The capital cost of the Salinas Rail Extension Kick-Start project (a phased implementation of the Salinas station and improvements in Gilroy, Morgan Hill and San Jose - Tamien) is estimated at a total of $70 million, including funds already expended on planning, environmental, and right-of-way to date. The Kick-Start project is proceeding with design and right-of-way acquisition under the adopted state environmental clearance. The funding plan does not include the acquisition of equipment to support the service, which is expected to be a Caltrans-funded effort to acquire two new trainsets and spare cars.

Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center

The TAMC Board approved the Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at its October 26, 2016 meeting, the Monterey Salinas Transit District Board approved it at their November 14, 2016 meeting, and the City of Salinas approved it on February 7, 2017.

Operations Scenarios

The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and Caltrans Division of Rail and Mass Transportation strongly support increased passenger rail service to Salinas, and encourage this body to consider an alternative near-term scenario of Caltrain service on weekdays and Capitol Corridor service on weekends. In the long term, they see Capitol Corridor serving Salinas on weekdays and weekends, but in the near term, Capitol Corridor’s schedule is not conducive to a weekday commute schedule. In order to support this alternative near-term scenario, staff is coordinating with the State to develop an updated ridership estimate. CalSTA and staff met with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) on February 8, 2017 to further discuss this proposal.

Property Acquisition

Staff will present an update on the status of property acquisition at the Salinas train station.