MST announces plans to turn tax dollars into bus improvements

Upgrades on the way to Monterey-Salinas-Transit. The money coming from the increased gas tax. MST announcing Monday that more than $700,000 from that tax will replace older buses with newer, more fuel efficient ones.

Senate Bill 1 is what raised the California Gas Tax by twelve cents. It’s expected to bring in $50 billion dollars for infrastructure work across the state. MST is getting $2.25 million of that annually. Money they say they’re already working to put to use.

“Some $770,000 that we will be receiving to help buy new buses,” said Carl Sedoryk, MST General Manager and CEO.

Buses Sedoryk says will not only be a newer mode of transportation for passengers but better for the environment.

“More fuel efficient, perhaps even some zero emission all-electric busses,” he said.

Some on the Central Coast are in favor of buses that are better for the environment.

“This air quality that you have out here is not something that you expect all the time coming from different cities so if you have to spend a little bit to keep it that way I think it’s worth it,” said one bus rider.

But not all are happy about having to pay more at the pump for these improvements. Still, Sedoryk say that gas tax is a good thing.

“They provide for a better quality of service to not only residents and folks who live here but also the visitors who come here and spend their dollars to help create a healthy community here in Monterey County,” Sedoryk.

MST also plans to use funds from Senate Bill 1 to start work on improving service on Highway One between Marina and Monterey.