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The Tri-Valley’s two congressmen are advancing more than $65 million in funding requests to support local projects and initiatives in their districts as part of the federal appropriations process for fiscal year 2026.
The list of 30 includes some public or nonprofit efforts that jump out with direct impact on our area, such as West Las Positas Boulevard, Village Parkway, South Livermore Valley sewer extension, Sunflower Hill at Grace Pointe, Open Heart Kitchen’s food bank, downtown Sunol and Central San’s treatment facility.
“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,” U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) said in a press release last week.
“From upgrading transportation and water infrastructure to expanding access to education and public safety, these investments reflect what our communities have asked for — and what they deserve. I will keep fighting to bring federal dollars home to support smart, locally-driven solutions that strengthen our future,” U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Livermore) told me through a spokesperson Monday.
The collection is aspirational by definition – as Swalwell’s website notes, “only a handful may actually be funded” – but none of these important Tri-Valley projects could even have a chance without being nominated at this point.
Among the projects backed by Swalwell is a $3 million funding request from the city of Pleasanton for its West Las Positas Boulevard reconstruction project to address sinking roadway, better sidewalks and protected bike lanes.
Livermore appears on the list four times: $3 million for the city’s aviation and manufacturing workforce igniter project, $1 million to help Alameda County protect groundwater quality and agriculture in the South Livermore Valley during the sewer extension project, $329,446 for the school district’s professional development program for STEM teachers and $226,026 for the Open Heart Food Bank expansion.
The Alameda County Community Development Agency is asking for $500,000 toward Sunol Downtown Revitalization Plan implementation.
The Sunflower Hill at Grace Pointe project to build affordable housing in Dublin for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities seeks $5 million.
Swalwell’s District 14 list also includes $700,000 for the sheriff’s office law enforcement mental health and wellness platform, along with individual proposals for Union City, Castro Valley, Hayward and San Lorenzo. The big-ticket item is $10.8 million for the Oro Loma Sanitary District’s digester seismic retrofit renewable energy project.
Continuing north into DeSaulnier’s District 10, you’ll find Dublin among his nominations too – $3 million to help the city improve safety along Village Parkway, particularly 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,” Mayor Sherry Hu said in DeSaulnier’s press release.
The town of Danville was selected for its $3.9 million proposal to optimize and modernize its traffic signal network. “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,” Mayor Renee Morgan stated.
The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, the sewer agency for much of the San Ramon Valley better known by its short-hand Central San, seeks $4 million to upgrade its treatment facility’s ultraviolet technology.
The Central Contra Costa Transit Authority has asked for $4 million to construct a battery system to allow it to charge zero-emission County Connection buses overnight.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office eyes $600,000 to create an organized retail theft prevention and prosecution unit and $500,000 to support labor trafficking cases and victims.
DeSaulnier’s final list also features projects out of the Tri-Valley for regional agencies such as county public works, East Bay Regional Park District and Contra Costa Transportation Authority, as well as proposals for the cities of Walnut Creek and Concord, Contra Costa Fire, The Marine Mammal Center and Diablo Water District (which has the big-ticket item at $4.875 million).
Now the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations will begin its consideration process for these community projects (and many, many others) eyed for member-directed federal funding.
It may well be a “cross your fingers, but don’t hold your breath” situation for these Tri-Valley items given the financial and political landscape, but who knows … maybe D.C. will have a surprise or two up its sleeve.
Editor’s note: Jeremy Walsh is the editorial director for the Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division. His “What a Week” column is a recurring feature in the Pleasanton Weekly, Livermore Vine and DanvilleSanRamon.com.
