Local Toll Road on Dangerous Highway Moves Forward - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

CASTROVILLE, Calif.- The Transportation Agency of Monterey County voted to move forward this week with hiring a consultant to study the economic impact of a toll road on the busy and dangerous Highway 156 corridor.

Transportation officials say they recognize the need for congestion relief, safety and local access by improving and widening Highway 156 between Castroville and Prunedale. 

A consultant will further explore potential tolling options, evaluate highway improvements and financing strategies that could benefit the movement of goods and traffic in the corridor, reduce congestion, enhance travel safety, reduce travel times, and upgrade the route to access controlled standards. 

The study would also look at traffic diversion and the factors determining the willingness to pay a toll versus seeking an alternate toll-free route on local roads, as well as the feasibility of tolling visitors only or providing local discount options. Tolling rates would be designed to create a balance between traffic usage, traffic diversion and revenue potential. Both one way vs. two way tolling will be reviewed.

Last year, the Monterey County board of supervisors talked about the proposed toll road being $2 for cars and $5 for trucks.

The hope is to raise the millions of dollars needed to expand the two-lane road, to four lanes.

Once the consultants are selected, the tolling traffic and revenue study is expected to take about 6 weeks, and the economic analysis is expected to take about 4 weeks. After evaluating the results of the studies, transportation officials will come back to the board with a recommendation.