Quick Take:
The City of Watsonville loses a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation following Congress’ approval of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to city officials. The funding was meant to support a study assessing heavy truck traffic in residential areas and downtown Watsonville.
Watsonville officials said Wednesday that the city lost a $2.3-million federal transportation grant to study the effects of heavy truck traffic on residential neighborhoods because of changes passed as part of President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law.
The federal grant, awarded under the Biden Administration, was meant to support a study to assess and address the “significant harm” caused by decades of heavy truck traffic in Watsonville’s residential neighborhoods and downtown district, according to Justin Meek, assistant community development director.
Following Congress’s approval of the law, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” earlier this month, all unobligated funds — money that has not been given out — under the Biden-era Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program were rescinded, including Watsonville’s grant, according to a letter the U.S. Department of Transportation sent to the city.
The main goal was to evaluate alternative truck routes and develop ideas to help improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, said Meek in an email to Lookout. The $2.3 million would have opened the opportunity for city staff to collaborate with residents — especially those who are impacted by unsafe pedestrian conditions — on solutions, he said.
The study also aligned with the city’s existing community development plans, such as the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan — a long-term plan to help revitalize the downtown district — and an update to the city’s general plan, which are both currently in progress.
While there are no alternative federal programs available to help fund the study, city staff are continuing to explore different funding options, Meek said in a press release Wednesday afternoon.
“This change affects communities across the country, and we are deeply disheartened to be among them,” said Meek. “While the loss of this funding is a setback, our commitment to strengthening Watsonville neighborhoods remains unchanged.”