District: District 11 – San Diego and Imperial Counties
Contact: Stephen Welborn
Phone: (619) 688-6670
EL CENTRO, Calif: Caltrans District 11 begins 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 11 consecutive day event is a “Spring into Action” period to encourage and empower Californians to beautify their neighborhoods. Caltrans, in collaboration with elected officials and community partners, will host events in both Imperial and San Diego Counties culminating in a public commUNITY Bike, Walk, and Beautify event on a closed portion of State Route 15, Saturday, March 25.
Today Caltrans was at Holtville City Hall in Holtville with Imperial County District 5 Supervisor John Hawk, Holtville Mayor Virginia Ward, Imperial County Transportation Commission Executive Director David Aguirre, Caltrans District 11 Director Gustavo Dallarda, staff from California State Senator Stephen Padilla’s office, and staff from Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia’s office to break ground on a project to install shaded bus shelters and median landscape improvements in Imperial County.
“Caltrans’ vision is a brighter future for all, and our mission is to provide a reliable transportation network that serves all people.”, said Caltrans District Director Gustavo Dallarda. “This means using our resources to support vibrant communities that enhance quality of life, local economic development, and environmental preservation.”
This location is one of seven shaded bus shelters and five median landscape improvement projects to be installed in Imperial County. Caltrans is spending $2.2 million in Imperial County on these 12 infrastructure projects and $1.6 million on the Calexico Gateway project.
“The Imperial Valley has been historically overlooked when it comes to all state investments, but particularly in regards to beautification and shading projects,” said Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego). “California must continue to address these inequities as we make the prosperity of this state accessible to all Californians. Beautiful community spaces are for everyone, not just a privileged few.”
“As a disadvantaged community, there are many residents in the City of Holtville that rely on public transportation as a means to get to work, to shop and make it to medical appointments” said Holtville Mayor Virginia Ward, “We are happy that this funding was extended to our fine city to help enhance this vital transportation element.”
Other upcoming events
Public Events
- Read Across America Event and School Mural Installation with Councilmember Vivian Moreno – Wednesday, March 23, 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. – Local authors and City of San Diego Retired Employees Association at Sherman Elementary.
- 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.
- Community Days Vista Cleanup – Sunday, March 26, 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. – with Senator Catherine Blakespear, City of Vista, and North County Transit District on Sunday, March 26.
Other events include:
- Caltrans “Swarm” maintenance activities on SR-86 in Brawley to clean and maintain the transportation corridor between SR-78 and Brandt Road, Saturday, March 25.
How to Get Involved
- Host A Cleanup – March 23-27 – 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.
Caltrans is also developing the Clean California Community program, in which communities from across the state can seek to earn a designation by meeting criteria centered around preventing and cleaning up litter, promoting recycling, and otherwise greening or beautifying their communities. Incentives will also be offered to encourage communities to earn this designation.
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.