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CITY C()UNCIL
Date ~CA VCC V
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October 7, 2026
To:
From:
Council Memorandum
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Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2026050
Re:
Honorable Mayor Blackburn a~embers of the City Council
Geoff Patnoe, City Manager ~
Alternatives Analysis for Soutl'l Carlsbad Boulevard Corridor (Districts -All) This memorandum provides a summary of direction I gave this week to investigate less costly alternatives that would achieve the objectives of relocating Carlsbad Boulevard eastward between Manzano Drive and Island Way should coastal erosion, flooding, sea level rise or other conditions create a significant enough threat in future years to require government action .
Background
Maintaining Carlsbad's unique community character and connectedness and protecting the city's environment and natural resources are two of the five goals in the Carlsbad Strategic Plan.
In support of these goals, the Carlsbad Strategic Plan states that the city expects to complete the following work through 2027, in addition to work planned to be completed on many other Capital Improvement Program projects:
• Complete design and permitting for the South Carlsbad Boulevard Realignment between Manzano Drive and Island Way
• Complete conceptual design for the South Carlsbad Coastline Project In 2020, the city received a grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy for the South Carlsbad Boulevard Climate Adaptation Project. Work completed through this grant included a public outreach effort to inform the conceptual roadway realignment options, an adaptive management plan establishing a framework for determining when segments of south Carlsbad Boulevard may need to be relocated in response to anticipated sea level rise and related coastal hazards; a cliff erosion assessment; and an analysis of habitat restoration alternatives analysis for Las Encinas Creek.
Discussion
As part of this effort, city staff and consultants developed conceptual designs showing how the southbound lanes of Carlsbad Boulevard between Manzano Drive and Island Way could be relocated eastward based on the latest modeling of sea level rise and its associated coast al hazards. The designs were developed to :
• Relocate and protect infrastructure from coastal hazards associated with sea level rise • Provide a safe and efficient roadway for all modes of t ravel City Manager's Department
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2821 t
Council Memo -Alternatives Analysis for South Carlsbad Boulevard Corridor (Districts -All} October 7, 2026
• Promote walking, biking and other forms of active transportation • Reduce vehicle speeds along the coastline to improve safety Between September 2021 and June 2023, staff provided project updates to the City Council, Planning Commission, Beach Preservation Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission, and Traffic & Mobility Commission.
The City Council, on June 20, 2023, directed staff to advance a two-lane roadway alternative with roundabouts to a 30% level of design to complete the scope of work required under the State Coastal Conservancy grant. At that time, the preferred realignment was estimated to cost approximately $280 million.
Since that time, the city has pursued several state and federal grant opportunities but has not been successful in securing sufficient funding to advance the project. Given the estimated $280 million construction cost, proceeding with the previously identified alternative would represent a significant financial undertaking for the city.
For that reason, I have asked staff to consider whether there may be less costly alternatives that could achieve the objectives of relocating this portion of Carlsbad Boulevard in a manner that would protect public infrastructure, maintain coastal access and address anticipated coastal hazards. Those discussions have led me to take an additional step to better understand the range of options available to the city.
While it remains uncertain if or when coastal erosion, flooding, sea level rise or other conditions may create a significant enough threat to this section of Carlsbad Boulevard to require government action, I believe it is in the city's best interest to find out as much as we can now regarding any and all scenarios that might result in the relocation of this section of Carlsbad Boulevard.
Next Steps
Under the City Manager's existing authority, I have executed a contract with the consulting firm GHD, Inc., in the amount of $198,030 to prepare an updated alternatives analysis for the south Carlsbad Boulevard corridor.
The consultant will evaluate feasible strategies for addressing coastal hazards, including erosion and flooding, and will develop five conceptual roadway alternatives for the segment between Solamar Drive and Island Way. Building on the city's prior studies completed in 2017, 2021, and 2024, the analysis will provide updated planning-level cost estimates, identify key opportunities and constraints, and evaluate potential effects on coastal access, public views, roadway operations, accommodations for all users, environmental considerations, mitigation opportunities, and overall implementation challenges.
Council Memo -Alternatives Analysis for South Carlsbad Boulevard Corridor (Districts -All) October 7, 2026
Ultimately, the goal is to determine whether there are practical, more cost-effective approaches that can achieve the city's objectives while maintaining flexibility to respond as coastal conditions and available funding evolve. Once the findings are available, they will be shared with the City Council for consideration for future direction.
cc: Sheila Cobian, Assistant City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Zach Korach, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Jeff Murphy, Deputy City Manager, Community Services