The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is proposing to rescind the route adoption, dispose of excess properties originally purchased for the Prunedale Bypass Project, and apply proceeds of sales to an alternative highway project in the US 101 corridor within the Monterey County region. A map indicating the Prunedale Bypass route segment to be rescinded is attached.
The properties were acquired with the intent to address deficiencies on US 101 in the Prunedale area. In April, 1973, the Prunedale Bypass Project was in the final design phase when it was determined that federal funding could not be secured, and the project was delayed indefinitely. The Prunedale Bypass Project was re-initiated as locally-funded (Measure B sales tax) in the late 1980s. Under the Federal and State environmental laws at the time, alternative alignments, including the adopted route, were developed and evaluated. The local sales tax measure was challenged and overturned in court, and lack of funding again halted the project.
As a result of halting the Prunedale Bypass Project, a series of operational improvements were completed in Fall 2014 to improve safety. This project, referred to as the Prunedale Improvement Project (PIP), upgraded the existing four-lane facility to partially access-controlled with construction of ten miles of median barrier, two new interchanges, and an over-crossing. Current and future travel demands indicate the need for additional improvements on US 101 corridor.
Approval of resolution 2019-10 (attached) documents the Transportation Agency's support for rescinding the route segment, disposing of the excess properties, and using the proceeds of the properties on an alternative project in the US 101 corridor. Caltrans will submit their recommendation to rescind the route to the California Transportation Commission in late 2019. The California Transportation Commission will take action early-to-mid 2020. Caltrans will proceed with selling the excess properties after the California Transportation Commission approves the route rescission.
The Transportation Agency will need to develop a Local Alternative Transportation Improvement Plan that includes any and all potential projects that the revenue can be applied towards. This plan needs to be adopted before the final California Transportation Commission vote in 2020. In the draft Integrated Funding Plan, Transportation Agency staff is currently propposing the design phase of the US 101 Safety Improvements - South County as the target project for the excess property proceeds. The Local Alternative Transportation Improvement Plan will be brought back to the Board for adoption at a future meeting.