November 17, 2020

The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) announced that the Measure X Highway 156/Castroville Boulevard Interchange has been recommended by California Transportation Commission staff for $20 million in Trade Corridor Enhancement Program funding, in fiscal year 2021/22. 

If approved by the Commission in December, the award is expected to fully fund the $29.5 million needed to construct the project. Other funding sources includes $2.525 million of Measure X funds, $1.975 million of STIP funds and $5 million in Developer Fees.

The Trade Corridor Enhancement Program, created under Senate Bill (SB) 1 (Beall, Chapter 5, Statutes of 2017), funds infrastructure improvements on federally designated Trade Corridors of National and Regional Significance, on the Primary Freight Network, and along corridors that have a high volume of freight movement, as determined by the Commission. In Monterey County, Highway 156 supports the $4.4 billion annual agricultural industry by facilitating the movement of valuable goods by truck.

After learning about the recommendation, Debbie Hale, TAMC’s Executive Director, said, “This funding will allow this important safety and goods movement project to proceed with its scheduled construction starting in 2022.  We thank Caltrans for co-nominating this project with TAMC, and like them, we await the final decision.”

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