Deer Flats Crosswalk Proposal on Mark Thomas Drive Repriced to $1 Million in Monterey’s October Review

MONTEREY, Calif. — October 29, 2026. Residents of Deer Flats are seeking safer walking access along Mark Thomas Drive between Santa Catalina and St. John’s Chapel. The NCIP application, DF-01, identifies a missing sidewalk segment and proposes both a sidewalk and a new crosswalk. In Monterey’s October 28 project inventory the preliminary estimate is $1 million—a marked increase from the $100,000 listed in the October 21 packet.

A short sidewalk gap with a complicated approval path

The proposal is about one identified stretch of Mark Thomas Drive, not a claim that every sidewalk in Deer Flats is deficient. If built, the connection could provide a clearer walking route for neighbors and people going toward nearby destinations. The submitted proposal does not establish that construction is imminent or that the crossing location has been professionally approved.

Why a crosswalk is not automatic

In their review notes, Monterey transportation staff said a new crossing must first be evaluated under the city’s adopted Crosswalk Policy. Officials also identified a long-term issue: the adjacent property owner would have to agree to maintenance responsibility after construction. Those are real conditions that cannot be solved merely by allocating a budget number.

What happens next for this neighborhood?

DF-01 remains part of the 2026–27 nomination process, with project-ranking night scheduled for November 18. The $1 million amount is an early planning estimate, not an awarded contract or a final construction cost. Families who walk this road can consult the project packet and follow the city committee before assuming a start date.

Official record: City of Monterey, NCIP Committee October 28, 2026 second-review agenda packet, project DF-01 (PDF). The city lists November 18, 2026 NCIP project ranking as an upcoming committee meeting. Cost figures are preliminary estimates, not awarded funding.

YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER NEEDS YOU

Help this community newspaper grow

Your support helps build coverage for the people and places this local newspaper serves.

Donate once by card ↗

Help Deer Flats News grow Help strengthen reporting on Deer Flats: community voices, important decisions and local life.

Support Deer Flats News

Choose how to support Deer Flats News:

Credit / Debit Card via Stripe

Choose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.

Continue with PayPal Continue with Zelle

Zelle payments go to Vitaly Ataev Troshin. Please verify the recipient in your bank before sending. Availability depends on your bank.

Optional reader support. When possible, add “Deer Flats News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.

Optional support through the publisher. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible and never buy editorial influence.

Deer Flats News — Your Community Newspaper

Have a correction, news tip, local announcement, or story to submit? Contact our editorial team. All submissions are reviewed before publication.