Salinas to Monterey Peninsula Mobility

1.  RECEIVE update on the Marina-Salinas Multimodal Corridor Plan; and
2. RECEIVE update on Monterey-Salinas Transit's Monterey Bay Feasibility Study of Bus Operations on State Route 1 Shoulders and in the Monterey Branch Line right-of-way. 

The total estimated cost to fully develop the Marina-Salinas Multimodal Corridor is $169.8 million and is expected to be implemented in phases over the next 15 – 20 years. The Davis Road bridge and widening project makes up the bulk of the cost ($62.8 Million), for which $58.8 million in funding has already been secured. Additionally, there are $20 million in Measure X funding included in the expenditure plan for Imjin Parkway safety and traffic flow improvements. 

MST's Feasibility Study cost $160,000. TAMC contributed $65,000 from the Monterey Branch Line lease revenues to this study.

Salinas to Marina 

In June 2015, the Agency adopted the Marina-Salinas Multimodal Corridor Plan. The Plan identifies improvements for the corridor between Marina and Salinas that will increase roadway capacity by prioritizing high quality transit, bicycling and walking as viable alternatives to driving (Attachment 1). The Plan was a collaborative effort developed by the Transportation Agency in partnership with the County of Monterey, the cities of Salinas and Marina, Monterey-Salinas Transit, the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, California State University, Monterey Bay and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments. Staff has been working with partner agencies to formalize a commitment to implement the Plan. Staff has also been involved in two major projects that are key to implementation of the Multimodal Corridor Plan:

1. Davis Road Bridge Replacement and Road Widening: The County of Monterey is leading this project to replace the existing two-lane, low-level Davis Road bridge with a longer bridge, and widen Davis Road from two to four lanes between Blanco Road and Reservation Road. In July 2015, the County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution certifying the Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment for this project. The project is currently in the design phase. Funding for that project has already been secured, and it is among the first elements of the Multimodal Corridor Plan to be implemented. 
2. Imjin Safety & Traffic Flow Improvements: Transit, bike and pedestrian improvements are identified in the Multimodal Corridor Plan for Imjin Parkway. The City of Marina is currently leading the environmental review for this project using State Transportation Improvement Program funding. The project is expected to begin design in 2018. 

Monterey Branch Line

The Transportation Agency purchased the Monterey Branch Line in 2003 for $9.3 million to preserve the right-of-way for future transit needs. In 2009, the Transportation Agency Board adopted light rail as the preferred use for the Branch Line. The cost of Phase 1 (light rail service with 15 minute headways between Monterey and Marina) is estimated to be $165 million. Phase 2 (extended service with 15 minute headways from Marina to Castroville) is expected to cost an additional $40-50 million. The light rail project is currently in the environmental phase, pending the identification of new federal, state or local funding. Per TAMC Board action, light rail remains the long-term plan for the use of the Branch Line.

In the meantime, operating a low cost busway along the corridor is an interim, cost-effective service that would improve regional transit in the Monterey Peninsula and provide a faster alternative to the congested Highway 1 freeway. Service along this busway can also provide evidence of ridership demand along the corridor that will help make the case needed to obtain funding for future light rail service.

MST is currently leading a feasibility study to analyze bus operations along the State Route 1 shoulders and/or along the Monterey Branch Line right-of-way (Attachment 2). The study furthers the efforts of Assembly Member Mark Stone's Assembly Bill 946 that authorized MST to operate public transit buses on road shoulders in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. MST staff will provide a verbal update to the Committee on this study.