Rural Safety and Economic Growth Project

Paso Robles, California – San Luis Obispo County 

About the Project 

The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, in partnership with the City of Paso Robles and Caltrans, is advancing the U.S. 101 / State Route 46 Interchanges – Rural Safety and Economic Growth Project to improve safety, mobility, and multimodal access at the SR 46 East and SR 46 West interchanges with U.S. 101 in Paso Robles. 

These interchanges are a critical gateway between California’s Central Coast and the Central Valley, supporting regional travel, agricultural freight movement, tourism, emergency response, and local access. The project includes coordinated improvements at both interchanges, including operational upgrades at SR 46 East, a river multi-use path, modern roundabouts at SR 46 West, and a new mobility hub supporting transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and first-/last-mile connections. 

Project Description 

The project will deliver two major improvement elements: 

Element 1: U.S. 101 / SR 46 East Northbound Off-Ramp Improvements & North River Road Multi-Use Path 

This element would widen the northbound U.S. 101 off-ramp to SR 46 East, add an auxiliary lane, and improve interchange operations to reduce peak-hour congestion and queue spillback onto U.S. 101. The project will also add a multi-use pathway along North River Road as part of the Salinas River Trail and the City of Paso’s Grand Loop. 

Element 2: U.S. 101 / SR 46 West Interchange and Mobility Hub Improvements 

This element would construct modern roundabouts at the SR 46 West ramp terminals, add sidewalks and bike lanes, and support a new mobility hub near Theatre Drive with transit, bicycle, park-and-ride, and potential electric mobility amenities. 

Purpose 

The purpose of the project is to improve safety, reduce congestion, increase travel-time reliability, and strengthen regional connections among U.S. 101, SR 46 East, SR 46 West, local streets, transit, and active transportation facilities. 

Need 

Existing interchange conditions experience recurring congestion, especially during peak, weekend, and holiday travel periods. At SR 46 East, queues from the northbound off-ramp can affect the U.S. 101 mainline. At SR 46 West, traffic growth, nearby development, and regional travel demand have created the need for improved circulation and safer operations for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. 

Current Project Phase 

The project is in the project development and funding phase. The SR 46 East element has environmental work underway, following value analysis and technical studies. The SR 46 West element has completed earlier planning and environmental work and is advancing toward future 65% design, right-of-way, and construction phases. The pathway is at 30% design phase, and the Mobility Hub is in the environmental phase. 

Funding Sources 

The project is expected to use a combination of regional, state, and federal transportation funding sources. Existing and potential sources include STIP/RTIP, RSTP, SB 1 competitive programs, and federal discretionary grant programs such as BUILD, INFRA, and related safety, freight, and multimodal funding opportunities. 

Estimated project costs from the project bundle are: 

• SR 46 East / U.S. 101 Northbound Off-Ramp Improvements: $48.6 million  
• SR 46 West Interchange and Mobility Hub Improvements: $31.7 million  
• Combined Project Cost: approximately $80.3 million 

Project Background 

The U.S. 101 / SR 46 interchange system has long been identified as a regional priority because of its role in connecting North County communities, agricultural production areas, tourism destinations, and interregional travel between the Central Coast and Central Valley. 

At SR 46 East, peak-hour traffic and limited ramp storage have created operational and safety concerns, including the potential for queues to extend onto the U.S. 101 mainline. The proposed improvements would address this constraint by improving ramp and intersection capacity. The project also includes the North River Road Multi-use path 

At SR 46 West, previous studies found that roundabouts at the ramp terminals would improve circulation and safety for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The project concept has been refined over time to reflect updated traffic information, changes in nearby land use, and current design practices. 

The project also reflects a broader regional goal: pairing highway operational improvements with multimodal access. The proposed Theatre Drive mobility hub would help Paso Robles address its need for a dedicated park-and-ride facility while supporting transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and future electric mobility connections. 

Project Benefits 

• The project is expected to: 
• Reduce crash risk and conflict points  
• Improve highway system reliability  
• Reduce congestion and delay  
• Support agricultural freight, tourism, and regional economic activity  
• Improve access to transit, bicycling, walking, and park-and-ride options  
• Strengthen first- and last-mile connections in Paso Robles  

Questions? 

For questions about the project, please contact: 

John DiNunzio
SLOCOG Transportation Planner
[email protected]