California Dedicates State Route 76 as Payómkawish Highway
The designation honors the ancestral connection of the Luiseño people to the corridor.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Native American
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State officials have officially dedicated a stretch of State Route 76 as the Payómkawish Highway to honor the Luiseño people. The renaming recognizes the tribe's 10,000-year history in the region and follows a multi-year legislative effort.
Why it matters
This initiative honors the ancestral connection of the Luiseño people to a route that served as a vital trade path between inland mountains and the Pacific coast. It also fulfills a primary focus of the late tribal Chairman Bo Mazzetti to gain formal public recognition for his community.
The designation honors a culture that has inhabited the region for over 10,000 years. This project was finalized after a 15-year effort to gain formal recognition.
The players
Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians
This federally recognized tribe hosted the dedication ceremony and maintains a deep cultural connection to the San Luis Rey River valley.
Bo Mazzetti
The late tribal Chairman was a pivotal advocate for this initiative and made the recognition of his people a central part of his leadership.
Marie Waldron
The California Assemblymember played a key role in the legislative process by introducing Assembly Concurrent Resolution 215.
Laurie Davies
The California Assemblymember helped secure the highway's renaming through the introduction of Assembly Bill 1051 in 2025.
The details
The project bypassed state regulations that typically limit highway naming to five-mile increments by utilizing two separate legislative measures over two years. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 215, introduced by Marie Waldron in June 2024, and Assembly Bill 1051, introduced by Laurie Davies in 2025, facilitated the expansion of the naming designation.
Timeline
Luiseño people have inhabited the region for over 10,000 years.
Marie Waldron introduced Assembly Concurrent Resolution 215 in June 2024.
Laurie Davies introduced Assembly Bill 1051 in 2025.
The official highway dedication ceremony took place on October 28, 2026.
Caltrans crews are scheduled to install new highway signs in November 2026.
Culture Shift
This designation reflects a broader movement to recognize the deep historical presence of Indigenous communities through state infrastructure naming. It highlights how tribal entities are successfully navigating bureaucratic systems to ensure their heritage is acknowledged in the modern landscape.
Drivers using State Route 76 will soon see new signage reflecting the Payómkawish Highway name as installations proceed next month. This change serves as a permanent public acknowledgement of the region's tribal history for all who travel the corridor.
The takeaway
The dedication of the Payómkawish Highway serves as a tangible reminder of the deep, enduring ties between California's indigenous people and the land. Recognizing these historical connections through public infrastructure helps maintain cultural memory for future generations.
What happens next
Caltrans crews are scheduled to install the physical signs for the new Payómkawish Highway throughout the month of November 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the ongoing work of the Native American community across California.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Valley Roadrunner - Hometown Newspaper of Valley Center, Pauma Valley, Pala, Palomar Mountain & North Escondido since 1974.
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