TAMC assists King City with bike and street projects

MONTEREY COUNTY – In keeping with their promise to leverage local Measure X transportation funds, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) has applied for $14 million from the SB 1 vehicle fee-funded Active Transportation Program for pedestrian and bicycle safety projects that will benefit the Salinas Valley, Monterey Peninsula and North Monterey County.

Debbie Hale, Executive Director of TAMC, said that, “Local Measure X funds will give them a greater chance to build these important safety projects, because applications with local matching funds earn additional points in the scoring criteria.”

In partnership with the cities of Del Rey Oaks and Seaside, TAMC applied for $12.6 million to fund the Highway 218 segment of the Fort Ord Regional Trail & Greenway matched by $2 million of Measure X funds, to construct a 1.5-mile paved bicycle and pedestrian trail segment of the proposed 32-mile Fort Ord Regional Trail & Greenway. The regional trail will improve safety, promote healthier lifestyles and the project provides a safe alternative to Highway 218, between Del Rey Woods Elementary School and Laguna Grande Regional Park.

The second application, in partnership with the Monterey County Health Department, provides $82,000 in local matching funds and requests an additional $2.2 million to establish safe routes to school community education and support in 10 disadvantaged communities in the Salinas Valley, the Monterey Peninsula and unincorporated North Monterey County.

In addition to applying for their own active transportation funds, the Transportation Agency assisted King City with their “San Antonio Drive Bikeway & School Gap Closure” project application. The city leveraged $100,000 from their general fund to apply for $6.4 million to construct a 1-mile paved bicycle and pedestrian trail, and close sidewalk & ADA curb ramp gaps to connect students and seniors to schools, parks, housing and healthcare in the city.

King City Mayor, Mike LeBarre, commented that “TAMC’s willingness to assist them with drafting the application is an example of their continued leadership on transportation projects to benefit every corner of our community. It demonstrates their diligent commitment to secure funding for both infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects to enhance safety and quality of life in Monterey County.”

In total, TAMC and King City are seeking more than $21 million in funding from the Active Transportation Program. “We are hopeful that the confidence that voters placed in them with the approval of Measure X will be rewarded with a notification that their applications have been selected for funding,” said Ms. Hale. Awards will be announced in December.

Comments

Fatal 3 Vehicle Accident Involving Wrong Way Driver on Highway 101 Outside of King City on January 10

A fatal multi-vehicle collision happened on Saturday night, January 10 at 9:51 p.m. on northbound Highway 101 outside of King City. According to the King City CHP a 2016 Toyota Tacoma driven by 65-year-old Paul Lee Cooper of Otis, Oregon was heading the wrong way going southbound in the northbound lanes south of Jolon Road, while a 2006 Toyota Corolla driven by 33-year-old Dinora Maribel Gomez of Salinas was heading northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road in the #1 lane and a Honda Accord driven by 36-year-old Ignacio Sangerman of King City was also traveling northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road but was in the #2 lane. Due to Cooper's level of impairment his vehicle went the wrong way on Highway 101 going directly into the path of Gomez' vehicle causing the rear of her car to crash with the front of the vehicle driven by Sangerman. Cooper was arrested, sustaining major injuries and was transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas where as of January 12 is...

Monterey County DA Releases Preliminary Information Concerning an Officer Involved Shooting Incident that Occurred Outside of Soledad on December 16

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni on December 19 released preliminary information concerning the officer involved shooting (OIS) which occurred at about 1:20 a.m. outside the city of Soledad on December 16, 2025. Just before 1:00 a.m., Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Pina, who has been a peace officer for 10 years all with MCSO, and Deputy Blain Councilman, each in separate patrol cars, were dispatched to 32097 McCoy Road. A resident at the farm labor camp reported a suspicious individual with a handgun whose white Honda 4 door sedan was parked in space 18 at the complex. Before parking there, the suspect drove around and around, stopped in front of the reporting party’s (RP’s) truck, and got out. The RP could hear music. Deputy Pina drove the lead patrol car and arrived just after 1:20 a.m. His dashcam video, which does not record sound but which he installed on his own and at his own expense, depicts the following: He drove down ...

King City City Council Announces Selection of José Arreola as New City Manager

January 7, 2025-Following an extensive recruitment process, José Arreola has been selected by the King City City Council to be its next City Manager. Arreola will replace Steve Adams, who is retiring after serving in the position for the past 10 years. Arreola was selected from 31 applicants and 8 finalists for the position. The King City City Council will formally consider the proposed city manager contract at its meeting on Tuesday night, January 13. Arreola's first day on the job is scheduled to be February 23. José Arreola has a distinguished career of serving the community with a particular commitment to youth. He has worked for the City of Salinas for 12 years as their Community Safety Program Manager, Community Safety Administrator and Assistant to the City Manager. Among other responsibilities, Arreola has led several programs to eliminate gang violence which aligns well with the City of King’s efforts and priorities. Prior to that, Arreola worked as an Educa...

KRKC COUNTRY

Search This Blog