Encinitas La Costa Avenue Path Receives Regional Grant Support, With Agreement Work Still Underway

ENCINITAS, San Diego County — Plans for a safer walking and cycling connection along La Costa Avenue from Vulcan Avenue toward the southbound Interstate 5 entrance remain part of Encinitas’ transportation-improvement portfolio.

The city describes the La Costa Avenue Pedestrian Path as a project to provide a new pedestrian pathway and a bicycle buffer along the corridor. In its 2026 capital-project grant summary, Encinitas says it sought approximately $1.2 million through the San Diego Association of Governments’ Smart Growth Incentive Program, with a $100,000 local match commitment.

Grant award is not an open pathway

According to the city’s status summary, SANDAG formally approved the cycle-six grant awards on January 23, 2026. At the time of the published project update, staff were still working with the agency on a final funding agreement. Residents should not confuse grant progress with the completion of construction or a promise of an opening date.

People who walk from Leucadia toward businesses or connecting streets near I-5 may benefit from the proposed buffer and pedestrian route when work is ultimately completed. For now, the public can follow engineering updates and project milestones through Encinitas’ official City Projects & Initiatives directory and project-status map.

Sources: Encinitas projects directory; City capital-project grant funding summary, updated March 17, 2026.

Illustrative coastal access photograph, not the La Costa Avenue work site. Photo: Anh Phan / Unsplash.

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