Drought Resistant Vegetation & Sustainable, Decorative Landscaping Highlight Clean California Project Unveiling on SR 78 in Vista

Published: Jun 28, 2024

District: District 11 - San Diego and Imperial Counties
Contact: Stephen Welborn
Phone: (619) 688-6670

SAN DIEGO - Caltrans today joined California State Senator Catherine Blakespaer, California State Assemblymember Laurie Davies, City of Vista Mayor John Franklin, and City of Vista Councilmember Dan O-Donnell to celebrate completion of a $1.9 million Clean California project to improve landscaping at the State Route 78 (SR-78) Vista Village interchange. The comprehensive landscaping improvements aim to elevate the aesthetic appeal and functional aspects of this vital corridor-a symbol of Vista's identity and accessibility.

The effort was made possible through Governor Gavin Newsom's Clean California initiative - a sweeping, $1.2 billion, multiyear clean-up effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, provide thousands of jobs, and join with communities throughout the state to reclaim, transform, and beautify public spaces… and help keep them that way. "These improvements made to the SR-78 and Vista Village interchange will help boost local economic development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Sen. Catherine Blakespear. "By engaging the community and transforming the roadside, this Clean California initiative has forever enhanced the experience of commuters as they enter Historic Downtown Vista."

"By enhancing landscaping, the project seeks to achieve a multitude of community goals," said North County Corridor Director Allan Kosup. "These include mitigating air pollution, fostering local economic development, promoting public health, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately enhancing the quality of life for Vistans."

People attending the ceremony commemorated the project by planting a tree, representative of the collaborative endeavor to enhance visual appeal of the Vista Village interchange while promoting environmental sustainability and community well-being.

The previous landscaping has been replaced with a vibrant array of drought-tolerant plants and sustainable materials such as decorative boulders and attractive gravel that harmonize with the environment and offer a visually stunning experience. Beyond aesthetics, the beautification efforts embody the Department's commitment to creating a transportation system more resilient to climate change.

"This project marks a significant milestone in our ongoing partnership with the State of California," stated Vista City Manager John Conley. "Through revitalizing the Vista Village interchange, we have turned an ambitious idea into reality, enhancing our cityscape with new trees and ground cover that beautify our community and promote environmental sustainability. After nearly six months of dedicated landscaping efforts, we are thrilled to deliver this project to the residents of Vista and the broader region. The Vista Village interchange is a gateway to Vista, offering convenient access to our Historic Downtown, Vista Village Shopping Center, and the vibrant Paseo Santa Fe corridor."

About Clean California

Since launching Clean California in July 2021, Caltrans and its local partners have picked up more than 2.5 million cubic yards of litter - enough to cover nine lanes of Interstate 5 with an inch of trash from San Diego to the Canadian border. This represents a substantial increase compared to the department's previous trash collection efforts and can largely be attributed to Clean California, along with other Caltrans litter removal efforts. Caltrans has hosted more than 500 free dump days in communities throughout the state - resulting in the collection of 12,000-plus mattresses and nearly 50,000 tires. The initiative has drawn more than 10,000 community clean-up volunteers and created 15,000 jobs, including positions for individuals who were formerly incarcerated, on probation, or experiencing housing insecurity.