Congressman DeSaulnier Announces Advancement of $35 Million for Projects to Benefit Contra Costa and Alameda Counties

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced that he advanced 15 projects totaling over $35 million to benefit Contra Costa and Alameda Counties for consideration by the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process. These projects would help to support public health and safety, transportation accessibility and community development, and environmental protection and sustainability in California’s 10^th Congressional District. Each year Congress provides Member-directed federal funding to a select number of Community Projects through the appropriations process. Under this process, each House member is allowed to submit 15 project requests on behalf of their Congressional District to the Appropriations Committee that meet the criteria set forth by the Committee.

“I am proud to again advance over $35 million in funding that would directly benefit communities in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties by making our roads safer and more accessible, improving our outdoor spaces, providing cost-savings and environmental benefits through sustainability, and bolstering protection from crime and natural disasters,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I appreciate the effort of and collaboration with our local governments and organizations in submitting these projects, and I will continue to fight to see them through this legislative process and get the funding delivered to our district.”

“We are grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier’s leadership in advancing five projects that will improve safety, emergency response, and transportation infrastructure in Contra Costa County. These critical investments will ensure that Contra Costa continues to be a safe and welcoming place for residents and businesses to thrive. We appreciate the Congressman’s foresight in selecting these projects, which offer regional benefits to our community,” said Candace Andersen, Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.

“Central San wishes to express our sincere gratitude to Congressman DeSaulnier for championing our Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection Replacement Project. This critical project will provide direct community benefits by improving the resiliency of Central San’s wastewater operations during extreme weather events and significantly reducing its energy footprint. This federal funding will support the transition to a state-of-the-art UV system that will make the wastewater treatment plant more sustainable and energy efficient because it will decrease energy use and meaningfully reduce greenhouse gases produced annually,” said Roger Bailey, General Manager of Central Contra Costa Sanitary District.

“For truly safe and stable communities, we must make robust investments in public safety, including preventing and prosecuting organized retail theft and fighting labor trafficking. Efforts like the Healing and Justice for Survivors of Labor Trafficking program are designed to significantly increase funding for the number of Victim Witness Unit staff, allowing them to better provide education, outreach, and support for survivors. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier's success in securing this crucial funding demonstrates his deep understanding of these fundamental needs,” said Diana Becton, District Attorney, Contra Costa County.

“We appreciate the support from Congressman DeSaulnier in advancing our Community Project Funding request to provide resilient and modern emergency power infrastructure to support the East Bay Regional Communications System.  This project will have a direct impact on improving the public safety radio infrastructure for our firefighters, ambulance crews, and all first responders throughout Contra Costa County and northern Alameda County.  Congressman DeSaulnier is helping us to keep our communities and our first responders safe with this critical infrastructure investment,” said Lewis Broschard, Fire Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

“Investing in energy-efficient storage infrastructure ensures County Connection can power our future fleet with greater reliability and lower costs. This system strengthens our ability to deliver vital transit service during emergencies and supports a cleaner, more resilient future for our community. We’re grateful that Congressman DeSaulnier shares our commitment to sustainability and smart investment in local transit,” said Bill Churchill, General Manager, Central Contra Costa County Transit Authority.

“We are extremely grateful to be included for consideration; upgrading our officer’s body worn cameras is an important public safety project for our residents and our police department,” said Cindy Darling, Mayor of Walnut Creek.

“The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) sincerely appreciates Congressman DeSaulnier’s continued support in advancing innovative transportation solutions in our county. This critical funding will allow CCTA to implement smart signal technology in the Cities of Antioch and Oakley, enabling signal synchronization, enhanced traffic flow, and smooth congestion. The upgraded system will also prioritize transit and emergency vehicles and support countywide efforts to achieve Vision Zero goals,” said Tim Haile, Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority.

“The City of Dublin is proud to have Congressman DeSaulnier’s support for our Community Project Funding Request for the Village Parkway Reconstruction and Complete Streets Project. This important project will address critical infrastructure needs by resurfacing roads, improving bicycle access, enhancing safety, and upgrading sidewalks near Dublin High School. Once complete, Village Parkway will be a significantly safer and more accessible corridor for all who live, work, and travel in Dublin,” said Sherry Hu, Mayor of Dublin.

“We are grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier's vital support of this critical project. Upgrading our emergency generators will significantly enhance the resilience of the communication systems our first responders rely on during emergencies and disasters,” said Jon King, Board Chair, East Bay Regional Communications System Authority.

“Thanks to Congressman DeSaulnier’s support, the Marsh Drive Class I Bikeway Project will close a 1.3-mile gap in Contra Costa County’s expansive bicycle network, providing the residents of Pacheco and Martinez a low-stress and multi-use bicycle and pedestrian facility that connects to the 32-mile Iron Horse Regional Trail, improving connectivity to neighboring jurisdictions such as the City of Concord and City of Pleasant Hill, while also improving access to recreational areas such as the lower Walnut Creek channel and Pacheco Marsh. The project will help Contra Costa County achieve its ambitious “Vision Zero” safety goal of having zero fatalities or severe injuries along its road network,” said Warren Lai, Director, Contra Costa County Public Works.

“We greatly appreciate Congressman DeSaulnier championing the Treat Boulevard Corridor Improvements Project, a multi-modal project that will construct bicycle lanes and enhanced pedestrian infrastructure along Treat Boulevard in the Contra Costa Centre Transit Village of Walnut Creek. The Treat Boulevard Corridor Improvements will provide a critical connection to the region’s 32-mile Iron Horse Regional Trail and active transportation options for commuters and residents of Walnut Creek. This project will transform the road corridor into a model example of complete streets design, improving connectivity to light rail transit (Bay Area Rapid Transit, or BART, Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station), high-density housing, and thousands of jobs, further supporting economic, health, and transportation benefits for the Contra Costa Centre and Walnut Creek areas,” said Warren Lai, Director, Contra Costa County Public Works.

“This is more than a park project – it’s about honoring history, creating access, and supporting public spaces which will serve generations to come. The South of Bailey Road Community Development Project will open 890 acres of land to the public at Thurgood Marshall Regional Park – Home of the Port Chicago 50, laying the foundation for a regional destination rooted in community and remembrance. We deeply appreciate Representative DeSaulnier’s leadership in moving this vision forward,” said Sabrina Landreth, General Manager, East Bay Regional Park District.

“We are deeply grateful that Congressman DeSaulnier has again selected our Ocean Ambassadors educational program for consideration for Community Project Funding through the Appropriations Committee,” said Cecily Majerus, Chief Executive Officer, The Marine Mammal Center. “Environmental literacy is crucial. This critical funding support would allow the Center to expand our Ocean Ambassadors in Contra Costa County—bringing high-impact, standards-aligned marine science learning to more classrooms through educator training, coaching, and peer mentoring.”

“The Danville Townwide Fiber project is a transformative step toward a more connected and resilient community. By expanding our fiber infrastructure, we are ensuring that Danville’s traffic systems are smarter, safer, and prepared for the future,” said Renee Morgan, Mayor of Danville.

“We are grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier’s continued support and unwavering commitment to help Diablo Water District build a resilient water system capable of withstanding potential seismic risks to our underground transmission lines and above-ground steel reservoirs,” said Dan Muelrath, General Manager, Diablo Water District.

“On behalf of the City of Concord, I extend our sincere thanks to Congressman DeSaulnier for championing the effort to improve our Emergency Operations Center. His support is vital to addressing critical infrastructure needs that impact our emergency response and community safety. This funding will help transform the EOC into a modern, resilient facility that strengthens regional preparedness and protects lives. We deeply appreciate his leadership and commitment to public safety,” said Carlyn Obringer, Mayor or Concord.

Transportation Accessibility and Community Development Projects:

• $3,900,000 for the Town of Danville to install fiber optic cables and construct new conduit and junction boxes for 54 traffic signals in Danville to enable real-time traffic signal optimization to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety, and allow for future implementation of smart city technologies.
• $3,000,000 for the City of Dublin to improve safety and accessibility of Village Parkway by narrowing vehicle lanes, adding lighting, and constructing buffered bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and protected intersections.
• $2,000,000 for the Contra Costa County Public Works Department to create a separate bike path to fill a gap in the County-wide bicycle network along Marsh Drive in unincorporated Pacheco, which will improve safety for all road users and access to local commercial centers, recreational centers, and additional connections to the local mass transit system.
• $2,000,000 for the East Bay Regional Park District to construct visitor facilities such as restrooms, drinking fountains, public parking areas, and a turnout lane on Bailey Road to allow for the Thurgood Marshall Regional Park to be opened up to the public.
• $1,970,010 for the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) to upgrade and develop a network of smart traffic signals between Antioch and Oakley to improve commute times, reduce delays, and ease congestion.
• $1,500,000 for the Contra Costa County Public Works Department to construct bicycle and pedestrian facilities on Treat Boulevard in the Contra Costa Centre Transit Village in Walnut Creek to close a critical gap along the Iron Horse Regional Trail, which would improve safety for non-motorized road users and improve connectivity for first and last mile connections to public transit and local commercial establishments.

Public Health and Safety Projects:

• $4,875,000 to the Diablo Water District to provide structural and foundational reinforcements to water infrastructure to mitigate risks associated with major seismic events, safeguard water supply, and contribute to the region’s overall disaster preparedness strategy.
• $3,649,671 to the City of Concord to make improvements to the Emergency Operations Center in Concord to ensure its longevity, efficiency, and resilience as it serves as a critical hub for bolstering regional preparedness, response, and recovery efforts during emergencies and disasters.
• $1,915,000 for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) to replace and install equipment, including backup generators, shore power plugs, and automatic transfer switches, at radio towers across Contra Costa County that are used for communication between law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services to improve system reliability during emergencies and disasters that result in the loss of power.
• $1,000,000 to the City of Walnut Creek to purchase 120 body worn cameras, charging docks, and equipment to promote transparency, accountability, and public trust in the police department.
• $600,000 for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office to create an Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Prevention and Prosecution Unit with the goal of addressing increased levels of retail theft crimes, helping local law enforcement better confront these types of crimes, and improving public safety.
• $500,000 for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office to enhance the identification and referral of survivors of labor trafficking and cases of labor trafficking occurring in the County, increase the capacity of the District Attorney’s Office to investigate cases of labor exploitation and trafficking, and improve the quality and scope of services provided to underserved and marginalized victims of human trafficking.

Environmental Protection and Sustainability Projects:

• $4,000,000 to the Central Conta Costa Sanitary District (Central San) to upgrade the water treatment facility’s ultraviolet (UV) technology to reduce the energy footprint of water treatment and protect public health and water quality in the region.
• $4,000,000 to the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection) to construct a battery system to allow the agency to charge its zero emission buses overnight, and provide a source of power to maintain operations during emergencies.
• $272,918 for the Marine Mammal Center to help build scientific literacy and environmental stewardship of the coastal zone for 2,7000 students and their teachers and to develop a pipeline for the future STEM workforce.

Selection and submission of projects to the Appropriations Committee is the first stage of the process for Community Project Funding. The projects are subject to a strict transparency and accountability process, which is detailed here by the Appropriations Committee. Examples of this vetting include certifying that Members have no financial interest in these projects, an audit of a sampling of these projects by the Government Accountability Office, and a requirement for demonstrated community support and engagement for each submission. More information on each project and the certifications of no financial interest can be found here.

#