MST on the move, a study focusing on possibly relocating the hub

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- After 35 years of service, Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) is preparing to relocate its central hub. Thanks to a $435,000 grant from Caltrans, the local public transit agency will look into expanding its services into the Eastern Alisal area.

MST CEO Carl Sedoryk explained that the current hub has outgrown its capacity. "We are just frankly out of space and having difficulty serving the number of people that currently use transit at that location. There is a desire to have a larger transit center in Salinas, where we have most of our public transit ridership in Monterey County," Sedoryk said.

This relocation plan has been in development for nearly a decade. Sedoryk emphasized that moving the facility to the Alisal corridor would provide better accessibility for passengers. “It would be more convenient for our passengers and MST, as long as it's within walking distance of other downtown destinations for our transit," he added.

Some transit users are optimistic about the change. Jesse Angel, an MST rider, believes the move would benefit many in the community. "It would help out a lot. It would help a lot of people like the parolees, to have another station like this one out closer to the daily report," he said. However, not everyone shares the same sentiment. Antonio Venegas, another MST rider, expressed concerns, stating that he prefers the current central location. "I wouldn’t like it. I feel like the current hub is better for me," he said.

Despite mixed reactions from riders, Sedoryk believes the new plan will ultimately benefit everyone in the region. “The technology of this traffic signal coordination can be used in such a way that not only will buses move faster through traffic, but also personal vehicles. So even if you never use the bus, you’ll still see the benefit,” he explained.

The new planning process will aim to reuse the 0.8-acre land where the current hub stands. The city of Salinas plans to transform the site into a hotel or entertainment center to enhance downtown Salinas.

The planning phase for the new transit hub is expected to begin in April, with Sedoryk forecasting an 18-month timeline for the project.