By Gina Yarbrough
Oceanside, CA–The Oceanside Transit Center Pedestrian Tunnel Art Project is nearing completion, marking a major milestone in a collaborative effort to beautify one of Oceanside’s busiest transit corridors.
The North County Transit District (NCTD) and MainStreet Oceanside’s Art that Excites program collected more than 3,650 community votes to select the winning design, ultimately choosing “Oceanside Odyssey” by artist Jon Hamrick from among three finalists.
Hamrick and his team are finishing work on the colorful mural now covering the tunnel walls beneath the transit center. The passageway has remained open throughout construction with temporary signage in place.
Designed to honor Oceanside’s culture and history, the project has transformed the once-plain pedestrian tunnel into a vibrant and welcoming space intended to enhance the experience for transit riders and visitors.
Funding for the artwork comes from a $144,000 Clean California Local Grant awarded to the Art that Excites program. Led by Caltrans, the $1.2 billion Clean California initiative supports beautification efforts statewide, including more than 640 public art installations such as murals, mosaics, sculptures, and gateway monuments. The Oceanside project also includes added security features—such as cameras and speakers—to improve pedestrian safety.
NCTD will celebrate the tunnel’s completion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday at 4 p.m., unveiling the fully refreshed Oceanside Transit Center to the community.
