Title
a. Receive an update on the 2024 grant application submitted to Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects grant program, to request funding for the Palo Colorado Road Storm Damage Repair Project as the 2024 grant opportunity was recently rescinded; and
b. Ratify the submittal of the 2026 grant application to the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects competitive grant opportunity for the Palo Colorado Road Storm Damage Repair Project;
c. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks (PWFP), or designee, to act as the agent for the County of Monterey in processing all documentation to secure these funds; and
d. Direct PWFP to return to the Board for approval prior to acceptance of any grant award(s).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive an update on the 2024 grant application submitted to Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects grant program, to request funding for the Palo Colorado Road Storm Damage Repair Project as the 2024 grant opportunity was recently rescinded; and
b. Ratify the submittal of the 2026 grant application to the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects competitive grant opportunity for the Palo Colorado Road Storm Damage Repair Project;
c. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks (PWFP), or designee, to act as the agent for the County of Monterey in processing all documentation to secure these funds; and
d. Direct PWFP to return to the Board for approval prior to acceptance of any grant award(s).
SUMMARY:
The Department of Public Works, Facilities and Parks (PWFP) received approval from the Board of Supervisors (Board) in 2024 to submit a grant application to the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) grant program for the Palo Colorado Road Storm Damage Repair Project (Project). PWFP would like to inform the Board that the 2024 NSFLTP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was recently rescinded and a new NOFO for the NSFLTP grant program was released in June 2026. PWFP submitted an application to the NSFLTP program once again in July 2026 to request Project funding. PWFP staff is returning to provide an update to the Board and to request that the Board ratify the grant application submittal for the Project.
DISCUSSION:
Palo Colorado Road is a narrow, rural road approximately 8 miles in length serving as the only access road from the scenic Big Sur Coastline along Highway 1 to the Los Padres National Forest in the Santa Lucia Mountains of the County of Monterey. Unfortunately, Palo Colorado Road has suffered damage from two federally declared disasters; the Soberanes Fire in 2016 burned over 132,000 acres in the area and successive storm events in 2016 and 2017 exacerbated the roadway damage as large amounts of water inundated the burn scarred hillsides and canyons causing mudslides, large slip outs, fallen trees and debris flows. These conditions created a safety risk for the traveling public resulting in emergency repairs and road closures. Approximately 4 miles of Palo Colorado Road remain severely damaged and closed to the public. The Project will rehabilitate and significantly improve safety and resilience of vital roadway providing access to Los Padres National Forest and regional recreation facilities. Proposed improvements include drainage system rehabilitation, hillside stabilization and safety upgrades. PWFP continues to work diligently with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and seek other funding sources to support the Project.
The NSFLTP grant program provides funding for the construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of nationally significant projects within, adjacent to, or accessing Federal and Tribal lands. On July 17, 2024, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published the NOFO to solicit applications for each Fiscal Year 2024 through 2026 for the NSFLTP grant program. The solicitation stated that the round of funding would result in the distribution of up to $165 million for the three-year period.
On October 1, 2024, the Board of Supervisors approved the submittal of a grant application to the NSFLTP grant program to request funding for the Project, and authorized the PWFP Director, or designee, to act as the agent for the County in processing all documentation to secure these funds. Consistent with that approval, on October 16, 2024, PWFP submitted a grant application to the NSFLTP grant program requesting $10 million for the Project.
On June 2, 2026, DOT announced that the 2024 NSFLTP NOFO was rescinded, and a new NOFO was released for the NSFLTP grant program for each Fiscal Year 2024 through 2026 funding. Applicants were encouraged to update their application according to the new NSFLTP NOFO guidelines and resubmit their application. Director of PWFP shared this information with the Board of Supervisors in a Board Memorandum. In accordance with the 2024 Board approval, PWFP revised the previously submitted NSFLTP application and submitted the updated application to the NSFLTP grant program on July 16, 2026, to request $10 million for the Project.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT/COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
PWFP collaborated with United States Forest Service staff during application development to attain the required sponsorship for the application.
FINANCING:
The total estimated cost of the Project, including design engineering, environmental, right-of-way, utilities and construction is $17,239,900. PWFP is requesting $10 million in NSFLTP grant funds for the construction phase of the Project. After completion of the Project, an estimated reimbursement of $1,663,670 is expected from FEMA and $457,510 from the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA). The required 10% non-federal match will be covered by local funds, potentially sourced from the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), Measure X, or Senate Bill (SB) 1, or other source.
The estimated cost of $5,000 associated with PWFP staff for submitting the application will be funded from the FY 2026-27 adopted budget Fund 1201, Department 320015, Appropriation PFP113.
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
The following attachment is on file with the Clerk of the Board:
Attachment A - Location Map