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(s) Monterey County. A map indicating the Prunedale Bypass route segment to be rescinded is attached.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.
The Transportation Agency needs to adopt a Local Alternative Transportation Improvement Plan that includes any and all potential projects that the revenue can be applied towards. The purpose of a Local Alternative Transportation Improvement Program is to ensure that funds received from the sell of right of way that was purchased for the original route adoption will be used on local improvements within the region consistent with the purpose of the original transportation funding investment.
Working with Caltrans, two major transportation projects have been evaluated and identified for consideration for the Monterey County Local Alternative Transportation Improvement Program:
- US 101 South of Salinas Corridor Improvement
- Route 156 West Corridor Project
Caltrans is scheduled to submit their recommendation to rescind the route to the California Transportation Commission in January 2021. Caltrans will proceed with selling the excess properties after the California Transportation Commission approves the route rescission.