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San Bernardino wins $14 million federal grant for 101 EV chargers; city updates encampment cleanups and Point‑in‑Time count
Summary
The city will use a U.S. Department of Transportation grant to install 101 electric-vehicle chargers at 15 sites; staff also reported recent encampment cleanups, sign replacement work and volunteer opportunities for the Jan. 23 point‑in‑time homeless count.
San Bernardino will receive a $14 million federal grant to install an electric‑vehicle charging network across the city, a city official announced at Wednesday’s council meeting.
Jeff Cross, the city’s public information officer, told the council the U.S. Department of Transportation award will fund 101 EV chargers — including fast chargers — at 15 locations such as parks, community centers, libraries and downtown parking sites. Cross said San Bernardino was one of six awardees statewide and the only recipient in Southern California. The city’s grants team labeled the project “From Desert to Oasis” in staff materials because of the community’s current shortage of chargers, Cross said.
Cross also reported several operational updates: public‑works crews removed an encampment in an alley near Baseline and D Street that city staff counted as 19 tents; 25 individuals accepted offers of services and the cleanup removed roughly 37 tons of trash, according to Cross. The work followed earlier cleanups at Parasail Park, Wildwood Park and Bobby Vega Park; another cleanup was scheduled for the day after the meeting.
The city reminded residents that the annual point‑in‑time homeless count is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23; volunteers are asked to arrive at 5:15 a.m. Cross said the count affects how federal and state funding is allocated for local homeless services.
Public‑works crews are also in phase two of a sign‑replacement program, concentrated in the city’s 5th Ward. Cross said crews will replace about 900 street signs, including stop signs and missing or outdated directional signs.
Cross ended his remarks with a business note: the city celebrated the recent opening of its first Yoshinoya restaurant on Highland Avenue, which staff said had strong sales in early weeks. City staff additionally announced a call for applicants to fill boards and commissions whose terms recently expired, and promoted a Lunar New Year celebration scheduled for February 1 at Court Street Square.
Ending: The council received the updates and no formal action was required on the grant announcement; staff will return with project details, site phasing and an implementation timeline as the grant work moves forward.
