DATE: JUNE 2, 2026
DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATION
FROM: LISA MURPHY, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
TITLE: REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE OF THE INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION CENTER TO SALINAS CITY HERITAGE PARK RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Receive report regarding the request from Heritage Park Stakeholders to rename the Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) to “Salinas City Heritage Park” and either approve or deny the request.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City owns the Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) located at Station Place. The ITC is a 9-acre area located around the City’s central passenger rail and bus station that encompasses several historic attractions and parking for the transit station. A request to rename the site to Salinas City Heritage Park was submitted by the Heritage Park Stakeholders.
BACKGROUND:
The ITC is located at the corner of Salinas Street and West Market Street and functions as the primary transit hub for Monterey County and is situated within walking distance to Downtown Salinas.
The two large lots serve current transit operations and will support the future Commuter Rail Extension project. As part of the 2015 Downtown Vibrancy Plan, the City envisioned the potential to repurpose portions of the lots for mixed-use or transit-oriented development. In addition to parking, the lots are also used as a community gathering space.
The ITC area also includes multiple significant cultural and historical structures which are part of Salinas’ foundation and rich history. These include the Southern Pacific Freight Building which houses the Welcome Center in a portion of the building and storage in the back portion of the building, the Monterey and Salinas Valley Railroad Museum, and the First Mayors House.
The City received a request from the Heritage Park Stakeholders to rename the ITC to “Salinas City Heritage Park” (Attachment 1). The request does not include the parking lots.
The City established a process for naming city buildings, facilities and property (Attachment 2) in 2011. In accordance with that policy, an application was submitted to the City which is then to be submitted to the appropriate City Commission for further consideration. This report was presented to the Library and Community Services Commission for their consideration on April 8, 2026, where they approved recommending the name change for the City Council’s consideration.
As required, a 30-day review and public comment period was opened April 30, 2026 and will remain open until the close of the public comment portion of the public hearing. Public outreach included a published notice in the Monterey County Weekly, several social media posts and direct outreach to interested agencies including all the tenants at the ITC, Monterey Salinas Transit, County of Monterey and the Transportation Agency for Monterey County.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
Any new signage costs will be borne by the applicants for the name change.
ATTACHMENTS:
Application from Heritage Park Stakeholders
City of Salinas Policy for Naming of City Buildings, Facilities and Property Page | 3
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