DATE:                                       Friday, June 27,  2025

 MONTEREY COUNTY – The California Transportation Commission (CTC) awarded $90.6 million to fund the State Route 156 / Castroville Boulevard Interchange Project. The funding is a combination of Senate Bill 1 funds with $80.3 million from the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program and $10.3 million from the Local Partnership Program. The award was approved over the course of the last two days, on June 26 and June 27, 2025.

The awards come nearly one year after Caltrans and the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) forfeited $20 million in project funding from the CTC. The forfeiture was due primarily to delays and cost increases related to Pacific Gas & Electrics’ need to complete utility relocation work of a high-pressure gas line, preventing the project from meeting the CTC’s June 30, 2024 funding allocation deadline.

In what can only be described as a bitter-sweet moment when that decision was made,  Supervisor Glenn Church, District 2 and TAMC Board member, said that there have been plans since the 1960s to do something to improve this congested corridor and the Castroville Boulevard Interchange project was the “the closest we have come to getting something done.”  

With the announcement of the awards today, Supervisor Church stated: “This is a major project for safety and accommodations not just for the residents but for those who travel to the Monterey Peninsula for business and pleasure. I hope we get over the finish line this time.”

Todd Muck, the Transportation Agency’s Executive Director, said “We are very appreciative of the support from the California Transportation Commission that allows this important Measure X regional project to move forward.”

The State Route 156 / Castroville Boulevard Interchange project is one of the regional safety and mobility projects listed in Measure X and approved by 67.7% of Monterey County voters in 2016. The funding from the CTC is another example of TAMC’s ability to successfully leverage Measure X to secure additional funding for projects to improve safety and enhance quality of life in Monterey County.

Funding Information:

Funding  for the  $136.11 Million  State Route 156/Castroville Boulevard Interchange is provided in the chart below:

Funding for all phases of the State Route 156/Castroville Boulevard Interchange

Fund Source

Amount

Measure X

$10.4 million

Regional Development Impact Fees

$5.0 million

Federal Earmark

$0.312 million

State Transportation Improvement Program

$29.8 million

Senate Bill 1 Trade Corridors Enhancement Program (new!)

$80.3 million

Senate Bill 1 Local Partnership Program (new!)

$10.3 million

Total

$136.11 million

For more information about the State Route 156 / Castroville Boulevard Interchange Project and the project funding awards, please visit:

·       https://www.tamcmonterey.org/highway-156

·       Trade Corridor Enhancement Program - $80.3 million for SR156/Castroville

·       Local Partnership Program - $10.3 million for SR 156 / Castroville

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The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) is responsible for investing in regional transportation projects for Monterey County residents, businesses, and visitors. The mission of TAMC is to develop and maintain a multimodal transportation system that enhances mobility, safety, access, environment quality and economic activities in Monterey County. For more information visit www.tamcmonterey.org or call 831.775.0903.