In May, 2004, the California Transportation Commission approved $23 million in Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds for the acquisition of scenic easements on the Hearst Ranch, the largest such Transportation Enhancement transaction in the history of the program in California. The TE funds will help to leverage the larger Conservation Framework, the program to preserve the character and beauty of the 82,000 acre Hearst Ranch in perpetuity.

Planning Company Associates, Inc. was responsible for developing and implementing the TE approach and program. The TE funds will provide the State of California with over 1,400 acres of scenic easement west of Highway 1 for an eighteen-mile stretch of the central California coastline, some of the most beautiful coastline in the world. Additionally, over 600 acres will be provided to Caltrans for the relocation of Highway 1 to the east in an effort to stabilize this quickly eroding transportation corridor. The remainder of these 600 acres not used for highway relocation will revert to a scenic easement to preserve views of the coast in perpetuity.