Title
a. Receive an update on the 2026 grant proposal submitted to United States Department of War, Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) grant program, to request funding for the Jolon Road Safety Improvement Project;
b. Ratify the submittal of the 2026 grant proposal to the DCIP grant program for the Jolon Road Safety Improvement Project;
c. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks (PWFP), or designee, to act as the agent for the County of Monterey (County) in processing all documentation to apply for and accept the DCIP award and effectuate these funds on behalf of the County; and
d. Add the Jolon Road Safety Improvement Project to the Public Works, Facilities and Parks (PWFP) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27 Annual Work Program for Road Fund.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive an update on the 2026 grant proposal submitted to United States Department of War, Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) grant program, to request funding for the Jolon Road Safety Improvement Project;
b. Ratify the submittal of the 2026 grant proposal to the DCIP grant program for the Jolon Road Safety Improvement Project;
c. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks (PWFP), or designee, to act as the agent for the County of Monterey (County) in processing all documentation to apply for and accept the DCIP award and effectuate these funds on behalf of the County; and
d. Add the Jolon Road Safety Improvement Project to the Public Works, Facilities and Parks (PWFP) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27 Annual Work Program for Road Fund.
SUMMARY:
PWFP submitted a grant proposal in June 2026 to the DCIP grant program to request $9,784,000 to fund the construction portion of the Jolon Road Safety Improvement Project (Project). In response to the recently submitted DCIP proposal, PWFP received an invitation to proceed with a grant application to secure the requested funds for the Project, which will rehabilitate approximately 8.7 miles of Jolon Road. PWFP staff would like to provide an update to the Board of Supervisors (Board), request that the Board ratify the submittal of the grant proposal for the Project, and authorize the Director of PWFP to accept the DCIP award and process all documentation necessary to effectuate these funds.
DISCUSSION:
Jolon Road is a rural, narrow, two-lane road constructed in the 1940s with little to no shoulders, spanning a length of approximately thirty-nine (39) miles and connecting to U.S. Highway 101 in King City and Bradley. Running parallel to U.S. Highway 101, Jolon Road is the only corridor that serves U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hunter Liggett. After many years in use, the road has geometric deficiencies, poor pavement conditions, and is in need of rehabilitation to improve safety, aesthetics and function.
The DCIP competitive grant program is administered by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) and provides funding to address deficiencies in community infrastructure that supports a military installation’s readiness and lethality. The grant program will only fund construction, and costs for design, permitting, and environmental clearance must be funded by the County.
On June 17, 2026, PWFP issued a Board Memorandum (Attachment B) to update the Board regarding the recently submitted proposal to request grant funding under the 2026 DCIP grant solicitation for the Project whereby PWFP requested $9,784,000 for the construction phase to rehabilitate an 8.7 mile portion of Jolon Road (from the Mission Road south to Bradley Lockwood Road).
On August 7, 2026, PWFP received an invitation from OLDCC (Attachment C) to proceed with a DCIP grant application to secure the requested $9,784,000 for the Project and PWFP issued a Board Memorandum to update the Board that day. PWFP staff will coordinate with OLDCC to submit the requested application for the Project by the August 21, 2026 deadline.
Staff recommends approving the requested Board actions to ratify the submittal of the 2026 DCIP grant application and authorize the Director of PWFP, or designee, to act as the agent for the County of Monterey in processing all documentation to accept the $9,784,000 DCIP award and effectuate the funds, and add the project to the FY 2026/27 Annual Work Program for Road Fund.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT/COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
PWFP staff collaborated with Garrison Fort Hunter Liggett staff, County Legislative Staff, and Congressperson Zoe Lofgren’s Office during proposal development.
FINANCING:
The estimated total project costs to rehabilitate the 8.7 mile portion of Jolon Road is approximately $12,036,000 of which approximately $252,000 has been previously expended for preliminary design. The awarded funds of $9,784,000 will be supplemented with approximately $2.0 million of Road Fund (Fund 1201, Department 320015, Appropriation PFP113). There is sufficient appropriation in the adopted budget to complete the design phase of the project. Staff will return to the Board in June 2027 for Fiscal Year 2027/28 budget adoption to include approximately $10.8 million for the construction phase of the project.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
Consistent with the Board’s Strategic Plan Goals for Sustainable Infrastructure, the Project will construct sustainable, physical infrastructure that improves the quality of life for County residents and visitors.
X Well-Being and Quality of Life
X Sustainable Infrastructure for the Present and Future
X Safe and Resilient Communities
Diverse and Thriving Economy
Prepared by: Victor Gutierrez, Project Manager, (831) 755-4806
Janie Bettencourt, Management Analyst II
Reviewed by: Jonathan Pascua, PE, Senior Civil Engineer
Enrique Saavedra, PE, Chief of Public Works
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Attachments:
Attachment A - Location Map
Attachment B - Board Memorandum dated June 17, 2026
Attachment C - OLDCC Invitation
Attachment D - Project Budget