Rep. Panetta Announces $850,000 in Federal Funding to Rebuild the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge
Seaside, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta was joined by Seaside Mayor Ian Oglesby, Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Board Member Dr. Bettye Lusk, and International School of Monterey Head of School Jessica Allen to announce $850,000 in federal funding for the City of Seaside to rebuild the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge. The completion of this project will reconnect two local parks, increase local greenspace accessibility, provide a safe school route, and promote public health.
“The San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge has been an iconic, uniting fixture of our Seaside community since 1960, but significant weathering over the years led to its unfortunate closure in 2023,” said Rep. Panetta. “The San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge Project will not only restore the bridge, but it will also make it universally accessible so that children, families, and seniors can continue to play, walk, and travel safely in Seaside. I’m proud to work with our local partners and ensure that the federal government plays its part to not just rebuild our bridge, but to bring our Seaside community together.”
“We are grateful to Congressman Panetta for securing federal funding for the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge Project,” said Mayor Ian N. Oglesby. “This project will improve pedestrian safety, strengthen neighborhood connectivity, and support our Safe Routes to School corridor for students and families. This investment represents a meaningful partnership between federal and local government to improve infrastructure and quality of life in Seaside.”
“For decades, the San Pablo Bridge connected neighborhoods, parks, and schools in a way that kept students out of traffic and families at ease. Since its closure, that sense of safety has been lost. This investment moves us forward on what matters most — safe routes to school, access to healthy spaces, and connected neighborhoods. Rebuilding the San Pablo Bridge is a clear example of how we advance community health, effective infrastructure, and resilient communities all at once,” said Supervisor Wendy Root Askew.
“This investment represents more than infrastructure. It’s an investment in our students and families. Rebuilding the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge restores a safe, reliable route for students to get to school, access nearby parks, and stay connected to their community. When we remove barriers to safe access, we support attendance, well-being, and the everyday success of our students,” said Dr. Bettye Lusk, Board Member, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.
“This is what it looks like when a community comes together for our students. We’re grateful for the partnership and leadership that made this possible. Safe, accessible pathways like the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge matter because they help our students stay connected to their schools, their parks, and each other. At MPUSD, we believe we’re better together, and this project is a great example of that in action,” said PK Diffenbaugh, Superintendent, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.
“On behalf of the International School of Monterey, we are deeply grateful for the investment in rebuilding the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge,” said Jessica Allen, Head of School, International School of Monterey. “The bridge is more than infrastructure to us—it is an essential part of our students’ daily lives. It provides a safe route to and from school, ensures access to a secure emergency relocation site, and connects our community to vital parks and shared spaces that support student health and development. For many, we are known as ‘the school by the bridge,’ and its restoration represents not just safety but also belonging, connection, and opportunity to be with people and places in our local community. We are excited for what this project will mean for our students, families, and the broader Seaside community.”
The pedestrian bridge over San Pablo Avenue connects Lincoln-Cunningham Park and Manzanita-Stuart Park and provides a safe route for students at the International School of Monterey. The existing bridge, built in 1960, has been closed since early 2023. The funding will support two phases of the bridge’s demolition and reconstruction as a critical step toward reopening the historic fixture to the public, making it ADA compliant, and reconnecting the parks.
Rep. Panetta worked for this federal funding to be included in the most recent appropriations package, For FY 2026, he secured $2.77 million in community project funding for local projects across Monterey County, and a total of over $15 million to fund 14 local projects in California’s 19th Congressional District.
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