RECEIVE update on the Salinas Rail Kick Start project.

Activities on the Salinas Rail Kick Start project since the last update on May 6, 2019 include utility meetings and a meeting of the Northern California Megaregion group.

The capital cost of the Monterey County Rail Extension project, Phase 1, Salinas Kick Start project (the Salinas station and improvements in Santa Clara County), is estimated at $81 million. The Kick Start project is proceeding with secured state funding under the adopted state environmental clearance.

The Monterey County Rail Extension Project extends passenger rail service from Santa Clara County south to Salinas. TAMC is pursuing a phased implementation of the Project. Phase 1, known as the Kick Start Project, includes Salinas train station circulation improvements, a train layover facility in Salinas, and track improvements at the Gilroy station and between Salinas and Gilroy. The Kick Start Project is fully funded with $81 million in state funding, and is proceeding with construction of Package 1, improvements at the Salinas train station. The layover facility and track improvements are ready for final design, pending comments from Union Pacific Railroad.

Package 1:  Salinas Station Improvements

On May 17, the project team met to discuss utility relocation schedules and to introduce the contractor team to the City and utility personnel. PG&E completed the gas and electrical line relocations along West Market Street in May. The City of Salinas Sanitary Sewer/Storm Drain relocation project is expected to begin in June. PG&E is completing the design of the “joint trench” for utilities that will install gas and electric and cable lines from West Market Street along the new Lincoln Ave extension starting in August. The TAMC project is still awaiting the Salinas permits and developing a phasing plan to initiate CalWater relocation and road construction work while the utility relocation work proceeds.

Package 2: Salinas Layover Facility

In May, TAMC's right-of-way consultant ARWS sent Notices of a Decision to Appraise to property owners of parcels for the Package 2 layover facility in Salinas.

Package 3: Gilroy Station & Track Improvements

Staff continues to participate in meetings for the Central Coast Highway 1 Climate Resiliency study, looking at the impacts of climate change and sea level rise to transportation corridors through the Elkhorn Slough. This study will consider possible re-routings of the Union Pacific Railroad-owned tracks in order to elevate the rail corridor. In the worst case scenario, they are predicting a sea level rise of up to 8 inches by 2030, up to 2 feet 4 inches by 2060, and up to 5 feet 3 inches in 2100.

Operations Scenarios

On May 23, staff attended a meeting of the Northern California Rail Megaregion Partners Working Group.

Staff will provide a verbal update on all activities at the meeting.