DATE: August 19, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Development Services Department
TITLE: APPROVAL TO ACCEPT $10,175,938 IN GRANT FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DOUGLAS DRIVE BRIDGE SEISMIC RETROFIT PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION
title
Staff recommends that the City Council accept and appropriate $10,175,938 in additional Federal-Aid funds and authorize acceptance and appropriation of any future federal construction funds awarded for the Douglas Drive Bridge Seismic Retrofit over San Luis Rey River (Douglas Bridge Seismic Retrofit project) through the Federal Highway Bridge Program.
body
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Douglas Drive bridge over the San Luis Rey River (SLRR) was built in 1965 and has been identified by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as requiring seismic improvements due to structural deficiencies. The bridge serves as a critical transportation corridor within the City, providing an important east-west connection across the San Luis Rey River.
In January 2016, the City Council approved acceptance of federal funds and a Professional Services Agreement for engineering, environmental, and design services associated with the Douglas Drive Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project. At that time, the project was advancing through the preliminary engineering and environmental review phases necessary to evaluate seismic retrofit and replacement alternatives.
Since Council approval, the City has completed environmental review, final design, and other project development activities necessary to prepare the project for construction. Through the environmental and engineering evaluation process, the project advanced as a bridge rehabilitation project and installation of a fish passageway to address long-term structural, operational, environmental, and seismic resiliency needs.
To date, the project has received $3,364,140 in federal funding for preliminary engineering and design activities. No federal right-of-way funding ...
Click here for full text