Press Release from Lois Capps' Office

Two Scenic Byway Grants for San Luis Obispo County Announced

San Luis Obispo, CA – Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) announced today that the Route 1 San Luis Obispo North Coast Scenic Byway, stretching 57 miles along the Central Coast from San Simeon in the north to San Luis Obispo in the south, has been selected to receive two grants, totaling $84,800, from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byway Program.

“For years, I’ve been pleased to work with our local transportation experts in San Luis Obispo County to advance new bicycle and walking paths and provide residents with better access to the scenic and natural beauty of our coastline,” said Congresswoman Capps. “These federal grants will help to create more pathways that will span the length of the county, creating jobs and expanding economic growth in our area.”

“We’ve been very successful in securing state and federal grants to improve safe biking and pedestrian access throughout our region for both residents and visitors,” said Bruce Gibson, County Supervisor and President of the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, the regional agency that submitted these grants. “I am especially grateful to all involved in securing these grants that will advance an exciting multi-use pathway connecting San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly, Cuesta College and Morro Bay and improve pedestrian accessibility in San Simeon.”

The first grant of $47,000 will be used to develop a plan for the Chorro Valley multi-use trail between the cities of San Luis Obispo to Morro Bay along 12 miles of the Byway. The trail is envisioned to run adjacent to Route 1 from Cal Poly State University to the Cuesta College campus and on along the Morros connecting to the California Coastal Trail. The funds will also be used to engage the public and Byway stakeholders and identify funding opportunities to construct segments of the trail. This project will benefit the byway traveler by providing a choice as to how they will enjoy the intrinsic qualities of the Route 1 San Luis Obispo North Coast Scenic Byway. It will also provide pedestrians, bicyclists and those with disabilities a scenic trail that will connect these two important communities along the Byway.

The second grant of $36,800 will be used to construct much needed improvements and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades to an existing recreational beach access point along the California Coastal Trail on the west-side of Route 1 in the community of San Simeon. The funds will also be used for trailhead improvements, such as notification and interpretive signs, near the terminus of San Simeon Avenue, and beach access path improvements, including installation of a decomposed granite path surface, widening the lower portion of the path toward the bluff side, construction of a short retaining wall, and providing a guardrail on the exposed side of the path, which is frequently disturbed by storm swells.

“Transportation investments like these will create jobs, increase mobility, improve quality of life for all Americans and strengthen our national economy,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “The demand from the states for these funds shows just how critical the need is for infrastructure investment.”

The National Scenic Byways Program was established under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. Under the program, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as National Scenic Byways based on their archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities. There are over 150 such designated byways in 46 states.

Information on the Route 1 San Luis Obispo North Coast Scenic Byway can be found here.

Great Horned Owl Image on Banner by Cleve Nash