Soledad could build “Parkway to the Pinnacles” with help from TAMC Tax
The nation’s newest national park is in southern Monterey County. Three years in, and it’s drawing big crowds.
Since the opening of Pinnacles in 2013, tourists from all over head to Soledad to make a pit stop and get back on the road. Soledad, California is even known as the gateway to the Pinnacles, and because of that, the small town sees more and more cars pass through Front Street. The businesses don’t mind.
“Of course it’s a better thing because we have more business,” La Plaza Bakery Manager Martha Rodriguez said. “There are more people passing through and stopping at our business because they go to Pinnacles.”
More cars is good for business but not good for safety.City officials said there is a multi-million dollar solution in the works to improve safety.
146 is the road drivers use to get to Pinnacles National Park. Residents said the problem is that it’s right next to a school zone. They’ve had many complaints to the city and said there’s been a lot of close calls for car accidents.
“That’s a problem because of safety concerns. So it is the goal of the city to extend the Los Coches Drive and take people out that way,” Soledad City Manager Adela Gonzales said.
Los Coches Drive is just fields right now, but if Soledad gets the $8 million to fund Pinnacles Parkway, it would connect the road to 146 on the other side. As for getting the money, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County said a proposed sales tax would help.
“We are proposing 3/8 of a penny that would raise $20 million a year so for a 30 year period. We’re talking about $600 million, and again, remember, $600 million. 60 percent of that money is going to go back to the cities and to the counties so they can address the needs they feel are important,” said TAMC’s Theresa Wright.
But business owners said busy streets are important to them.
“Most of the businesses are on Front Street, and that would not be a good idea for us,” said Rodriguez.
Soledad officials said they’ve been applying for grants to fund the Pinnacle Parkway project for years but so far, no luck. The sales tax still has some big hurdles. TAMC said it’s trying to get it on the November ballot and then voters would need to weigh in. But for now, Soledad said its shovel ready if funds get approved.
