Seaside council authorizes $4 million in regional funds for Broadway Complete Streets design and construction

The Seaside City Council on Dec. 4 authorized the finance director to appropriate $4,000,000 in 2025 mid-cycle regional surface transportation funding to the Broadway Avenue Complete Streets project.

Public Works staff described the project scope: converting sections of Broadway from four lanes to two (a road diet), installing roundabouts at key intersections to reduce certain crash types, creating curb extensions and offset crosswalks, adding class 2 bike lanes and improving accessibility for school drop-off and pickup under Safe Routes to School principles. Staff traced the project’s funding history to 2020 allocations (ATP, RSTIP, Measure X) and said the added $4 million fills a funding gap to move toward construction. Staff also noted an outreach and education budget in the project package (identified in the staff presentation as approximately $1,110,000) for public engagement, education and travel-time modeling.

Council questions focused on safety data, the number of roundabouts (seven in project documents), coordination with Monterey–Salinas Transit and phasing to avoid school disruptions. Several residents asked for additional town halls and better outreach to residents who may be elderly or less likely to respond to surveys; staff said phasing and traffic modeling will be part of forthcoming public outreach and that contractors will be required to minimize impacts to schools during key periods.

Staff stressed that the appropriation authorizes the use of funds and does not represent final construction approval; final steps include submissions to the California Transportation Commission, final bidding, contract award and a publicly presented phasing plan. The council approved the appropriation by recorded vote.