RECEIVE update on the planned increase in passenger rail service along the coast corridor between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and RECOMMEND that the Board approve the revised Memorandum of Understanding for the Coast Rail Coordinating Council.

Progress since the last update on the coast rail project to this Committee on May 7, 2018 includes a Policy Committee meeting on July 16, 2018.

The Coast Rail service project costs are still under evaluation.

The CRCC Policy Committee met on July 16, 2018 and approved a revised Memorandum of Understanding (attached). They also received updates on Santa Barbara rail capital projects, a Central Coast rail layover yard expansion project in San Luis Obispo, and the Salinas Rail Extension project. TAMC representatives Dave Potter and alternate Mike LeBarre attended.

The next Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for September 28 in Monterey and the next Technical Committee meeting will be on August 16 via phone.

Subsequent to TAMC adoption of the MOU on February 28, 2018, legal staff from other agencies requested changes. The changes are somewhat minor. Most notably, the monthly telephone conference calls are not referred to as “Technical Committee” meetings in the document. In fact, the Technical Committee is not referred to in the MOU at all. It is now clearly noted in the MOU that the CRCC Policy Committee meetings will comply with the Brown Act. Staff recommends the Rail Policy Committee recommend Board approval of the revised MOU.