This presentation is intended to update Measure X Citizens Oversight Committee members on four regional transportation projects that are leveraging Measure X Sales Tax funds.
SR 68 Scenic Corridor Safety and Operations Improvements
Caltrans is currently preparing conceptual designs to replace the nine existing traffic signals between Joselyn Canyon Road and Corral de Tierra with roundabouts. The Transportation Agency is providing project management and roundabout design support. Caltrans will be the lead agency and responsible for the preparation of the technical studies and environmental impact report. The critical path for the project is the certification of the environmental impact report by the California Transportation Commission.
The environmental and design phase is funded by the following sources:
State Transportation Improvement Program $29,003,000
Highway Infrastructure Program $ 3,393,000
Measure X $ 640,000
SB1 Local Partnership Program $ 1,917,000
Phase Total = $34,953,000
State Route 156 / Castroville Blvd Interchange
The SR 156 / Castroville Blvd interchange is the first stage of the SR 156 West Corridor Project between Highway 1 and US 101. The overall project has completed the environmental phase. The SR 156 / Castroville Blvd Interchange is currently in the design and right-of-way phase. Caltrans is leading the design with the Transportation Agency providing project management and roundabout design support. Caltrans has completed 95% plans and the final plans are scheduled to be submit this Spring.
This phase of the project also involves permitting by regulatory agencies with mitigation measures for environmental impacts. Senate Bill 1231 authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue a permit for the take of the Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander habitat resulting from impacts attributable to the construction along the State Route 156 corridor through Moro Cojo Slough in the County of Monterey. This bill allows TAMC to implement safety improvements to eliminate collisions and fatalities along the SR 156 corridor while allowing for enhanced mitigation for an endangered species.
The project is expected to be ready to list for construction bids in Summer 2022. The Transportation Agency successfully secured a Senate Bill 1 grant, leveraging Measure X funds, to fully fund construction of the interchange project.
The environmental and design phase is funded by the following sources:
State Transportation Improvement Program $29,811,000
Federal DEMO $ 312,000
Measure X $ 389,000
Developer Fees $ 5,000,000
SB1 Trade Corridors $20,000,000
Phase Total = $55,512,000
US 101 South of Salinas Improvements
Back in 2003 a project study report has been completed for the US 101 South of Salinas corridor. The 2003 project study report aimed at improving safety and adding road capacity along the US 101 corridor from Abbott Street in Salinas to Main Street in Chualar. The improvements identified in the 2003 document proposed a US 101 bypass that does not align with the preservation of agricultural land and the State's focus on reducing vehicle miles traveled. For this reason, the Transportation Agency conducted extensive public outreach to identify a new project focused on addressing safety issues using the current alignment of US 101. The new project proposes to upgrade the interchanges at Abbott Street and Chualar Main Street and construct a frontage road on both sides of US 101 to eliminate fatal and injury crashes occurring along at-grade highway intersections.
A supplement to the approved project study report will be completed this Spring leading to an environmental review process and preliminary engineering effort scheduled to start this Summer. The study and environmental phase is funded by the following sources:
State Transportation Improvement Program $ 9,989,000
Measure X $ 440,000
Phase Total = $10,429,000
SURF! Busway and Rapid Transit Project
The SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit Project is part of a larger effort to build a modern mobility network for the Monterey Peninsula and beyond. The proposed SURF! line is a 6-mile bus-only corridor from Marina to Sand City and Seaside parallel to Highway 1 along the Monterey Branch line rail right-of-way. This project proposes to construct a dedicated busway between Marina and Sand City. Several bicycle facility improvements will be constructed as part of the project. Monterey-Salinas Transit is leading the project and the Transportation Agency is providing project management support and design oversight. The project is currently in the final design phase. The preliminary engineering and environmental phase is funded by the following sources:
Measure X Sales Tax revenue $1,450,000
Senate Bill 1 Local Partnership Program (MST's share) $ 100,000
Phase Total $1,550,000