District: District 11 — San Diego and Imperial Counties
Contact: Barbara Cosio Moreno
Phone: (619) 688-6670
SAN DIEGO: Today, Caltrans District 11 began day one of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California Community Days as part of the administration’s $1.2 billion Clean California Initiative to beautify public spaces, engage communities, remove trash, and create jobs. The ten-consecutive-day event is launching a “Spring into Action” period to encourage and empower Californians to beautify their neighborhoods. In collaboration with elected officials and community partners, Caltrans will host events in San Diego and Imperial Counties, culminating in a public commUNITY Bike, Walk, and Beautify event on a closed portion of State Route 15 Saturday, March 25.
Caltrans was at Southwest Middle School in San Ysidro with Assemblymember David Alvarez, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s office staff, Sweetwater High School District Superintendent Moises Aguirre, and students from the school’s STEM program to start building a public orchard, garden, and greenhouse. The students also planted a commemorative tree in the center of the new garden.
“Your dedication to changing our habits and practices, addressing climate change, reducing food waste, and diverting it from our landfills inspires us all,” said Caltrans District 11 Director Gustavo Dallarda.
The garden will eventually become a part of the community, where residents will have a separate entrance to pick and plant fruits and vegetables.
“The Sweetwater High School district is proud to be a partner where the students will be growing food that our local food banks use,” said Sweetwater High School District Superintendent Moises Aguirre. “I am pleased to represent students that want to battle climate change.”
Other upcoming events
Public Events
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Free Dump Day Events – Saturday, March 18, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
To prevent illegal dumping and highway debris, San Diegans can dispose of household waste safely and properly for free at various Caltrans maintenance yards.
The following items will NOT be accepted: hazardous waste (batteries, paint, oils, flammables, etc.), construction debris (concrete, dirt, asphalt, asbestos), compressed gas, aerosols, treated wood waste, refrigerators, and freezers. Four mattresses and four tires separated from the rims per household will be accepted.- Kearny Mesa: 7181 Opportunity Road, San Diego, CA 92111
- Santee: 8502 Railroad Avenue, Santee, CA 92071
- El Centro: 1102 Montenegro Way, El Centro, CA 92243
- Brawley: 200 S. Palm Avenue, Brawley, CA 92227
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commUNITY Bike, Walk & Beautify Event – Saturday, March 25, 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Caltrans is closing traffic on the northbound SR-15 between Harbor Drive & State Route 94 while crews perform routine scheduled maintenance. As the work is being performed, members of the public will have the opportunity to walk and bike the highway while helping to clean it up. This family-friendly event includes games, activities, and art projects. People are encouraged to take the Blue or Orange Line trolley to access the #BikeWalkBeautifySD Event from Main St./32nd St, Ocean View Boulevard, or Market Street.
Other events include
- Supporting Coastal Cleanups with Surfrider San Diego at Imperial and Moonlight Beach on Saturday, March 18.
- An Adopt-A-Highway Recognition Ceremony at Caltrans Old Town District Headquarters to honor the program’s most active community volunteers and business sponsors on Tuesday, March 21.
- Joining a Youth Leadership Academy in Southeast San Diego to teach community members about the benefits of urban greening with the Urban Collaborative Project-CDC on Tuesday, March 21.
- Read Across America Event and school mural installation with Councilmember Vivian Moreno, local authors, and the City of San Diego Retired Employees Association at Sherman Elementary on Thursday, March 23.
- Community Days Vista Cleanup with Senator Catherine Blakespear, City of Vista, and North County Transit District on Sunday, March 26.
How to Get Involved
Host A Cleanup
March 17-27 – Join thousands of Californians across the state by hosting their own cleanups. Families, organizations, and businesses are eligible to receive free cleanup supplies like pickers and bags by registering at Clean California. Cleanups can be a few neighbors cleaning up their block or a large non-profit cleaning a beach or trail.
Since launching Clean California in July 2021, Caltrans has removed nearly 1.4 million cubic yards of litter from state highways – the equivalent of more than 23,000 tons or enough trash to fill more than 420 Olympic-size swimming pools – and hired more than 830 new team members as part of Clean California.
Visit CleanCA.com to learn more about how Clean California is transforming communities and how you can get involved.
Motorists are reminded to be Work Zone Alert if traveling in the area and to watch for highway workers and moving construction equipment.
The construction schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions, traffic incidents, or other construction-related reasons.
For real-time traffic information, including traffic speed, lane and road closures due to construction and maintenance activities, and more, go to http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/
Follow @SDCaltrans on Twitter and like Caltrans District 11 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SDCaltrans for news related to state transportation in San Diego and Imperial counties.