Oxnard Receives $16.5 Million in State Funding forBuilding Rice Ave. Overpass, Santa Clara Levee Construction and Channel Islands Harbor Water Quality

News Release

OXNARD, Calif. – The City of Oxnard will receive $16.5 million in funding for critical infrastructure initiatives as part of the 2023-24 California State budget signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

“With the support of Assemblymember Steve Bennett, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, and Senator Monique Limón, Oxnard has secured significant funding to build and repair essential infrastructure that prioritizes the safety and well-being of our community,” said Mayor John C. Zaragoza.

“These projects are incredibly important for protecting the public’s safety, and we truly appreciate our members of the state legislature who work hard to support these improvements in Oxnard,” said Bert Perello, District 1 Councilmember and Chair of the Public Works and Transportation Committee.

Said Assemblymember Steve Bennet, “We are eager to deliver important investments from the State of California to communities across Oxnard. Two of our successful budget requests include $500,000 to the Channel Islands Harbor to fund a long-awaited study of ongoing water contamination in the Harbor, and $1,000,000 to Public Works for the repair of the Santa Clara Levee. We’re grateful to the local stakeholders for keeping us apprised and for their collaboration to address these issues.”

“I am grateful for Assemblymember Bennett’s leadership in advocating for this critical funding,” said Senator Monique Limón. “Infrastructure, natural resources, and public safety projects like these are important to increasing the quality of life throughout Oxnard.”

Said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, “I was happy to advocate on behalf of the residents of Oxnard and Ventura County to secure these funds for the Rice Avenue project. The resulting improvements will eliminate conflicts between rail and vehicular traffic that will save lives and prevent future injuries while also improving the air quality in the area.”

The recent State funding allocations include:

• Rice Avenue Overpass: $15 million in funding to the Ventura County Transportation Commission and the City of Oxnard to construct an overpass at the intersection of Rice Avenue and 5th Street, allowing for the seamless flow of traffic over the railway tracks. The project, estimated to conclude by fall 2027, will enhance safety measures, alleviate traffic congestion, and bolster rail service reliability.

• Santa Clara Levee 3 Construction: $1 million in funding has been designated to the City of Oxnard for enhancing the structural integrity of the Santa Clara River Levee 3 system. This investment aims to strengthen the levee infrastructure and ensure its resilience against potential hazards.

• Channel Islands Harbor: An investment of $500,000 to evaluate the feasibility of multiple water quality and habitat-benefiting solutions in the Channel Islands Harbor. The project includes working directly with the community for collaboration on decision-making and identifying the specifics of the most appropriate multi-benefit water quality solution.

The State’s investment in these projects will support the City Council’s five-year priorities that focus on maintaining public safety, restoring our infrastructure and natural resources, and enhancing the quality of life for the Oxnard community.

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