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Advocates urge NCIP committee to protect Fremont Street undergrounding as PG&E advances timeline
Summary
Public commenters and neighborhood advocates urged the NCIP committee to keep already‑approved funding for a Fremont Street undergrounding project after PG&E agreed to move Monterey to the front of the Rule 20 credit queue; staff told the committee the project still faces a multi‑million dollar gap and a decision on whether to add $1–$2 million this year.
Ray Myers, chairperson of Monterey Undergrounding, told the Neighborhood/Community Improvement Program (NCIP) advisory committee that PG&E has agreed to move Monterey "to the front of the line" for Rule 20 credits and urged members not to deappropriate $2,250,000 already prioritized for the Fremont Street undergrounding project. "This means NCIP money that is already approved for undergrounding must be available and should not be considered for defunding," Myers said.
Staff and committee members described the financial gap the project faces. The most recent estimate discussed at the meeting was about $9.86 million for the Fremont Street work; PG&E Rule 20 credits for the project were reported as about $4.75 million and the city currently has roughly $2.25 million in CIP/NCIP committed to the effort. Staff summarized that, if estimates remain unchanged, the delta would be approximately $2.65 million. Committee discussion centered on whether to request $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 this year to keep the project moving. A staff speaker said design work could begin in 2026 and that construction could theoretically start as early as 2029 if funding and interagency coordination proceed.
Multiple public commenters emphasized safety and the risk of losing accrued credits. "I urge this committee to consider the consequences of losing six years in line with PG&E and the risk of forfeiting $4,700,000 just to satisfy one year of continual structural budget deficits," Myers told the committee. Other residents noted Fremont is a major arterial that matters for emergency evacuation and said completing the undergrounding would make roadways safer and preserve ratepayers' credits.
Staff also noted related options: Del Monte Avenue was identified as a higher‑risk corridor but likely more expensive; North Fremont had been identified earlier as the active project associated with the accrued credits. Committee members and staff repeatedly stressed the estimate could change as PG&E and other utilities complete design and bidding, and they urged caution about committing additional funds without final quotes.
The committee did not take a formal vote on additional undergrounding funding at this meeting; discussion and a request for neighborhood input on whether to allocate $1 million versus $2 million were left for members to consider before voting night.
