Encinitas City Council voted unanimously Oct. 22 to authorize staff to apply for Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Federal‑State Partnership Program funding for three rail corridor projects: two proposed Leucadia pedestrian/bicycle at‑grade crossings, a citywide quiet‑zone implementation package, and the Verde pedestrian undercrossing in Cardiff.

The city’s principal engineer explained the FRA program’s scope and application requirements and told council the program favors projects that improve passenger‑rail safety and performance. Staff said the Leucadia crossings and the quiet‑zone work fit that criterion because they would reduce grade‑separation incidents and the frequency of horn-sounding events and therefore reduce delays to passenger rail. The Verde undercrossing would provide a grade‑separated pedestrian/bike connection at a location with high recreational and school access demand and had previously reached 100% design through local efforts.

Grants and match: The FRA program will fund a large share of eligible project costs but requires a local match (staff estimates 20%); the city would be responsible for matching funds if awards are made. Staff told council that the city can bundle multiple projects into one application and that judges will evaluate projects individually. Staff recommended applying for all three projects and noted the city’s quiet‑zone application work is already funded for application preparation. Council approved submission of the three applications and asked staff to return with detailed implementation, environmental (NEPA) and benefit‑cost analysis if award notices arrive.

Public comment: Several residents and advocates addressed the council in support of the Verde undercrossing and the Leucadia crossings, describing safety problems where pedestrians currently cross tracks and noting recreational and school access needs. Representatives of the Surfrider Foundation and the Nature Collective urged the city to use grants to improve access to beaches and trail connections while minimizing impacts to habitat. Solana Beach’s assistant city manager asked for a short delay on the Cardiff/Seaside crossing item within a separate HSIP application; Caltrans confirmed the delay would not endanger funding availability.

Regulatory notes: Because FRA funds are federal, projects that receive awards will require NEPA review in addition to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) work the city has already done on some elements. Staff warned council the city would need to sequence environmental compliance and design work and ensure state and federal permitting (including CPUC where required) are completed before construction.

Outcome and next steps: Council’s authorization cleared staff to prepare and submit the Jan. 7, 2026 FRA grant applications. If the city is awarded funding, staff will return with a detailed implementation plan, environmental compliance schedule and a proposal for local match funding and phasing.

Speaker note: staff and the city’s rail consultant emphasized that although the FRA program is nationwide and competitive, the Encinitas projects align well with criteria that prioritize passenger‑rail safety and performance improvements; bundling the projects was presented as an efficient approach that still allows the FRA to score each project individually.