My first PIP Community Meeting!

Wow! We had a community meeting about the Prunedale Improvement Project last Thursday, April 7, and first and foremost, I want to say thank you to Vee Thomas for organizing this meeting and getting everyone there!

I also want to thank everyone who was there for taking the time to attend. Since I’m a newcomer to the PIP team it is very important for me to meet you and hear your concerns directly, so this was an excellent listening and learning opportunity for me – and I thank you for that.

Recapping what was discussed at last week’s meeting, many of the concerns that were raised focused on how the finished PIP will effect traffic on local roads. Specific concerns include:

• Extra traffic on Prunedale Road South
• The right turn from the 101 Southbound onto Blackie Road, which is particularly difficult for buses and trucks
• Extra traffic on Prunedale Road North and San Miguel Canyon
• Concerns about when the dividers closing off the left turns will be installed
• Traffic safety around the schools at San Miguel and Prunedale Road North
• Changes and improvements along Harrison Road
• Access issues for the mobile home park near Russell/Espinosa
• Increased traffic on Crazy Horse Canyon

I want to let you know that we are working with Caltrans to see what can be done about the turn on Blackie Road. The issues with maintenance on the local roads is something we will bring to the County.

Another question that was raised at the meeting was “Why is this project necessary?” And I think this is key for everyone to understand.

The Prunedale Improvement Project was designed to address safety and operational concerns along the Highway 101 corridor between North Salinas and Echo Valley Road. Over the last ten years, there have been nearly 2300 accidents along this 8-mile-long stretch of highway, resulting in close to 700 injuries and 22 fatalities.

As we discussed at the meeting, it is true that when this project is completed access to Highway 101 will be less convenient for some than it was before;  however, it will also be much safer than it was before.

Making it safe for local residents to move in and out of their community is the primary purpose of this project. By closing and consolidating some of the at-grade access (local roads and driveways) to Highway 101 we will reduce both the number of accidents in this corridor and the severity of them.

Please contact me any time you have questions or concerns about this project. I look forward to working with you.

Sharon Gavin

TAMC Community Outreach Coordinator

831-775-4415

sharon@tamcmonterey.org