Building the Foundation of Tomorrow

September 29, 2025 Sofia Feeney

How the County of San Diego’s culture of service and shared purpose strengthens its communities

Most of what holds a community together is easy to miss. It’s in the roads we drive, the culverts that carry stormwater out of sight, the streetlights that flicker on as the sun sets. These quiet structures rarely draw attention, but they are the hidden architecture of trust. The County of San Diego Department of Public Works (DPW) is the steward of this foundation, keeping the ordinary reliable so the extraordinary can take root. Our mission to “preserve, enhance and promote quality of life and public safety” is not just an engineering mandate; it is a civic calling. Our recent 2025–26 Operational Plan reflects that commitment, showing how shared infrastructure creates the conditions for a healthy, safe and thriving community.

The figures within this plan are not merely line items on a balance sheet; they are commitments to the public good. The $71.3 million dedicated to the Road Resurfacing Program, an increase of $5.7 million from 2025-26, supports nearly 2,000 miles of roadways. This investment repairs drainage structures, improves storm resilience, and installs ADA-compliant ramps, making daily travel safer and more reliable for everyone. Another $4.8 million is allocated to clearing culverts, channels, and storm drains, a practical but essential step to prevent flooding and protect neighborhoods. Likewise, the $28.4 million for our seven DPW managed airports is a commitment to connectivity, the flow of people, goods and ideas that widen opportunity and strengthen our regional economy. These funds do more than maintain infrastructure; they sustain the bonds that tie our communities together.

DPW’s work is carried out by a network of skilled professionals, each contributing their talents toward a shared vision of public service. The $67.5 million for the Wastewater, Sanitation and Water Districts is a promise of public health, recognizing that clean, reliable systems safeguard the well-being of every resident. Even the $2.7 million for street lighting maintenance is a commitment to safety and peace of mind, casting light where it is needed most. None of these efforts stand alone. They are part of a single, symphonic effort to make daily life secure, functional and fair.

Just as important as the projects themselves is the culture that makes them possible. DPW thrives on teamwork, humility and purpose. It’s the recognition that no single person can maintain 2,000 miles of roads and related infrastructure, countless assets, as well as respond during natural disasters. Instead, it is the steady collaboration of field crews, engineers, project managers, planners and administrators that transforms complex challenges into lasting solutions. In a culture that values service over status and where employees are encouraged to share ideas, solve problems together and take pride in building something that benefits everyone. This culture is what allows DPW to adapt, innovate and deliver results that outlast any single project.

In the end, the County of San Diego’s Public Works Department is about more than roads, pipes, and lights. It is about the fire truck that navigates a smooth road, the child who safely rides a bike path to school, the pledge that we will strive for our infrastructure to meet the needs of the community we serve. Our Operational Plan is not just a financial document. It is a statement of trust between the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, County staff and the residents we serve. It is the solid infrastructure beneath our feet, a testament to the quiet, steady work of those who build not for themselves, but for the good of all we serve.

By Marisa Barrie. Marisa is the Director of Public Works at County of San Diego. She can be reached at Marisa.Barrie@sdcounty.ca.gov.