The strategic goals identified by the Transportation Agency Board of Directors highlight delivering the Measure X regional program of projects, while strategically utilizing debt financing to expedite delivery, and leveraging as much matching funds as possible. With the passage of California Senate Bill 1 (Beall), several new transportation funding programs were created from which the Transportation Agency will potentially be able to leverage Measure X and other existing fund sources. To ensure coordination between the various fund sources, which all have different requirements and eligibility, the Transportation Agency prepared a 2017 Integrated Funding Plan, which has been updated for 2019 (Attachment 1) to coincide with the 2020 State Transportation Improvement Program cycle.
The draft 2019 Integrated Funding Plan is designed to identify projects that will be strong candidates for specific matching fund programs, and to identify a funding pathway to bring projects to construction over the next five years. The primary sources of funding included in the 2019 Integrated Funding Plan are the regional share of Measure X, Monterey County's share of the State Transportation Improvement Program, and the various Senate Bill 1 formula and grant funding programs. The following provides a status update on several of the priority regional projects included in the plan:
Salinas Rail Extension:
The first package of the Salinas Rail Extension project is set to begin construction in 2019 with the extension of Lincoln Avenue directly into the train station, and improvements to the parking areas to provide bus bays, better drainage, new landscaping, and more space for cars and bicycles. The construction of this project is funded with State Transportation Improvement Program funds and Proposition 116 funds.
Multimodal Corridor: Imjin Parkway Improvements:
Imjin Parkway will be the first regional Measure X project to reach construction. This project to improve travel connections between Salinas and the Peninsula was successful in receiving $19 million in Senate Bill 1 grant funds and is currently fully-funded with additional funding coming from Measure X, developer fees, and the State Transportation Improvement Program. The project is currently in final design and construction is scheduled to being early in 2020.
Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway (FORTAG):
With the award of a $10 million Statewide Active Transportation Program grant, the first section of the FORTAG project is now fully-funded. Additional funding on the project includes Measure X and SB 1 Local Partnership Program formula funds. This paved bicycle and pedestrian path will connect Laguna Grande Park to the Frog Pond in Del Rey Oaks, running along Highway 218. The project is currently in the environmental phase and construction is scheduled to begin in 2022.
Highway 1 Rapid Bus Corridor
Monterey-Salinas Transit is initiating the preliminary engineering and environmental phase to develop a dedicated busway utilizing the Monterey Branch Line right-of-way between Marina and Sand City. The Transportation Agency will be evaluating alternative intersection concepts at Fremont Blvd and Highway 1 to accommodate transit movements through this complicated intersection. Construction of the project's first segment is targeted to begin in 2022.
Highway 156 / Castroville Boulevard Interchange:
The Transportation Agency has been coordinating with Caltrans to deliver the first phase of the Highway 156 Monterey Expressway project. This new proposed interchange at Castroville Boulevard will help improve safety and provide congestion relief in this heavily-traveled corridor. The Agency will be seeking Senate Bill 1 grant funds to match with Measure X and State Transportation Improvement Program funds. If successful, the project could begin construction by 2023.
Scenic Route 68 Corridor Improvements:
Currently in the environmental phase, this project to improve connection between the Salinas Valley and the Peninsula is currently funded with a mix of State Transportation Improvement Program funds and Measure X. Future phases of the project are proposed to be funded with Senate Bill 1 grant funds, Measure X, and State Highway Operations and Protection Program (SHOPP) funds. If successful in securing grant funding, this high priority regional project could begin construction on its first segment by 2024.
US 101 South of Salinas:
The Transportation Agency is working with Caltrans to develop a study for this project to look at safety improvements, removing left turns, constructing a new interchange, and adding frontage roads along this congested agricultural route. Once complete, the Agency will be able to use the results of the study to begin the environmental phase, currently programmed in 2020/21 with $5 million in State Transportation Improvement Program funds, which the Agency will seek to match with $5 million in Inter-regional Transportation Improvement Program funds. Future phases of the project are proposed to be funded with Measure X, Senate Bill 1 grants, and State Highway Operations and Protection Program funds, with construction projected in 2024/25.
Staff will provide a presentation on the draft 2019 Integrated Funding Plan at the April Board meeting to discuss the status of projects, funding strategies, and receive Board feedback and direction. The California Transportation Commission will release a draft of the 2020 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) fund estimate in June and will adopt the county shares in August. Agency staff will update this 2019 Integrated Funding Plan based on the 2020 STIP fund estimate and return to the Board with a revised funding plan for Board approval in September. This will guide the development of the Agency's proposal for programming Monterey County's STIP share, called the Regional Transportation Improvement Program, which is then due to the California Transportation Commission by December 15, 2019.