MONTEREY COUNTY — California Transportation Commission has awarded $44.8 million in Active Transportation Project grants for multiple projects that will enhance safety and facilitate active modes of transportation in Monterey County.
Seven projects submitted by the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC), County of Monterey, Monterey County Health Department, City of King and City of Salinas have received funding.
“This is a great win for Monterey County,” said Todd Muck, executive director of TAMC. “Through this collaborative effort, we were able to secure funding for small, medium and large infrastructure projects that will close missing gaps and make it safer and easier for people to move around in their communities, including students going to and from school every weekday.”
In King City, the San Antonio Drive Path and Safe Routes to Schools project was awarded just over $11 million. The project is part of the city’s larger efforts to “increase active transportation connections and will dramatically transform the city,” according to TAMC in a news release Dec. 9.
The King City project will construct 1.6 miles of paved bicycle and pedestrian paths, three roundabouts, and build sidewalks and ADA curb ramps to connect students and seniors to schools, parks, housing and jobs.
Also in South Monterey County, projects in Chualar and San Ardo received millions of dollars in funding.
The Community and School Connection Through Active Transportation projects — submitted by the County of Monterey for Chualar ($6.3 million) and San Ardo ($3.4 million), as well as for Castroville ($6.4 million) in North County — will construct curbs and gutters, sidewalks along identified streets and crossing enhancements, beacons, signage, lighting, ADA curb ramps, bike lanes and Safe Routes to School educational activities.
Submitted by the City of Salinas, Safe Routes to School projects for Alisal ($1 million) and Harden Parkway ($8 million) will create a “safe active transportation network allowing for safer walking and bicycling in front of the schools along the busy corridors with fast moving traffic along Harden Parkway, East Alisal Street and Williams Road,” TAMC said.
Improvements include a pedestrian hybrid beacon at an existing crosswalk, installation of a pedestrian refuge island, ADA-compliant ramps, high visibility crosswalk, speed feedback signs, buffered bike lanes and narrowed vehicle lanes.
Finally, the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway: California Avenue Segment project, submitted by TAMC, received more than $8.4 million in funding.
The project, located in the City of Marina, will construct a 1.8-mile segment of the planned 28-mile regional trail, including such improvements as a protected intersection and bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing. It is one segment of FORTAG that “closes a gap in the regional multi-use path network,” TAMC said.
