Rail Network Integration Study Contract:

1. APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Executive Director to execute a contract with AECOM, subject to approval by Agency Counsel and the Independent Office of Audits and Investigations, in an amount not to exceed $350,000, to prepare a Monterey Bay Area Rail Network Integration Study, for the period ending June 30, 2021;
2. APPROVE the use of Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funds budgeted to this purpose; and
3. AUTHORIZE the Executive Director to take such other further actions as may be necessary to fulfill the intent of the contract, including approvals of future modifications or amendments that do not significantly alter the scope of work, or change the approved contract term or amount.

TAMC published a request for proposals on December 5, 2018, to select a firm to perform a Monterey Bay Area Network Integration Study. A selection committee reviewed the three proposals received by the deadline of February 7, 2019, held interviews on February 21, 2019, and unanimously recommend AECOM to do this work.

On October 18, 2018, the California Transportation Commission allocated $500,000 via a state Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant to TAMC for this project. TAMC estimates that staff time associated with this project will account for $150,000. The AECOM contract not-to-exceed amount is $350,000. Staff performed an independent cost estimate for this work and agrees with this budget amount based on comparable studies in neighboring regions. 

TAMC is seeking a consultant team that is qualified to perform a regional Monterey Bay Area Network Integration Study (“Study”) to support multiple goals at the state and regional level. The study will lay the groundwork for implementing the State Rail Plan in the Monterey Bay Area by determining the optimal options for: rail connectivity and operations, equipment needs, governance, and community benefits for service between Monterey County and Santa Clara County, Monterey and Santa Cruz, and the Coast Rail Corridor. This study will also assist the Transportation Agency by providing the data needed to prepare grant applications for funding new stations at Pajaro/Watsonville, Castroville, Soledad and King City.

A selection committee reviewed the three proposals received by the deadline of February 7, 2019, held interviews on February 21, 2019, and unanimously recommend AECOM to do this work. The selection committee recommends AECOM due to their strong team and demonstrated team member availability; they have access to the Viriato tool that was used in the development of the 2018 California State Rail Plan; their subconsultant Deutsche Bahn is well-regarded in the industry; and they have a thorough outreach strategy and good understanding of the data needed to support future grant applications.

Attached are the draft Scope of Work and schedule for this work. This project is anticipated to take approximately two years to complete, starting in Spring 2019 and being completed by June 30, 2021.