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News from the City of Carlsbad | Oct. 8, 2026

This week, the City Council approved an agreement with the San Diego Association of Governments and North County Transit District to take next steps to investigate the feasibility and cost of lowering the railroad tracks below street level in the Village and Barrio. I’ll explain more below about why this is important to do now before future consideration of this project.

I’ve also got an update and video on work beginning ahead of potentially strong El Niño conditions to stabilize a stretch of coastal bluff along south Carlsbad Boulevard.

Here’s the full lineup:

• Next steps for lowering the railroad tracks in the Village and Barrio
• Bluff stabilization work underway
• New parking spaces coming to the Village and Barrio
• Keeping Carlsbad roads in good shape
• A look back at our Public Safety Open House
• Practice earthquake safety with the Great California ShakeOut
• Nov. 3 general election information
• Community events and activities
• Carlsbad High School homecoming parade road closures 
• Holiday city service hours on Monday
• Upcoming city meetings

Next steps for lowering the railroad tracks in the Village and Barrio

A project to lower the railroad tracks below street level in the Village and Barrio got one step closer Tuesday after the City Council approved an agreement between the City of Carlsbad, the San Diego Association of Governments and North County Transit District to work together on preliminary engineering and environmental review.

The project is listed in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan and staff have been working closely with SANDAG and NCTD to determine how much the project could cost and to seek federal and state funding to investigate the idea, including preliminary design and cost estimates.  

Now, that funding has been secured to cover the cost of the preliminary engineering and environmental phase of the project.  

• In fiscal year 2023-24, the City Council budgeted $5.22 million to use as matching funds for a grant to study and design the project, and that funding has been carried forward across fiscal years since then.  
• In the fiscal year 2025-26 federal Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill, $1 million was included to help fund this phase of the project. 
• SANDAG set aside $20.8 million to advance the project in its fiscal year 2026-27 budget and NCTD has agreed to support SANDAG in advancing the project. 

The project would add a second rail track and lower the tracks to below street level through the Village and Barrio, roughly between the Agua Hedionda and Buena Vista lagoons. This change would help increase the capacity of the rail line while addressing safety, traffic and other concerns with the tracks in this area. 

Following the City Council’s approval, the SANDAG Board of Directors is expected to consider approving the agreement at a meeting later this year. Work on the preliminary engineering and environmental review could start next year and be completed in 2030. 

We anticipate this project could have a significant cost, which is why it’s important to first develop a preliminary design and better understand the potential costs before bringing the project forward for further consideration.

Bluff stabilization work underway

I also want to share a quick update on the city’s proactive efforts to stabilize the bluff along south Carlsbad Boulevard to protect the road and keep the community safe ahead of potentially strong El Niño conditions.

After receiving a geotechnical report recommending emergency stabilization measures for a portion of the coastal bluff along south Carlsbad Boulevard north of the bridge at Las Encinas Creek, the city declared a local emergency on Sept. 9 to expedite the work.

Crews began delivering heavy boulders to the site late last week, each weighing between two and six tons. On Monday, a large crane arrived to move the rock from the side of the roadway down to the beach. It’s impressive to see the process in action, and in this video you can see how the boulder makes its way from the delivery trucks to the beach.

As this work continues, please plan for a little extra travel time if you’re heading southbound on Carlsbad Boulevard between Solamar Drive and Island Way. The bike lane in this area is temporarily closed during construction, so please slow down, stay alert and share the road with bicyclists.

Crews will continue delivering boulders during the next few weeks and construction of the revetment is expected to continue through late 2026.

Thank you for your patience and for taking extra care as you travel through the area while we work to protect our coastline and maintain this iconic road. 

New street parking in the Village and Barrio

Addressing parking needs in the Village and Barrio remains a top priority for the City of Carlsbad. The city added 44 spaces last year and recently added 11 more on State Street and along Oak Avenue, between Tyler Street and the railroad tracks, and surrounding beach areas. 

Work will start in spring 2027 to add an additional 16 spaces through two projects that will convert parallel parking to diagonal or perpendicular parking in these areas: 

• Grand Avenue between the Tyler Street alley and Jefferson Street
• Chestnut Avenue near Pine Park 

The city is continuing to evaluate additional opportunities to add even more parking spaces in these areas, and we will keep you up to date on additional projects. 

You can sign up to receive updates on projects to improve parking in the Village and Barrio.

Keeping Carlsbad’s roads in good shape 

 

On Tuesday, the City Council approved a project that will resurface more than 45 miles of Carlsbad roads next year, helping extend their useful life and keep them in good condition.

• The project is expected to start in early 2027 and wrap up in the fall.
• The work will include portions of Palomar Airport Road, El Camino Real and State Street, with crews using a combination of slurry seals, asphalt overlays or, in some cases, both.

A slurry seal is a cost-effective treatment that helps extend the life of a roadway by applying a mixture of water, asphalt emulsion and small crushed rock (aggregate) to the surface. This treatment can extend a road’s useful life by approximately five to seven years.

• While slurry seals are effective at protecting the pavement and slowing deterioration, they are a thin surface treatment.
• As a result, they will not make the road look brand new or smooth out existing bumps, dips or other underlying pavement irregularities.

An overlay, by comparison, is a higher-cost treatment that applies up to two inches of new asphalt to the roadway and is used when more substantial rehabilitation is needed.

Regular road maintenance isn't just about a smoother commute; it also plays an important role in roadway safety. Addressing deterioration before it becomes more severe can help maintain smoother, more predictable road surfaces for drivers, cyclists and other users.

Using slurry seals proactively can help prevent roads from deteriorating to the point where a more expensive overlay is required. That means maintaining safer, smoother roads while making responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

Learn more about the project and see a map of the roads and complete list of the streets that will get resurfaced.

I’ll share additional information as the start of work gets closer. Businesses and residents who may be impacted will also be notified in advance.

A look back at our Public Safety Open House



Hundreds of community members headed to the Safety Training Center for our annual Public Safety Open House last Saturday. It was a hot day, so I especially appreciate everyone who spent part of their weekend with us to learn more about the people, equipment and services that help keep Carlsbad safe.

A big thank you to our Police, Fire and Public Works teams for hosting the event. There was plenty to see, from emergency response demonstrations featuring Fire, SWAT and K-9 units to a chance to get inside emergency vehicles and see some of our heavy equipment up close.

Community members could also stop by our wildfire mitigation booth to learn more about how to prevent and prepare for emergencies.

If you couldn't make it — or want to relive some of the highlights — be sure to check out our recap video. It's a great look at what makes this annual event such a valuable opportunity to connect with the community.

Practice earthquake safety with the Great California ShakeOut

Thursday, Oct. 15, is the annual Great California ShakeOut, the world’s largest earthquake drill. At 10:15 a.m., millions of people will practice what to do when an earthquake strikes.

Earthquakes can happen without warning, so take a few minutes to make sure you and your family know what to do.

If you feel shaking or receive an earthquake warning:

• DROP onto your hands and knees to protect yourself from being knocked down.
• COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter.
• HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If you’re under a table or desk, hold onto it and be prepared to move with it.

Carlsbad Fire will also put its earthquake response procedures into practice during the ShakeOut. The City of Carlsbad is one of only two agencies in San Diego County participating in a statewide exercise to test a new GIS-based system for conducting post-disaster damage assessments.

Following the drill, residents may see Fire Department crews driving through Carlsbad as they practice conducting windshield surveys.

Crews will use the new system to document simulated damage and hazards, track areas that have been surveyed and share information in real time to help emergency managers identify and prioritize areas that may need a response. The technology can also be used following other widespread emergencies, including flooding and major fires.

The ShakeOut is also a good reminder to review your family’s emergency plan and supplies and secure items in your home that could fall or cause injuries.

Stay informed before an emergency:

• Download the free MyShake app to receive earthquake early warnings. Californians may also receive warnings through Android Earthquake Alerts and Wireless Emergency Alerts.
• Sign up for AlertSanDiego to receive emergency notifications.
• Download Genasys Protect to find your evacuation zone and access evacuation information during an emergency.

Register for the nationwide drill at www.shakeout.org.

Nov. 3 general election information

California’s Gubernatorial General Election is Nov. 3 and early voting has already begun. All registered voters should receive a mail-in ballot from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters this week, if you haven’t already. If you want to vote in person, you can go to a vote center to cast your ballot.

Through Nov. 3, you can drop off your signed and sealed mail ballot at any of our three city library locations during regular hours. On Election Day, Nov. 3, libraries will accept ballots from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ballot drop boxes will be available again this year at locations selected by the Registrar of Voters. They will be available and open 24 hours a day at Poinsettia Community Park, Buena Vista Reservoir Park and Pine Avenue Community Park, until 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

See a list of key dates and voter information on our website.

Community events and activities

Here are some events and activities coming up soon at our libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center, including:

• Elder Fraud Prevention – Friday, Oct. 9, 1 to 2 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Cinema Club Friday: “Museum Hours” – Friday, Oct. 9, 4 and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Cybersecurity Tips and Tricks – Saturday, Oct. 10, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Front Row Saturday: The Memphis Soul Revue – Saturday, Oct. 10, 5 to 6 p.m., Dove Library
• Author event: Sandra Bonura – Wednesday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m. to noon, Dove Library
• Reel Wednesday: “Weapons” – Wednesday, Oct. 14, 4 p.m., Dove Library
• Reel Wednesday: “The Ugly American” – A Carlsbad High School Film Academy & Lecture, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m., Dove library
• Adult Craft Night – Wednesday, Oct. 14, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Dove Library

Carlsbad High School homecoming parade road closures

Homecoming weekend for Carlsbad High School kicks off tomorrow with its annual parade in the Village. If you’re planning to be in the area, please be aware of the parade route and the roads that will be closed from 1:15 to 3:30 p.m. on Friday:

• Pine Avenue between Madison and Harding Streets
• Harding Street, between Pine and Palm Avenues
• Palm Avenue, between Harding and Madison Streets
• Madison Street, between Palm and Pine Avenues

On Friday evening after the parade, the Carlsbad High football team will take on Mission Hills High School. Go Lancers!

Holiday city service hours on Monday

City offices, libraries and community centers will be closed on Monday, Oct. 12, for the holiday. A full holiday schedule for city services is listed below:

Trash pickup: No delay

City offices: Closed

Emergency services: Regular service

City libraries: Closed

Cannon Art Gallery: Closed

City sculpture garden: Closed

Alga Norte Aquatic Center: Closed

Community centers: Closed

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park: Closed

Senior Center: Closed

No street sweeping on city holidays

Transit: For the holiday transit schedule, please visit gonctd.com or call 5-1-1

Upcoming city meetings

There’s no City Council meeting next week, but the city’s Community-Police Engagement Commission is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Board and commission meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. See the full meeting schedule on our city calendar.

I’m looking forward to the next several weeks in Carlsbad, which will include the energizing of new pedestrian lighting in the Barrio, a long-awaited improvement to that area. Plus, Monroe Street Pool is nearing completion and we’ll announce the official reopening date in the coming weeks as we get closer to welcoming swimmers back. 

Heading into the weekend, temperatures should be a little cooler (and there’s even a chance of rain)! Enjoy the respite and thanks, as always, for reading.

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager