8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 19-25, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com With Monterey County’s population projected to grow about 21 percent over the next 25 years, the number of cars on the road will likely continue to increase, leading to even more traffic congestion. With this in mind, the County of Monterey and the Association of Monterey Bay Are Governments hired the consulting firm Mobycon Inc. to author the grant-funded Monterey County Zero Emissions Shared Mobility Study. By zero emissions, the study’s authors mean modes of transportation that do not use internal combustion engines. Shared mobility refers to everything from public transit to services like Uber and Lyft to e-bike and scooter sharing. The study was presented to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 10. It includes six recommended actions including the establishment of multimodal mobility hubs of various sizes, which the study’s authors see as forming “the backbone of Monterey County’s zero-emission shared mobility network,” and would serve as connecting points where people could securely store a bicycle before hopping on a bus, for example. “They function as ‘mobility centers’ that support easy transfers between transit, shared EV cars, vanpool fleets, e-bikes and walking,” the study reads. Alongside the mobility hubs, the study recommends creating e-bike libraries, which provide free or lowcost long-term lending for those who can’t afford an e-bike of their own. The study says the libraries would be ideal for farmworker communities and those with physical limitations who would benefit from a bike with an electric assist. The estimated startup cost for a library with a small fleet of e-bikes is about $282,000. To cut traffic congestion, the study suggests expanding the Monterey Trolley’s service beyond the summer months and potentially extending and adding trolley routes to “new corners of the Peninsula, creating a central transit network for car-free Peninsula travel.” Another idea includes establishing a scenic corridor shuttle service for Big Sur, which would connect Monterey to major trailheads and other key destinations in Big Sur and would operate like the free shuttle service in Yosemite National Park. Launching the program would cost an estimated $4.5 million. Although none of the projects in the study are currently funded, the document provides a framework for county and transportation officials. Declining student enrollment and one-time funding drying up are two main factors that are driving local school districts to tighten their belts. Pacific Grove Unified School District is no exception, projecting a deficit for the second year in a row, this year of more than $2 million. (Declining enrollment doesn’t impact PGUSD financially since it’s funded by property tax revenue, rather than state compensation per-pupil.) “Incremental adjustments are no longer sufficient. Addressing this deficit requires meaningful, difficult action,” according to a presentation by administrators to the PGUSD board on Thursday, Feb. 12. The board is considering two options that could save $1.1 million or $881,773. Both eliminate three teacher positions—two in elementary, including a Spanish teacher, and one high school teacher from Pacific Grove Community High School, an alternative school for teens 16 and older—as well as reduce summer school for elementary students. Option A would also cut librarian and digital arts media teacher positions, while Option B proposes keeping both. The district would maintain its mental health technician for one more year by using MediCal funds. “The priority and criteria have been to protect and prioritize core and necessary instruction and programs,” Superintendent Linda Adamson says. Cutting a full-time teacher from P.G. Community High means the school would lose 40 percent of its teaching staff. At a PGUSD board meeting on Thursday, Feb. 12, some students spoke up in opposition, saying that attending the school was a life-changing experience. Hunter Hopkins said she attended several schools and had a 1.4 GPA before enrolling at PGCHS. “From the beginning, I felt included, challenged and excited about my learning career,” Hopkins said, noting she’s graduating soon with a 3.9 GPA. District officials host a community forum at the PGHS library from 6-7:30pm on Tuesday, Feb. 24, before the board votes on cuts on Feb. 26. Move On Zero Emissions Shared Mobility Study explores modes of alternative travel. By Aric Sleeper NEWS HOUSE RULES Salinas City Councilmember Tony Barrera and the Housing Authority of Monterey County provide an update on the Fairview housing project, which is converting a former motel into supportive housing. 6-8pm Thursday, Feb. 19. Los Padres Elementary School multipurpose room, 1130 John St., Salinas. Free; dinner provided. (831) 758-7096, lizbeth.garcia@salinas.gov. MARINE MATTERS The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council meets to discuss various items, including an update on kelp beds and annual report. Public comment is accepted. 9am-1pm Friday, Feb. 20. Marina Branch Library community room, 190 Seaside Circle. Also virtually at meet. google.com/iyp-xzvw-ojw. Free. montereybay.noaa.gov/sac/sacma.html. TALKING TRASH The City of Del Rey Oaks is planning its next garbage collection contract. Residents are invited to share ideas on how to improve services. 5:30-6:30pm Tuesday, Feb. 24; Noon-1pm Wednesday, Feb. 25; 5:30-6:30pm Thursday, Feb. 26. Via Zoom. Free. (831) 394-8511, bit.ly/ DROGarbageContract. WELL WATCH Learn about a state mandate to collect data on small wells in the Salinas Valley groundwater basin. Well owners are asked to register their wells to help create an inventory that assesses their vulnerability in times of drought. 5:30-7pm Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Prunedale Grange Hall, 17890 Moro Road, Salinas. 5:30-6:30pm Wednesday, Feb. 25 via Zoom at bit.ly/ GMP-Workshop-Feb. Free. (831) 7554860, svbgsa.org/gmp. COFFEE AND SUPE Meet Salinas Union High School District Superintendent Zandra Galvan over coffee. Share thoughts and ask questions about the district. 8:30-10am Wednesday, Feb. 25. Gold Leaf Spice & Teas, 8 1/2 W. Gabilan St., Salinas. Free. (831) 796-7000, salinasuhsd.org. GET HIRED Monterey County Works hosts a job fair focused on health care. 1:30-4pm Wednesday, Feb. 25. Career Center, 344 Salinas St., Suite 203, Salinas. Free. (831) 796-3335, montereycountyworks.com. TOOL KIT Salinas Police Department hosts a meeting to discuss its use of military equipment. The meeting and report are required annually by the state. 6-6:30pm Wednesday, Feb. 25. City Hall, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. View the report at bit.ly/2025SalinasAB481. (831) 758-7286. School Dues For a second year in a row, P.G. Unified School District braces for budget cuts. By Celia Jiménez Monterey-Salinas Transit operates the free Monterey Trolley in summer. Running it yearround would cost $2.4 million and the capital cost of a new line would be $5 million. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN It would operate like the free shuttle service in Yosemite. MONTEREY-SALINAS TRANSIT
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