LandWatch State of Monterey County Report 1998

3.4 Roads And Highways

Highway congestion is measured by transportation agencies as Level of Service (LOS), on a scale of A through F (A represents the best conditions; F represents the worst). The Monterey County Regional Transportation Plan has a goal to attain and maintain LOS C for the roadway network. Short-range goals are to allow no degradation below LOS D for urban roads now operating at LOS D or better; no degradation below LOS C for those rural roads now operating at LOS C or better; and no degradation below existing LOS for all other roads.

Of the 14 major highway and road segments evaluated, three are at LOS D, four at LOS E, five at LOS F, portions of one at LOS D and F, and one at LOS E and D. Route 68, west of Highway 1, has the highest accident rate. There are three fully-funded projects that would improve LOS: Hatton Canyon Parkway, Operational Improvements, and interchange improvements for Highway 101 north of Salinas. The Prunedale Bypass is partially funded (Table 7).

Average daily trips in 1997 were estimated at 1,046,057 and vehicle miles traveled during a typical workday at 8,978,000 miles.(4) This number is expected to increase 42% to 12,743,000 miles in 2020. Commuters make fewer than 3% of their work trips on a Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) bus.(6) In 1995, an estimated 2,629 employed residents (1.6% of employed residents) traveled to employment outside the county. This number is forecast to increase 325% to 11,197 residents (4.9% of employed residents) in 2020. (3)

Table 7--Status of Roads and Highways