Measure X
In May of 2015, the Transportation Agency engaged a public outreach effort to inform the public about Monterey County's transportation needs, funding challenges and the self-help option. The Transportation Agency for Monterey County placed the Transportation Safety & Investment Plan (Measure X) on the November 8, 2016 ballot and the measure was approved with 67.7% approval from Monterey County voters.
Measure X was established as a local "self-help" funding program to address roadway maintenance, safety, mobility, and congestion needs through a dedicated three-eighths cent sales tax. The State of California began collecting revenues from the Measure X sales tax on April 17, 2017.
The measure is anticipated to generate an estimated $20 million annually for a total of $600 million over thirty years through a retail transactions and use tax of a three-eighths’ of one‑percent (3/8%). Over nearly a ten-year period of implementation, on average, Measure X has generated $35.3 million annually.
Sixty percent of Measure X revenues are distributed directly to the twelve cities and the County of Monterey for local transportation projects, while the remaining forty percent is programmed by TAMC for regionally significant transportation investments. Measure X has also provided local agencies with financing options that accelerated needed improvements. The Cities of Salinas and Seaside utilized bonding against future Measure X revenues to advance major transportation investments. The Cities of Gonzales and Del Rey Oaks utilized TAMC loan programs that allowed projects to be completed years earlier than would otherwise have been possible.
King City was the first city to use Measure X funds to fix local roads by repaving 5 residential blocks within the city in 2017. The City celebrated the event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 9, 2017.
Measure X has enabled all twelve cities and the County of Monterey to address long-standing pavement maintenance needs, reduce deferred maintenance backlogs, improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and complete locally identified transportation priorities. The local share program remains one of Measure X's most visible benefits, with 60% of revenues returned directly to local jurisdictions for transportation improvements. You can learn more about the Transportation Safety & Investment Plan (Measure X), what projects are in your local community, and review other supporting documentation in the Programs & Projects tab on this page.
A key finding from the first ten years of Measure X is that local sales tax revenues have successfully leveraged outside investment into Monterey County. Measure X contributions of approximately $76.8 million have leveraged roughly $226.9 million in outside state and federal grant funding, generating a total investment of $373.7 million for transportation improvements. This leverage ratio demonstrates that Measure X functions as a catalyst for larger investments, increasing Monterey County's competitiveness for discretionary grant programs and statewide transportation funding opportunities.
The first decade of Measure X demonstrates the value of a local transportation funding source that not only delivers projects directly but also positions Monterey County to secure substantial state and federal investment that would otherwise be unavailable or less competitive.
Photos from the King City Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, August 9, 2017
Measure X has enabled all twelve cities and the County of Monterey to address long-standing pavement maintenance needs, reduce deferred maintenance backlogs, improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and complete locally identified transportation priorities. The local share program remains one of Measure X's most visible benefits, with 60% of revenues returned directly to local jurisdictions for transportation improvements. You can learn more about the Transportation Safety & Investment Plan (Measure X), what projects are in your local community, and review other supporting documentation in the Programs & Projects tab on this page.
A key finding from the first ten years of Measure X is that local sales tax revenues have successfully leveraged outside investment into Monterey County. Measure X contributions of approximately $76.8 million have leveraged roughly $226.9 million in outside state and federal grant funding, generating a total investment of $373.7 million for transportation improvements. This leverage ratio demonstrates that Measure X functions as a catalyst for larger investments, increasing Monterey County's competitiveness for discretionary grant programs and statewide transportation funding opportunities.
The first decade of Measure X demonstrates the value of a local transportation funding source that not only delivers projects directly but also positions Monterey County to secure substantial state and federal investment that would otherwise be unavailable or less competitive.
