Regional trail system achieves a milestone

The portion of the Canyon Del Rey segment that runs under Highway 218 and links Work Memorial and Del Rey parks with the Frog Pond Wetland Preserve, will allow hikers, cyclists and pedestrians to move freely under the roadway through a 10.5-foot-high passageway. TAMC

Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway Project Canyon Del Rey segment work includes pile driving operations along Highway 218 through Del Rey Oaks. TAMC

About 2,000 Cal State Monterey Bay students walked the stage at the rodeo arena grounds for graduation. BRENT DUNDORE-ARIAS — CSUMB

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The idea of creating a network of trails and greenways near the Monterey coastline and Fort Ord started gaining traction in 2014. In May, it achieved a major milestone as ground was broken in a symbolic first step in the phase I construction of the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway project through Del Rey Oaks.

“It’s the work of all these people. That is what it takes to retrofit a region like ours with 30 miles of infrastructure enabling safe accessible active transportation and equitable access to open space, and that’s what we’re doing here today,” said Fred Watson, co-creator of the FORTAG idea, at the celebratory event.

FORTAG is a new paved regional active transportation route that will serve as a safe pedestrian and bicycle corridor connecting Seaside, Marina, Del Rey Oaks, Monterey and unincorporated community residents to Cal State University Monterey Bay, the Fort Ord National Monument and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail.

The northern loop of FORTAG encircles Marina, following a 13-mile route that includes 3 miles of the existing Coastal Rec Trail.

The southern loop of FORTAG encircles Seaside and bisects Del Rey Oaks, following a 15-mile route that includes 4 miles of the existing coastal trail system. The route includes spurs connecting with existing and planned bike/pedestrian infrastructure. Several sections of the paved trail will link to nearby unpaved trails.

This first 1.5-mile segment will encompass Canyon Del Rey Boulevard — State Route 218 — through the city of Del Rey Oaks and parts of the city of Seaside.

Along with Watson, Scott Waltz is the other half of the founders of FORTAG.

“Increasingly communities across California are embracing the benefits of active transportation,” said Waltz. “Fred and I are very proud to be working with (Transportation Agency for Monterey County) to support more folks going further by walking and biking.”

Waltz said the founder’s hope is that FORTAG will contribute to healthier, better connected and even more sustainable communities in Monterey County.

“This phase I segment will allow kids and families to safely cross (Highway) 218 to enjoy park and pond. It will provide a protected path for neighborhood elementary children to walk to school, Del Rey Oaks will gain an improved path through Work Memorial Park and onto the Fremont retail district and ultimately the trail will connect with bike routes chartered by both Monterey and Seaside, so that folks can safely ride the coastal parks and beaches.”

Watson said that it takes a tremendous amount of people to get on the same page, representing many organizations, to pull something like this off. “That’s what has happened the last ten years, and looking around right now, it’s still happening,” he said.

The Transportation Agency for Monterey County — the lead agency on the project — Caltrans District 5, the city of Del Rey Oaks, the city of Seaside and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District hosted the ceremony outside the Del Rey Oaks City Hall.

“This is the largest project that our city will see, and has seen, in many decades,” said Del Rey Oaks Mayor Scott Donaldson. “It’s going to cost around $20 million and to kind of give you a perspective on that, that’s about four times our city’s annual budget and it’s roughly what Measure X generates on an annual basis.

“It’s a complex project involving many jurisdictions and it will take about two years to complete. But I’m confident that our partners will deliver what they’ve promised to the city.”

CSUMB ups and downs

Cal State Monterey Bay held its 28th Commencement Ceremony at Salinas Rodeo Grounds. For the first time since 2015, there was only one ceremony instead of separate convocations by college. There were about 2,000 graduates and 12,000 in attendance.

A few days later, the university announced it was laying off 16 employees and another 86 had opted into the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program, taking an early retirement. The cost-saving moves came in the wake of a roughly $12 million structural deficit the university has been working to decrease over the past two academic years.