Sen. Blakespear Presents Check for Encinitas Transportation Project
$3.09 million in state funding will help Encinitas build separated bike lanes and make other safety improvements along busy Santa Fe Drive
ENCINITAS, Calif. – Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, on Thursday presented the City of Encinitas with a $3.09 million check for the Santa Fe Drive Corridor Improvements Project in Encinitas to make the bustling street safer for pedestrians, cyclists and bus riders.
Thanks to Blakespear’s advocacy, the funding was added to the 2023-24 state budget. The project is crucial to the safety of cyclists and others using the street, and at Blakespear’s request, it will include separated bike lanes to provide added protection.
“The recent death of Brodee Champlain Kingman, a talented, popular 15-year-old student at San Dieguito Academy who was riding his e-bike, illustrates just how dangerous roads can be for cyclists,” Blakespear said. “I am grateful I was able to get funding to pay for major improvements along Santa Fe Drive that will benefit everyone.”
The project entails building separated bike lines, buffered bike lanes, sidewalk improvements, parking, protected intersections, landscaping, storm drains and bus stop enhancements along the street that leads to San Dieguito Academy. The project is scheduled to break ground this fall.
More information can be found here.
Also at Thursday’s press conference were Encinitas Mayor Tony Kranz, Deputy Mayor Joy Lyndes, San Dieguito Academy Principal Cara Dolnik and Clare Champlain, mother of Brodee Champlain Kingman, who died on June 22 after being struck by a van while riding his e-bike on El Camino Real in Encinitas.
“The Santa Fe Drive Corridor Improvements Project is a critical mobility project that will support active transportation and make it safer for residents and students to walk or cycle through the area,” Kranz said. “This project helps get people out of cars by creating spaces where cyclists and pedestrians are comfortable and safer using the roads. The funding that Senator Blakespear has lined up allows the City to move this important project into the construction phase and bring about its completion sooner than anticipated.”
"I would like to first express the SDUHSD community's sincere appreciation to Senator Blakespear and city officials for prioritizing the safety and well-being of the residents of Encinitas, including the students in our district, through the Santa Fe Drive project,” Dolnik said. “The on-going traffic concerns and increase in e-bike accidents highlights the need for continued collaboration between our state, city and community partners. We will continue our collaboration in providing safety education and in increasing the awareness of safe road travel with all bike riders, especially as they travel to and from school."
“Brodee Braxton Champlain Kingman never made it to his destination of San Dieguito Academy on the evening of June 22nd,” Champlain said. “While riding his e-bike and changing lanes he was fatally hit by a van that took his life way too soon. Wearing his helmet, knowing the rules of the road and signaling clearly on that tragic day was not enough to keep him safe. Preventing bike collisions with cars involves a combination of education, infrastructure improvements, and improved safety measures. Dedicated bike lanes intersection improvements, traffic calming measures, investing in our law enforcement, lowering speed limits all can greatly enhance safety.”
“What happened to Brodee,” Champlain added, “and the loss our family is suffering could have been prevented, and we should never allow this to happen again. Brodee should be here, now, and he is not because we have failed him. We have to do better for Brodee and prioritize the safety of our bikers. I’m thankful to Senator Blakespear for prioritizing this bike safety project adjacent to Brodee’s high school.”
Elected in November 2022, Blakespear represents Senate District 38, which covers northern coastal San Diego County and part of inland Orange County. To learn more about the district and Sen. Blakespear, visit her Senate website.
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Sen. Catherine Blakespear presents a check to Encinitas Mayor Tony Kranz on Thursday morning in front of San Dieguito Academy and beside Sante Fe Drive, where improvements will be made to make the busy road safer for pedestrians, cyclists and bus riders.