ENCINITAS, Calif. – Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, on Thursday presented the City of Encinitas with a $3.09 million check for the Santa Fe Drive Corridor Improvements Project in Encinitas to make the bustling street safer for pedestrians, cyclists and bus riders.

Thanks to Blakespear’s advocacy, the funding was added to the 2023-24 state budget. The project is crucial to the safety of cyclists and others using the street, and at Blakespear’s request, it will include separated bike lanes to provide added protection.

The project entails building separated bike lines, buffered bike lanes, sidewalk improvements, parking, protected intersections, landscaping, storm drains and bus stop enhancements along the street that leads to San Dieguito Academy. The project is scheduled to break ground this fall.

More information can be found here.

Also at Thursday’s press conference were Encinitas Mayor Tony Kranz, Deputy Mayor Joy Lyndes, San Dieguito Academy Principal Cara Dolnik and Clare Champlain, mother of Brodee Champlain Kingman, who died on June 22 after being struck by a van while riding his e-bike on El Camino Real in Encinitas.

“The Santa Fe Drive Corridor Improvements Project is a critical mobility project that will support active transportation and make it safer for residents and students to walk or cycle through the area,” Kranz said. “This project helps get people out of cars by creating spaces where cyclists and pedestrians are comfortable and safer using the roads. The funding that Senator Blakespear has lined up allows the City to move this important project into the construction phase and bring about its completion sooner than anticipated.”

"I would like to first express the SDUHSD community's sincere appreciation to Senator Blakespear and city officials for prioritizing the safety and well-being of the residents of Encinitas, including the students in our district, through the Santa Fe Drive project,” Dolnik said. “The on-going traffic concerns and increase in e-bike accidents highlights the need for continued collaboration between our state, city and community partners. We will continue our collaboration in providing safety education and in increasing the awareness of safe road travel with all bike riders, especially as they travel to and from school."

Sen. Catherine Blakespear presents a check to Encinitas Mayor Tony Kranz (holding check) on Thursday morning in front of San Dieguito Academy and beside Sante Fe Drive, where improvements will be made to make the busy road safer for pedestrians, cyclists and bus riders.