Press Releases

Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) is highlighting $850,000 he secured in the 2024 federal budget to build a 1.2 mile bike and pedestrian path adjacent to State Route 227 in San Luis Obispo. The funding is set aside to help complete segments 6 and 7 of the Edna Valley Trail, a project overseen by the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG). The new trail will connect neighborhoods along the corridor to Los Ranchos Elementary School and retail and commercial zones along State Route 227.

“I’m thrilled to bring $850,000 in federal funding to San Luis Obispo to fund a new bike and pedestrian path along state route 227,” said Rep. Carbajal. “This new project will complete segments 6 and 7 of the Edna Valley Trail which connects our neighborhoods to local schools, retail shops, and commercial areas all along the route — giving residents the ability to travel around their community while enjoying the Central Coast sun and fresh air.” 

"This multi-use trail will provide a safe and separated transportation option for pedestrians and bicyclists by connecting homes, schools, shopping areas, and a growing number of jobs," said SLOCOG Executive Director Pete Rodgers.

“As we wok to improve traffic congestion on Hwy 227, it is also important that we create active transportation opportunities.” said SLO County Supervisor and SLOCOG Vice-President Jimmy Paulding. “I’m grateful to Congressman Carbajal for helping fund this important Safe Routes project in Edna Valley.”

"SLO County is grateful Congressman Carbajal recognizes the importance for SLO County to have trail connectivity and the funding for the multiuse Edna Valley Trail will eventually provide connectivity to the California Coastal Trail in Pismo Beach and the City of San Luis Obispo" said SLOCOG Board Member and SLO County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg.

The Edna Valley Trail is part of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, a 1,200-mile route from Nogales, Arizona, to San Francisco that commemorates the 1775-76 expedition led by Lt. Colonel Anza to settle Alta California.

The funding is part of $13,446,901 secured by Carbajal for 14 Central Coast projects which Rep. Carbajal championed over the course of the past year’s federal budget negotiations. The projects range from supporting the development of new affordable housing projects to water system upgrades.

In the spring of 2023, Rep. Carbajal began to push for funding for these projects through formal requests to the House Appropriations Committee for Fiscal Year 2024.

Rep. Carbajal has previously secured funding for 23 different community projects, totaling nearly $40 million over the past two years. 

The funding was secured through the Community Project Funding (CPF) initiative first launched in 2022. Projects must be in the public interest, be good uses of taxpayer dollars, and be certified to not conflict with the representative’s personal financial interests. More information on the rules governing what projects could be requested can be found here.