APPROVE and AUTHORIZE Executive Director to execute Public Utility Easements for utility relocations in the future Lincoln Avenue Extension road right-of-way.

The execution of Public Utility Easements (PUEs) will allow the various utility providers to relocate their facilities as part of the Monterey County Rail Extension, Kick Start Project, Package 1. 

There is sufficient funding in the adopted Kick Start Project budget to cover the costs associated with Public Utility Easements.

The Transportation Agency for Monterey County, as the local lead agency, grantee agency and owner of the Monterey County Rail Extension Kick Start project, proposes to extend passenger rail service from Santa Clara County south to Salinas. The rail extension project provides an alternative to the highly congested US 101 corridor to access to jobs, education, and health care, and will improve interregional transportation and regional air quality.

Package 1 of the Kick Start Project, Lincoln Avenue Extension, circulation improvements and parking at the Salinas Train Station, is currently out to bid. 

As part of the site improvements, Station Place will be abandoned and Lincoln Avenue will be extended to Railroad Avenue to provide signalized access to the train station.  Before utility providers may relocate their facilities from Station Place into the future Lincoln Avenue Extension, Public Utility Easements must be executed.  Utility relocations for he City of Salinas (sanitary sewer and storm drain), PG&E (gas and electric), AT&T (telephone), Comcast (cable television) and California Water Service (water) are in final design, and initial relocations are anticipated to begin as soon as February 2019.  

Attached is the draft Public Utility Easement for the City of Salinas; other PUEs will follow the same format.