The Biden-Harris administration recently announced the City of Long Beach will receive $30 million for a project that aims to convert West Shoreline Drive from an urban freeway into a safer landscaped throughway. The funding comes in the form of a grant from the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) discretionary grant program.

Established as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), this program aims to accomplish two goals: rectify historical injustices wrought by prior infrastructure projects and provide new opportunities for affected communities.

Long Beach's West Shoreline Drive project will free up green space and relocate a high-speed, high-traffic roadway away from residential streets to provide more City land for pedestrians and recreation. At an estimated cost of $60 million, this federal award is expected to cover 50% of project costs.

Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) lauded the award in a press release earlier this month: “This is an enormous opportunity to reconnect and create new green space while building a new gateway into Downtown and West Long Beach. As Mayor of Long Beach, we advocated to our federal partners for this funding, so it’s great to be able to deliver for the city now as Congressman.”

Current Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson also voiced enthusiasm, claiming the West Shoreline Drive project will “effectively double the size of Cesar Chavez Park with new usable space for children and families and create hundreds of new construction-related jobs.”

First fiscal year funding for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program totals $185 million awarded to 39 qualifying projects. “Transportation should connect, not divide, people and communities.” offered Transportation Secretary Buttigieg. “We are proud to announce the first grantees of our Reconnecting Communities Program, which will unite neighborhoods, ensure the future is better than the past, and provide Americans with better access to jobs, health care, groceries and other essentials.”

A complete list of projects funded around the country is available here.