Commission recommends Alisal Streetscape Master Plan for City Council review

The Salinas Traffic and Transportation Commission on Dec. 12 voted 2-1 to recommend that the Salinas City Council consider adopting the draft Alisal Streetscape Master Plan, a multimodal streetscape proposal for East Alisal Street, East Market Street, Williams Road and Sanborn Road. The presentation and technical analysis were given by city staff and consultants from SWA and Nelson Nygaard.

The plan, presented by Mariana Ricker of SWA and traffic model results by Thadeus Wozniak of Nelson Nygaard, lays out a set of corridor-specific improvements intended to reduce speeds, expand the urban tree canopy, and create safer, more usable pedestrian and bike space. "This project really continues to build on the goals that were laid out in the Alisal Vibrancy Plan," Ricker said, describing three design approaches the consultants tested: "connect," "live," and "plant the Alisal." Wozniak said the team modeled 27 signalized intersections to evaluate vehicle operations under the proposed changes.

Why it matters: The plan would reallocate roadway space on major east–west and north–south corridors, add mid-block crossings and planted medians, and create a central Paseo on Williams Road. Williams Road was previously awarded roughly $16,000,000 in Safe Streets for All grant funding; the draft treats the grant-supported elements (including proposed roundabouts) as part of a broader streetscape strategy. The commission heard that most modeled intersections would continue to operate at similar levels of service, though a handful — notably at locations with proposed roundabouts — would show lower vehicle Level of Service (LOS) as a predictable tradeoff for improved safety.

Key details and technical findings: Nelson Nygaard modeled 27 intersections across the four corridors. The consultants reported that 21 of the modeled intersections would perform at LOS D or better under the proposed network. Six intersections already operate at LOS E or F in the existing condition; three of those remain E or F in the proposed scenario. The team noted that roundabouts typically reduce crash severity but may have lower vehicle throughput than signalized intersections, and that some locations will need adjustments such as left‑turn pockets to preserve operations.

Corridor approaches described in the plan include: - East Alisal Street: Removal of continuous center turn lanes in midblocks to create planted medians and widened sidewalks in commercial/retail segments; multiuse path connections nearer Hartnell College. - East Market Street: Lane reductions (from two lanes each direction to one) in central sections, sidewalk‑level dedicated bike/pedestrian paths in the busier retail areas, and continuity with existing curbside bike lanes in quieter segments. - Sanborn Road: Retains multiple travel lanes to accommodate heavy traffic volumes while adding planted medians and targeted mid‑block crossings (for example, aligning to the commercial "bread box" destination). - Williams Road: Incorporates elements from a prior grant application (proposed roundabouts, lane reductions) and shows a central raised Paseo that would serve as a shared pedestrian/bike spine in sections where turning movements are limited.

Public comments and commissioner concerns: Several residents said they worry about existing congestion during seasonal agricultural traffic and asked where displaced vehicles might divert. A resident urged education on how to use roundabouts, noting driver confusion during the learning period. Another commenter supported the plan and urged planting climate‑adapted and native trees; the consultants confirmed tree species and understory lists were drawn from the city's District Identity Master Plan and the urban forest management work by DuDek.

At least one commissioner announced a formal no vote, citing safety concerns about mixing bicyclists and pedestrians in sidewalk‑level bike zones and invoking California Vehicle Code section 21200 and guidance in the Caltrans Highway Design Manual in support of the objection. That commissioner also referenced professional experience with earlier bikeway projects and said the proposed sidewalk‑level bicycle accommodations raised safety and legal concerns.

Action taken: The commission voted to forward the draft master plan with a recommendation to the City Council. The motion text in the record was not specified verbatim; the recorded vote was 2 in favor, 1 opposed. The commission directed that public and departmental comments received during the current review period be incorporated as the draft advances to council.

What's next: The consultants said the public draft is posted for review through Dec. 20 and the team is aiming for City Council consideration on Jan. 28; staff will incorporate commissioner and public comments before finalization. Further design‑level work will clarify geometrics, left‑turn pockets, signal timing and other operational details prior to construction-level design.

Ending: The commission’s recommendation moves the draft Alisal Streetscape Master Plan to the City Council review phase; council acceptance would lead to subsequent project design, additional environmental review if required, and later construction funding and scheduling.