As state lawmakers, we work to fight climate change, do it in a way that helps the local economy and provide access to our precious California coast — particularly to those living and commuting from disadvantaged communities. All those goals are met by SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit Project in front of the Coastal Commission in early August.

We, along with our constituents, regularly sit in traffic on Highway 1 to Monterey. The congestion is bad, becoming a major issue for anyone trying to get to work, to school, or to access the Peninsula’s abundant trails and beaches. For residents of the Salinas Valley, though, Highway 1 overcrowding isn’t just a nuisance — it’s becoming a true barrier to the coast, threatening access to jobs, education, medical care, and to the natural resources all of us in this region deserve to enjoy.

And with no changes it will only get worse. According to one recent study, the number of cars on Highway 1 is only going up — with congestion expected to climb between 18%-42% over the next 15 years.

We can do something about it. The Monterey-Salinas Transit SURF! project is a 5-mile busway within the historic rail corridor parallel to Highway 1 that will get traffic off the highway by integrating the existing Line 20 Salinas-Monterey service. This will offer workers and families a cheaper, faster, and less environmentally damaging route to the coast, and in so doing will take many riders out of cars on the Highway 1 corridor.

The project includes new coastal access to the Beach Range Road trail in Marina and Sand City and trail extensions to the Fort Ord Dunes State Park and the planned Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway (FORTAG) network.

Senate Bill 32 and Assembly Bill 197 are two recent state laws that require communities to reduce emissions and address the social costs of climate change. This project will help our local communities meet those goals. According to one recent study, SURF! will reduce greenhouse gases by 1,283 metric tons of CO2 annually — equivalent to sequestering 1,900 acres of forest.

The project has been designed with direct input from over 4,500 county residents — through more than 150 meetings, surveys, and public events over 4.5 years. And in the communities more disadvantaged in our region, this project will help people get to jobs in a way they can afford.

And best of all, especially at a time when public budgets are strained: SURF! is already paid for. The $92.6 million project is funded with $27.4 million from Measure X, a retail sales tax that funds transportation improvements approved by more than 67% of Monterey County voters. The State has set aside $27.5 million for SURF! in discretionary transportation funding, and the project has been awarded $22.1 million of federal funds through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which directs funds to projects that tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice and invest in communities that have too often been left behind.

Delays to this project could jeopardize this hard-won funding. Community leaders recognize SURF! is a win for transportation, for equity, and for the environment, and they have moved expeditiously to approve development permits. The final major decision is with the Coastal Commission, and we urge the Commission to do the same.

All Monterey County residents deserve access to the coast. SURF! is the most environmentally-friendly way for them to get there.

John Laird is the state Senator for District 17, Dawn Addis is the state Assemblymember for District 30.