Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that he secured over $75.5 million in federal funding for 27 projects across the Inland Empire in the first package of FY 2024 appropriations bills. The package includes the Agriculture; Energy and Water; Military Construction-VA; Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development; Commerce, Justice, and Science; and Interior appropriations bills. The House and Senate will consider the bills this week ahead of the March 8 funding deadline before they are sent to the President to be signed into law.

“I am proud to have secured millions in funding for projects that will improve the quality of life across the Inland Empire,” said Senator Padilla. “This funding will support local governments and non-profits working on the ground in our communities to provide cleaner water, safer streets, and more economic opportunities. Investments in stormwater and wastewater infrastructure will improve the reliability and quality of our water supply while making the Inland Empire more resilient against disasters.”

Projects across the Inland Empire that will receive federal funding include:

• Murrieta Creek Flood Control, Environmental Restoration, and Recreation Project – $39.33 million: This funding will support the Murrieta Creek Project to provide 100-year level flood protection to the Cities of Temecula and Murrieta, as well as environmental restoration of protected wetland habitats.

• City of Calimesa County Line Road Improvement Project – $4 million: This funding will support street improvements along County Line Road to improve safety and traffic flow.

• SR-210 at 5th Street Interchange Improvements in the City of Highland – $3 million: This funding will support improvements at the State Route 210 and 5th Street interchange to improve traffic flow.

• City of Lake Elsinore Homeless Facility Expansion – $3 million: This funding is for the construction of a new facility with housing and supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

• Desert Hot Springs Groundwater Quality Protection Project – $2.7 million: This funding will support a project to alleviate wastewater discharge from individual wastewater disposal systems that overlie sensitive groundwater resources in the greater Desert Hot Springs area.

• Renovation of Historic Armory Building, Fairmont Park – $2.5 million: This funding will support the environmental cleanup, building stabilization, and renovations required to convert a former National Guard Armory into a multi-use recreation building within Fairmont Park in the City of Riverside.

• City of Palm Springs Navigation Center Project – $2.01 million: This funding will support expansion of the Palm Springs Navigation Center to provide services and resources for individuals experiencing homelessness.

• City of Yucaipa Stormwater Infrastructure – $1.75 million: This funding will support construction of a basin facility of approximate 200-acre-foot capacity at the confluence of Wilson and Oak Glen Creeks.

• Mojave Water Agency Stormwater Capture and Recharge – $1.75 million: This funding will support a new pilot recharge basin in the upper portion of the Alto subarea in San Bernardino County.

• City of Perris Senior Center Expansion – $1.67 million: This funding will support the expansion of the Senior Center to combat food insecurity and health concerns with elderly and disadvantaged populations.

• Rancho Cucamonga Advanced Traffic Management System – $1 million: This funding will support the deployment of an Advanced Traffic Management System to be responsive to real-time traffic patterns and facilitate the emergency evacuations of residents during natural disasters.

• City of Beaumont Second Street Extension Project – $1 million: This project will support the extension of 2nd Street from its western terminus to Pennsylvania Avenue.

• City of Montclair Transcenter Facilities Enhancement Project – $1 million: This project will enhance the Montclair Transcenter by providing upgrades to existing bus facilities — including electrical equipment, shelters, and benches — and bike storage facilities.

• Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency Water Reuse Project – $1 million: This funding will upgrade the regional wastewater treatment plant and related facilities in Big Bear Valley.

• City of Twentynine Palms Wastewater Treatment Facility – $1 million: This funding will connect mobile home parks with the public sewer system in the City of Twentynine Palms.

• Rancho California Water District Water Infrastructure Construction – $1 million: This funding will support the design and pre-construction costs associated with Rancho California Water District’s project to improve water infrastructure.

• Tech and Workforce Hub Project – $963,000: This funding would provide technology upgrades in the California State University, San Bernardino Tech Workforce and Apprentice Hub where students, university faculty, community college faculty, and employers will be trained on cybersecurity projects.

• West Valley Water District for Bunker Hills Wells Project – $959,757: This funding will support the drilling and equipping of two new groundwater production wells, storage tank, booster pump station, and pipelines to transport the needed water supply to water management agencies within the Upper Santa Ana River Watershed.

• Western Municipal Water District for Water Infrastructure Backflow Upgrades Project – $959,752: This project will upgrade all single check backflow devices in Western Water’s drinking water system to certified devices.

• City of Murrieta Mobile Command Center – $900,000: This funding would establish a new mobile emergency operations center to aid Murrieta Emergency Services and improve overall regional crisis and natural disaster response.

• City of Rialto I-10/Riverside Avenue Freight Improvement Project – $850,000: This project will extend the existing two northbound left turn lanes on the Union Pacific Railroad overcrossing and provide for a continuous sidewalk on Riverside Avenue from I-10 to Slover Avenue.

• Omnitrans Electric Buses and Design of On-Route Charging Infrastructure – $850,000: This funding will support the purchase of battery electric buses and support engineering design for on-route electrical charging in Omnitrans’ service area in San Bernardino County.

• City of Palm Springs Regional Flood Mitigation Project – $673,872: This project will improve several local roads and bridges that are threatened by flooding.

• City of Indio Indio Boulevard Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvement Project – $500,000: This project will improve Indio Boulevard to encourage active transportation and provide shade.

• Oasis Park Community Center & Shade Structure – $500,000: This funding to support the construction of a community center and completion of Oasis Park in Riverside County.

• SunLine Transit Agency Battery Capacity for Solar Microgrid – $500,000: This funding will support the purchase of a battery storage package that will enable the Agency to more efficiently produce hydrogen to fuel its hydrogen fuel cell electric bus fleet.

• City of Perris Code Enforcement Body Camera Public Safety Project – $200,000: This funding will support the purchase of body cameras for City of Perris code enforcement personnel.

More information on these appropriations bills is available here.

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