Skip to main content

“TEMPORARY EAST ALISAL STREET MAKEOVER BEGINS OCTOBER 11, 2021.”

RELEASE DATE:               Monday, October 4, 2021

MONTEREY COUNTY – E. Alisal Street is getting a makeover!  The Salinas Safe Routes to School Planning team is testing out a new street design with more room for people to walk, bike, scoot and roll this October and November.

The makeover will include temporary pedestrian improvements and bicycle lanes on East Alisal Street between Griffon Street and Hebbron Avenue to improve safety and test a concept included in the Alisal Vibrancy Plan. Preparation for the temporary street makeover will begin on Wednesday and Thursday, October 5th and 6th followed by the full project installation, Monday - Wednesday, October 11th – 13th.  Preparation and installation work will require the closing of one vehicle lane in each direction on Alisal Street.  Changeable messages signs will be in place to assist travelers during the preparation and installation.  Drivers should expect travel delays on E. Alisal from October 11 through November 12 and are asked to slow down to keep it safe for people walking and bicycling along the street.

E. Alisal is heavily used by families and children attending Sherwood Elementary School and has been identified as a safe routes to school corridor in the active Salinas Safe Routes to School planning process.  The corridor is also a thriving business district and according to the Salinas United Business Association, (SUBA), the street makeover could support local businesses by creating a more vibrant and walkable commercial corridor.

Members of the community are encouraged to test the new design by walking, biking, scootering, rolling, or driving along East Alisal Street and provide their feedback by taking an anonymous survey. The survey will be available online and in paper format along E. Alisal Street after October 14. For more information please visit: saferoutesmonterey.org/planning-salinas/

The Salinas Safe Routes to Schools Plan is a partnership between the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, City of Salinas, Monterey County Health Department, Ecology Action, Santa Rita Union, Salinas City, Alisal Union and Salinas High School Union School Districts.

The project is funded through a Caltrans Sustainable Communities Transportation Planning Grant as well as local Measure X funds. Following the installation projects, the planning team will develop the draft Safe Routes to Schools Plan for 45 Salinas schools, which will be completed in 2022.

                                                                                      ###

 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.”

 “The” Safe Route to School” is a TAMC program which offers tools, programming, and resources to schools, guardians, and communities aimed at improving safety and traffic around schools. The program’s goal is to keep every child safe and healthy by reducing the number of students involved in collisions to zero. For more information visit https://saferoutesmonterey.org

 “The Monterey County Health Department exists to enhance, protect and improve the health of the people in Monterey County. To accomplish this, the Department provides a wide variety of health-related services in the area of public health, environmental health, behavioral health and clinic services.”

 “Ecology Action provides innovative, equitable energy, water and transportation solutions for a prosperous low-carbon future.  We design effective programs, successfully activate communities, forge mutually beneficial partnerships and influence policy to advance equitable, climate-smart initiatives. For more information visit: https://ecoact.org/

Safe Routes to School Logo