The $32 million next phase of the Leucadia Streetscape project is taking shape on North Coast Highway 101, with northbound paving finished and major storm drain infrastructure now in place between Jupiter Street and La Costa Avenue.
The City of Encinitas reported Monday, July 20, that construction on Segment C West continues with sewer and water line work. Sidewalks, curbs, gutters, drainage improvements and landscaping are expected to follow the summer 2026 paving work, according to a city Facebook post. The city's adopted capital improvement plan lists the segment as completing in fiscal year 2026-2027.
When finished, Segment C West will replace the current interim striping with permanent green buffered bike lanes, two new roundabouts at Grandview Street and Jupiter Street, wider sidewalks, street lighting and parking on both sides of the highway. A new pedestrian crossing signal at Avocado Street and improved crosswalks are also part of the design.
Safety built into the design
The two roundabouts are expected to reduce crash severity. The Federal Highway Administration estimates roundabouts produce a 90% reduction in fatalities, a 76% reduction in injury crashes and a 35% reduction in all crashes, according to city project documents. The Encinitas Fire Department reviewed the project's Environmental Impact Report and determined the road's proposed width offers ample clearance for emergency vehicles.
Shared vehicle-and-bike lanes will be eliminated. Cyclists will have a dedicated lane except in roundabouts, where they can use the sidewalk or the full travel lane.
How the corridor got here
The current one-lane-each-direction configuration with dedicated bike lanes has been in place since December 2022. That is when the city completed its Safety and Mobility Enhancements project, an interim effort that restriped existing lanes and modified medians at the Leucadia Boulevard intersection, where two vehicle lanes remain in each direction.
The Encinitas City Council approved the interim project in June 2021. The city has described it as a way to bring Segments B and C, stretching from Basil Street to La Costa Avenue, into alignment with the broader Streetscape vision quickly and at lower cost, according to a city fact sheet.
The broader Leucadia Streetscape effort covers 2.5 miles of Highway 101 between A Street and La Costa Avenue. Planning spanned more than 15 years.
What's funded and what isn't
Segment C West's $23 million construction budget is funded through grants and loans, according to city documents. The full Segment B streetscape, covering Basil Street to Jupiter Street, remains unfunded at an estimated $13.56 million. Segment B has no timeline. Segment A South, from A Street to Marcheta Street, is also unfunded at $7 million.
Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., secured $1 million in federal Community Project Funding for approximately 5,000 feet of new storm drain line from Basil Street to Jupiter Street, the drainage component of Segment B. That funding was signed into law as part of the fiscal year 2026 federal spending package.
The completed Phase 1 section between Marcheta Street and Basil Street added 101 trees, 21 parking spaces, 45 streetlights, 2,500 shrubs and 33 bicycle racks.
Residents can contact the Streetscape project team at (760) 512-3800 or [email protected] for updates.
