The vision for the Fort Ord Regional Trail & Greenway (FORTAG) is to create a multimodal route designed to accommodate people of all ages and abilities that connects communities in and around the former Fort Ord to each other and to education, employment, community and recreation centers. It will serve as a safe pedestrian and bicycle corridor connecting the cities of Seaside, Marina, Del Rey Oaks, Monterey and unincorporated community residents to California State University Monterey Bay, the Fort Ord National Monument, and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail. The Final Environmental Impact Report for the proposed 28-mile paved trail was certified by the Transportation Agency Board on March 25, 2020. A Master Agreement was approved by the Transportation Agency and the underlying jurisdictions in June 2020.
On August 2020, the California Transportation Commission approved the allocation of $1.198 million in Senate Bill 1 Active Transportation Program funds for right-of-way acquisition for Phase 1 of the SR 218 / Canyon Del Rey Segment of the FORTAG. The Commission also approved the allocation of $600,000 in Senate Bill 1 Local Partnership Program funds for the preparation of final design plans, specifications and estimates for construction of this first trail segment.
Phase 1 of the Canyon Del Rey/State Route 218 Segment involves construction of the trail through the City of Del Rey Oaks from Fremont Boulevard to Del Rey Woods Elementary in the City of Seaside. From Fremont Boulevard, the trail will run along State Route 218 and then move behind Safeway through Work Memorial Park traveling around the tennis courts and towards Angelus Way. There are no improvements proposed along Angelus Way based on feedback from the community. The trail will pick up again at Del Rey Park and travel towards State Route 218 along the existing trail. A tunnel under Canyon Del Rey Boulevard will connect near Del Rey Oaks City Hall and the Frog Pond. A raised pathway will be constructed to connect trail users from the tunnel to Carlton Drive at an accessible grade. The trail will extend northeast up Carton Drive to Plumas Avenue. Along Carlton Drive the trail will consist of a new 12-foot wide multi-use sidewalk on the west side of the road. Along Plumas Avenue the trail will follow the existing PG&E easement up to Del Rey Woods Elementary. The tunnel landing and the raised pathway are the only project elements to be constructed within the Frog Pond as part of Phase 1.
A multi-agency review panel recommended and the TAMC Board approved GHD, Inc. to perform the engineering and right-of-way work. With the consultant team on board, the Agency has been conducting public workshops and site walks coordination with Caltrans, the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District, and the cities of Del Rey Oaks and Seaside to gather input on how the trail will ultimately look and feel. A project website was also established to collect public comment using an interactive map. A final public workshop will be held in August 2021 (date to be determined).
Final design and right-of-way certification are anticipated for completion by Summer/Fall 2022. Construction is scheduled to start thereafter in 2023. Concurrently, the Agency is pursuing grant funds for other segments of the FORTAG, which will proceed to final design and construction as matching funds are obtained.