably.
The purchase of this apparatus is an eligible use of funds under the HUD Economic Development Initiative, consistent with 42 U.S.C. § 5305(a)(2), which authorizes investment in public facilities and infrastructure. HUD’s Community Development Block Grant regulations further recognize fire protection equipment as an integral component of public facilities, making this project eligible under 24 C.F.R. § 570.201(c).
This project is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it replaces aging equipment with a modern, high-capability ladder truck that improves emergency response and firefighter safety while reducing long-term maintenance costs and delivering millions in projected savings over its service life.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
Santa Barbara County Association of Governments Rincon Trail Project
Total Requested: $2,000,000
Address: 260 N. San Antonio Road, Suite B, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Description: The Rincon Multi-Use Trail Project will close a critical one-mile gap in the California Coastal Trail at the southern end of Santa Barbara County by constructing a safe, dedicated multi-use path connecting an existing Class I bikeway in Ventura County to a Class II bikeway in the City of Carpinteria. This connection will create a continuous non-motorized route between Rincon Beach County Park and the Carpinteria Bluffs, linking two destinations that are currently less than one mile apart but difficult and unsafe to access without a vehicle. Today, pedestrians and bicyclists traveling between these locations must rely on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 101 or informal paths within the adjacent railroad corridor—both of which present serious safety risks. The proposed project will provide an ADA-accessible trail physically separated from highway and rail traffic, significantly improving safety while offering a reliable transportation alternative for residents and visitors.
In addition to improving safety, the project will expand public access to the coast by connecting key destinations, including Rincon Beach County Park, the Carpinteria coastline, and the recently protected Carpinteria Bluffs property. By linking these assets, the project enhances recreational opportunities, supports local tourism, and strengthens the region’s growing network of active transportation infrastructure. The project also completes a missing segment of the California Coastal Trail, a statewide effort to create a continuous 1,200-mile trail from Oregon to Mexico. Closing this gap will improve regional connectivity and increase access to one of California’s most significant public resources.
The requested $2 million in federal funding will support final pre-construction activities—including engineering, permitting, railroad coordination, and right-of-way work—needed to advance the project to construction readiness. This targeted investment represents a small share of the total project cost but is critical to positioning the project for future construction funding and timely completion. The project represents a good use of taxpayer dollars because it addresses a clear and documented safety hazard, leverages prior public investments by connecting existing infrastructure, and delivers long-term public benefits through improved mobility, safer transportation options, and expanded access to coastal resources.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District Bus Fleet Expansion Project
Total Requested: $2,800,000
Address: 550 Olive Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Description: This project would expand Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (SBMTD) high-capacity 60-foot bus fleet to accommodate the upcoming new bus route (Line 29) serving UC Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) new San Benito Housing project, which, when completed, will house 2,224 residents. This complex is located in a part of the UCSB campus not currently served by transit, and is expected to open for occupancy in Fall 2027. SBMTD and UCSB have an existing public transit mitigation implementation agreement with UCSB that funds the existing Line 28, a high-frequency bus route that connects high-density student housing with campus and other key community destinations. As a mitigation for new housing, built without parking, investing in public transit has been key to avoiding traffic congestion and providing convenient transportation in a densely populated area. Since the start of Line 28 service in 2016, the Line 28 has carried 3.4 million passengers.
Line 29 is expected to provide similar benefits to the community, with frequent headways, and these high-capacity buses will enable this important connection. More than just serving UCSB student residents of the San Benito project, this service will connect workers with employment and other members of the public traveling along the route.
This project is a good use of taxpayer dollars as it will help provide high-capacity public transit service to a high-density housing project, thereby removing the need for expensive parking garages, mitigating traffic congestion, and connecting residents to opportunity and important community destinations. A 60-foot articulated bus has the capacity to carry approximately 100 people, which makes it an extremely efficient way to move lots of people all at once. Using a larger bus actually lowers costs as what you save in needing more 40-foot buses and drivers, you can put back into frequency. SBMTD currently has a fleet of three 60-foot buses which have recently reached their “useful life” age of 12 years. While those buses are still in operation, and are very well used, there is a need to replace those three and expand the fleet by two to accommodate new service coming on line in 2027 to serve UCSB’s new San Benito housing project, which at occupancy will house 2,224 residents.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
San Luis Obispo Council of Governments Edna-Price Canyon Trail Project
Total Requested: $1,500,000
Address: 1114 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Description: The Edna-Price Canyon Trail will provide a safe route for bicyclists and pedestrians along State Route 227 that supports transportation and recreational needs of community members and visitors. The project is a component of the State Route 227 Multimodal Corridor Improvement which also replaces traffic signals with roundabouts at two busy intersections. This trail component will reduce collision risks and improve the level of comfort for people walking and biking along this busy, high-speed corridor, where bicycle injury crashes occurred in 2016 and 2018. Improving safety and comfort will encourage more biking and walking for commute trips, school trips, and recreational travel, and supports the region's wine and coastal tourism industries.
This project is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it would deliver documented safety improvements on a high-risk corridor where bicycle injury crashes have already occurred, integrates with a broader multimodal improvement program, and will serve schools, commuters, and tourists connecting two of the region's most economically significant destinations.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
City of Santa Maria Simas Park ADA Improvements Project
Total Requested: $2,750,000
Address: 600 S McClelland St, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Description: The project will help deliver critical accessibility and safety improvements at Simas Park and close a key gap in the surrounding pedestrian network. At the park, funding will construct ADA-compliant routes to ballfields, dugouts, and bleachers; install approximately 1,200 linear feet of reinforced concrete pathways with ramps, landings, and detectable warning surfaces; replace non-compliant bleachers with integrated wheelchair and companion seating; and relocate outfield fencing to enable accessible dugout access. In addition, the project will build approximately 1,500 to 2,000 linear feet of ADA-accessible trail and sidewalk improvements—including widened pathways, raised reinforced-concrete crosswalks, and two HAWK pedestrian signals—to create a safe, continuous connection between Simas Park and the Santa Maria Regional Transit Center.
These improvements will directly benefit thousands of community members who rely on Simas Park each year, including youth athletes, families, and local leagues, while also ensuring that residents with disabilities, seniors, and veterans can fully access and use the facility. The new pedestrian connection is especially critical in a neighborhood where many residents depend on public transit, transforming what is currently a significant barrier into a safe and reliable route to one of the city’s most important community assets.
The project builds on existing public investments, responds to documented ADA compliance needs identified by the City, and is supported by a committed local funding match. The project represents a good use of taxpayer dollars because it fulfills a clear federal accessibility obligation, improves safety and mobility, and maximizes the value of an already heavily used public facility by ensuring it is accessible to all members of the community.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
City of Goleta Community Center Project
Total Requested: $2,500,000
Address: 5689 Hollister Avenue, Goleta, CA 93117
Description: The project will replace the two aging portable classrooms at the Goleta Community Center (GCC), ensuring that the Rainbow School and CommUnify Head Start programs can continue operating in a safe, accessible, and functional space. These portables provide vital early childhood education, including full-day and part-day preschool programs, Head Start services for children ages 3 to 5, and developmentally appropriate curricula that emphasize academic, social, emotional, and physical growth. Replacing the portables will allow these organizations to continue serving families in Old Town Goleta—many of whom are lower-income or dual-language households—while maintaining high-quality education and care that prepares children for success in school and life.
This project represents a good use of taxpayer dollars because it preserves and strengthens essential community services, supports equitable access to high-quality early childhood education, and delivers long-term benefits to children, families, and the broader community by improving school readiness, social-emotional development, and future educational and societal outcomes.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
Santa Barbara County Association of Governments Highway 101/135 Interchange Project
Total Requested: $2,000,000
Address: 260 N. San Antonio Road, Suite B, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Description: The U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 135 Interchange Project will modernize a critical gateway into Santa Barbara County in the City of Santa Maria by reconstructing the outdated trumpet interchange to improve safety, traffic operations, and regional mobility. Alternatives under consideration include a diamond or three-quarter diamond/partial cloverleaf configuration, both of which would replace aging infrastructure, add new access to Highway 101 from the east, and widen the overcrossing to improve connectivity across the corridor. The project also integrates pedestrian and bicycle facilities, linking to the planned Santa Maria River Trail and a future transit hub to provide safe, accessible options for non-motorized travel and first- and last-mile connections to regional transit.
This project will directly benefit northern Santa Maria neighborhoods, where residents face higher transportation costs and limited vehicle access. By improving interchange efficiency, expanding transit connectivity, and providing safe pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, the project will reduce travel times, enhance access to jobs, schools, and services, and provide lower-cost transportation alternatives for daily trips. The total project cost is estimated at $75 million, with environmental review expected to be completed by July 2027 through an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI). The requested $2 million in federal Community Project Funding will support completion of the design phase, advancing the project toward construction readiness and positioning it to compete for future federal and state construction funding.
The project represents a good use of taxpayer dollars because it addresses critical infrastructure needs, improves safety and mobility for all users—including disadvantaged communities—supports economic growth, and leverages federal investment to ensure long-term regional transportation benefits.
Click here for the signed certification letter affirming the federal nexus of the project and stating the Member has no financial interest in the project.
