$2 million federal grant will fund feasibility analysis of reconnecting community split by highway construction more than 60 years ago.
Santa Monica has secured a $2 million federal grant to study options for reconnecting the Pico Neighborhood, which was divided by the construction of the Interstate 10 freeway more than six decades ago.
The City Council voted unanimously on June 9 to accept the funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. The grant will finance a comprehensive feasibility study focused on potential “cap parks” — parks built over the freeway — along the I-10 between 11th and 20th streets. The study will also examine broader alternatives, including full or partial removal of the freeway.
The project requires a local match of $505,712, which the city will cover with $190,240 in staff time and $315,472 from Park and Recreation Development Impact Fee revenues. City Manager authorization was granted to accept the grant, execute all necessary documents, and handle any renewals.
According to city documents, the planning effort — which does not include construction — will proceed in several phases:
– Existing conditions analysis: Reviewing background data, updating surveys, assessing environmental and health impacts, and evaluating right-of-way and air-rights issues.
– Community outreach: Engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including the Pico Neighborhood Association, current residents, and families displaced by the original freeway construction, to develop a community vision.
– Concept development: Creating design and phasing concepts, cost-benefit analyses, and funding strategies to identify a preferred alternative.
– Pre-development activities: Preparing conceptual plans and coordinating with Caltrans on permits and approvals.
– Final report: Delivering a feasibility study with recommendations, cost estimates, and implementation timelines.
The grant is explicitly for planning activities aimed at addressing historical harms caused by the I-10, which displaced more than 1,500 residents in the predominantly Black and Latino Pico Neighborhood. A final report is due by July 31, 2029, with the grant budget period ending in January 2030.
Work on the study is expected to begin in spring 2027 following the selection of a consultant.
