In 2024, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) made significant strides in building pathways to help communities thrive, despite facing various challenges. As the outgoing Chair, I would like to highlight the accomplishments and ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life for families and communities in Monterey County.
US 101 South of Salinas
Increased numbers of injury and fatality collisions has led Caltrans to initiate closing the at-grade left hand turns along US 101 between Salinas and Chualar. The project team is working on identifying feasible long-term options that will reduce travel circulation impacts these closures will have on the Chualar community and the residents and businesses along this critical highway corridor. The environmental evaluation for the long-term options is scheduled to start early next year and be completed in 2026, with final design by the end of 2027.
Safe Routes to Schools
TAMC, Monterey County Health Department, Ecology Action and the cities of Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield and King City partnered to develop the Salinas Valley Safe Routes to School Plan. The plan identified barriers to safe access to 22 public schools and recommended improvements. A community steering committee in each city identified projects for implementation, with up to $250,000 for each city fast-tracked for the highest voted projects. Since 2016, TAMC’s Safe Route to School program has resulted in over 10 pedestrian, bicycle and safety projects in six cities and brought in over $55 million of grant funds to our communities.
Measure X
This year, Measure X generated over $38 million in annual revenue, with 60% distributed to cities and the County for local street and road projects and 40% for regional safety and mobility projects. The Measure X Citizens Oversight Committee continues to provide oversight and conducts an independent audit of the revenues and expenditures. Measure X is the countywide local transportation sales tax adopted in 2016.
Imjin Road Widening & Roundabout Project
Currently in construction, significant progress has been made with new lane configurations, a truck detour, and the reopening of Preston Drive and Marina Heights Drive. Current information can be found at imjinparkway.com.
Fort Ord Regional Trail & Greenway (FORTAG)
The vision for the FORTAG project is to create a safe pedestrian and bicycle corridor designated to accommodate people of all ages and abilities. There are three segments of the trail currently progressing. Construction of the Canyon Del Rey Segment in Del Rey Oaks began in August and is expected to last through August 2026. The California Avenue segment in Marina is at 60% design, with construction expected to start in November 2025. In alignment with all of this, we continue to work with the Federal Highway Administration and their design team to finalize the segment that runs from the California Avenue segment to the Jerry Smith Trailhead and the Fort Ord National Monument.
Monterey County Rail Projects
The California State Transportation Agency awarded $63 million for rail improvements between Monterey and Santa Barbara counties, including a new King City train station. The final design for track improvements needed to extend Caltrain service to Salinas is almost complete. TAMC is also conducting the environmental review for the Pajaro-Watsonville Multimodal Station Project, which would serve as a major transit hub in an underserved area providing access to multiple transportation options, including bus connections and new passenger rail service between the Monterey Bay and the San Francisco Bay areas.
State Route 68
TAMC approved a cooperative agreement with Caltrans to fund adaptive signal controls at nine intersections along State Route 68. This project aims to improve traffic flow by using real-time data to adjust signal timing as an interim step before roundabouts along the corridor can be constructed. The Toro Park Cut-Through Traffic Pilot Project was also initiated to test ways to reduce aggressive drivers using residential streets to bypass congestion on State Route 68.
SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit Project
The SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit Project has faced challenges, including the need to move the alignment onto existing rail tracks to minimize environmental impacts. Nonetheless, the project is expected to start construction in 2025.
As I step down as Chair in January, the Transportation Agency will continue its commitment to creating pathways that improve the quality of life for families and communities.
Chris Lopez, Monterey County District 3 Supervisor, is the Chair of the Transportation Agency for Monterey County Board of Directors.
