KING CITY — California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced more than $1.3 billion in funding has been awarded to public transportation projects statewide through the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP).
Among the 27 approved projects, King City will receive $25 million to advance its Multimodal Transit Center Project — a significant milestone for the community and region.
The grant is part of a broader funding package put forth by the Coast Rail Coordinating Council, which was awarded a total of just over $63 million. King City’s transit project will reintroduce passenger rail service, which last operated in the area in the mid-1940s, with a new Amtrak stop near Pearl Street, east of First Street.
Key elements of the project’s first phase include a rail platform, a relocated railroad crossing, a new rail siding and a parking area.
With this grant, total funding for the project’s first phase now stands at nearly $53 million, projected to fully cover its construction costs. The next phase will focus on the addition of a station building. Currently, the project is in the design phase, with approvals being pursued from Union Pacific Railroad.
The development of the transit center has involved collaborative efforts from several agencies, including Fort Hunter Liggett, California State Transportation Agency, Transportation Agency for Monterey County, Coast Rail Coordinating Council, San Luis Obispo Council of Governments and Amtrak.
“The City greatly appreciates all the support and assistance it has received from our partnering agencies,” said King City Mayor Mike LeBarre. “The City has been working on the Multimodal Transit Center proposal for many years, and this represents a major milestone in making it a reality. We are committed to completing this project that will bring back passenger rail service to King City, facilitate troop movements for Fort Hunter Liggett, increase economic development opportunities, reduce emissions and improve the quality of life for our community and all of South County.”
