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TRANSPORTATION AGENCY FOR MONTEREY COUNTY Memorandum | |
| | | | | | | | | To: | Board of Directors | | From: | Christina Watson, Director of Planning | | Meeting Date: | March 22, 2017 | | Subject: | Salinas Train Station Utility Relocations |
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| | | | | | | | | RECOMMENDED ACTION: | Salinas Train Station Utility Relocations
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APPROVE the budget of $1,300,000 for potential utility relocations for the Salinas Rail Extension Kick-Start Project, Packages 1 and 2;
- AUTHORIZE the Executive Director to execute payment claims as recommended by TAMC design consultants, in a total amount not to exceed $1,300,000 with eligible claimants for utility relocation expenses; and
- AUTHORIZE the use of state funds budgeted to this project.
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| | | | | | | | | SUMMARY: | | The Salinas Rail Extension Project is in the final design phase. Utility relocations are not necessarily a project cost, some utilities will be relocated under existing agreements. However, several utilities are expected to be a likely project cost, and in order to negotiate agreements for relocating utilities, the Agency needs to set aside the funds for relocation. Current estimates of potential utility relocation costs do not exceed $1,300,000. |
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| | | | | | | | | FINANCIAL IMPACT: | The preliminary estimated cost to relocate utilities is $1.3 million. The total 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) has been estimated at $70 million, including funds already expended on planning, environmental, and right-of-way to date. Updated cost estimates with new information from the 75% designs and updated appraisals show the project is over budget by approximately $5-10 million. The team is working to reduce costs to keep it under the amount of funding secured for the project. Staff is also looking at applying for additional state funding to fill the gap, pending confirmation on the utility and property acquisition costs. |
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| | | | | | | | | DISCUSSION: | TAMC adopted an EIR addendum in August 2013 for the “Salinas Rail Extension Kick-Start project”, with secured state-only funding. The Kick-Start project includes improvements at the Salinas Station, a two-train layover facility, track improvements in Gilroy to allow for run-through service, and minor improvements to the Gilroy, Morgan Hill and San Jose Tamien stations. Future implementation phases will consist of building the Pajaro/Watsonville Station, constructing the six-train layover facility at the Salinas Station, and the Castroville Station.
The Kick Start project is now at 75% design and has been separated into three packages for design, bid, and construction:
- Salinas Lincoln Avenue extension, circulation and parking improvements, improvements to Market Street (Highway 183)
- Salinas layover facility and track improvements
- Santa Clara station improvements (Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Tamien)
Package 1 is progressing toward 90% design. Packages 2 and 3 are pending railroad (Union Pacific) reviews.
Utility research has been going on for about a year in coordination with the City of Salinas to determine whether the project would have to bear the cost of the relocations. Some of the utility relocations will be done under existing agreements with the City, but some are expected to be a project cost. In order to negotiate agreements with the utilities for Packages 1 and 2, TAMC needs to dedicate funding to that purpose. The relevant utilities are AT&T, CalWater, and PG&E (two relocations, one for electric, "PGEE", and one for gas, "PGEG").
Attached online are the maps showing the utilities' current alignments and proposed relocations.
The budgeting of funds for utility relocation costs does not commit TAMC to pay anything. It does, however, permit TAMC to act in a timely manner to keep the Kick Start Project on track. The authority requested for the Executive Director will only be exercised upon recommendation from TAMC design experts. |
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