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Residents warn commission about MST transfer, dumping at Alvin Overpass during public comment
Summary
Multiple public commenters told the Salinas commission they oppose moving MST—us service near the train station and requested a ban on using the Alvin Overpass site for construction debris, citing truck traffic, dust and safety for nearby seniors and children.
Residents used the public-comment period at the May 14 Traffic and Transportation Commission meeting to press two neighborhood concerns: the planned MST transit-station relocation and ongoing dumping at the Alvin Overpass vacant lot.
Eloise Shih told the commission she learned MST plans to move a transfer station to the train-station area and warned that concentrating buses at a single entrance would create a traffic bottleneck and increase danger for nearby seniors and wheelchair users. "If they put a 4-foot wall there, one of those semis is gonna hit the elderly people in the wheelchair," she said, urging residents to submit written comments by the public-comment deadline.
Peter Zlai asked the commission to support banning the Alvin Overpass site—or construction and demolition debris after describing long-term dumping, an open gate, dusty conditions and rumbling trucks in a residential neighborhood. "It doesn't need to be in a residential area," Zlai said, suggesting alternatives such as a dog park, additional parking or green space.
Yolanda Hayes noted a hazardous curve near Little River and urged striping and enforcement; she also echoed concerns about the station move and pointed to Greenfield—fforts to enforce bike and sidewalk rules as a model.
The chair and staff acknowledged these concerns. Chair (S1) said MST's relocation timeline is not immediate and suggested inviting an MST representative to a future meeting when a firm implementation date is available. On the Alvin Overpass issue, staff and the chair said the matter is more of a land-use enforcement issue and indicated the city manager and public-works staff have been engaged; the commission encouraged follow-up through the appropriate land-use channels.
No formal action was taken at the meeting on either MST relocation or the Alvin Overpass site; commissioners asked staff to track the complaints and consider agendaing follow-up reports. The record shows residents want quick city responses to both safety and land-use problems.
