The Greenfield City Council voted 3-0 to approve the acceptance of a $50,244 grant from the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) to launch a new transportation voucher program aimed at improving mobility for seniors and residents with disabilities.
“We know that there are a lot of public transit services available throughout Monterey County, but there was still concerns from senior residents about this fixed route transit that was not covering a lot of their needs,” said Fabiola Lopez, the city’s community engagement manager.
The City submitted an application to TAMC for funding through the Measure X Senior and Disabled Transportation Program. This transportation voucher program will provide subsidized transportation through ITN Monterey County's Valley Line service, which offers door-through-door, arm-through-arm transportation for eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.
On May 27, after more than an hour of discussion, the TAMC Board of Directors approved the City's application and awarded the grant.
Under the program, the grant will cover 85 percent of the cost of out-of-town trips and 70 percent of local trips, with participants paying the remaining balance. ITN Monterey County uses a flat-rate mileage system, with fares ranging from $25 for trips under 10 miles to $150 for trips more than 50 miles.
The grant will have no impact on the City's general fund as it is fully reimbursed by TAMC.
The council also approved a $16,123 budget adjustment for the 2026-27 fiscal year to recognize grant revenue and authorize first-year program expenditures.
“We were the only city who has ever applied for this grant, so it was very nice that our partnership and the way that we were going to provide this program was very competitive,” Lopez said.
Lopez added the first step is to recruit drivers and ITN Monterey County's Valley Line will train those drivers. A “full-on outreach and promotion” will start in January 2027, unless they get drivers very soon.