The city of Goleta will receive $11.16 million in funding via the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Grant Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The grant allows Goleta to move forward with construction of the San Jose Creek Multipurpose Path Project which when completed will connect the community in a new way, the city said.

“We are overjoyed that the city of Goleta was awarded this significant grant, which allows us to carry out the long-awaited vision of connecting the northern Goleta neighborhoods to Old Town and the beach,” said Mayor Paula Perotte.

“Thank you to the Goleta staff who never gave up on this project, who took the initiative to apply and secure this grant and to the U.S. Department of Transportation for seeing the value of this impactful project,” she said.

The $11.16 million in federal dollars, in addition to $15.29 million already received from the Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant will help to close the funding gap needed for project construction and will lighten the burden on local funding.

However, as a condition of the grant the city will provide up to 20 percent of the overall construction cost through a combination of sources including various development impact fees and future bond proceeds.

The project will build a separated and dedicated multipurpose underpass through US 101, the Union Pacific railroad tracks, and State Route 217 to eliminate a barrier and connect residents in Old Town Goleta to education, employment, housing, services, and amenities in the north and south.

The project will create a new Class I bicycle path and pedestrian amenities, and improve pedestrian and cyclist safety along adjacent high-volume arterials and freeway underpasses with inconsistent infrastructure, the city said.

Also, a new connection will be created for the surrounding street network, offering residents direct access to the grocery stores, health care services, green spaces, schools, employment, and recreational opportunities in the north of the city, directly across the highway.

“I’m proud to see the Reconnecting Communities program, created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, delivering this substantial award to Goleta for this multipurpose path project – part of more than $1 billion this landmark law has invested so far in our region,” said U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal.

This award will improve Goleta’s sense of community and connectivity, while keeping Central Coast pedestrians safe,” he said.

Goleta is one of 25 California cities to receive a combined total of $258 million for transportation infrastructure upgrades from three programs that were part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including the RCP grant.

The RCP focuses on improving access to daily needs such as jobs, education, health care, food, nature, and recreation.

Learn more about the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program at https://www.transportation.gov/reconnecting.  


For more on the San Jose Creek Multipurpose Path Project click here.