90.3 KAZU - Toll Road Explored for Central Coast

Highway 156 is one of the key projects identified by Caltrans and the Transportation Agency for Monterey County in Monterey County. This route is a major regional and interregional thoroughfare used by tourists, commuters, freight shipping vehicles, and residential travelers. The Highway 156 improvement project addresses several issues in the area to help improve congestion and safety.

The first part of the project would widen the existing conventional 2-lane highway to a 4-lane expressway between Castroville and the existing 101 interchange in Prunedale. The level of service along this section of road is currently an E and is expected to drop to F by the year 2010 if no improvements are undertaken.

The second part of the project would construct interchange improvements at US 101 and Highway 156 to improve traffic flow in the area. The Transportation Agency for Monterey County is currently working with Caltrans to define features of these interchange improvements so that future traffic is accommodated with limited impacts to the surrounding community.

The proposed Measure Z half-cent sales tax that was on the November, 2008 ballot would have funded the project. With the lack of the required two-thirds support for that measure, the project is on hold indefinitely due to lack of funding.

The Highway 156 widening project emerged as the TAMC Board’s top project from its strategic planning session. TAMC has determined that phasing the project would be the best approach for obtaining funding. TAMC is seeking available sources to fund delivery of this high priority project.