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
TAMC hired Monterey Peninsula Engineering (MPE) for construction of Package 1, MNS Engineers as Construction Managers on the project, and HDR Engineering to provide design support during construction.
The City has almost completed its stormdrain and sanitary sewer relocations in the station area, pending a separation variance waiver from the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water for the sanitary sewer line separation distance from the CalWater line. In September, PG&E began work on their new joint trench relocation along the new Lincoln Ave extension and MPE relocated the CalWater lines associated with the project. The City of Salinas approved a revised staging and traffic detour plan (web attachment) allowing MPE to close Station Place to initiate the construction of the east parking lot starting September 17. Project updates are now emailed out weekly and posted online, along with occasional photos of the progress.
Package 2: Salinas Layover Facility
TAMC's right-of-way consultant AR/WS has delivered offer packages to the property owners of Package 2 parcels and is in communication with the property owners of the Package 2 parcels to facilitate good faith negotiations. On September 13, Geocon conducted additional soil sample testing on properties previously determined to be contaminated in order to determine the extent of the arsenic that was found in the prior environmental assessment. After those results are available, Rincon will modify their cleanup cost estimate for use in negotiating the purchase price.
Package 3: Gilroy Station & Track Improvements, Operations Scenarios
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. The public outreach meeting in Moss Landing on August 29 resulted in a robust discussion about the future of the region. The team took input from the public and will be developing a draft study in the next few months. TAMC staff will present that information to this Committee when it is available.
On September 17, 2019, the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board approved the staff recommended preferred alternative route for Northern California, which includes the downtown Gilroy station, which would enable cross-platform transfers between the High Speed Rail train and other passenger trains, and a blended configuration in the Union Pacific railroad corridor, which would provide the option for Caltrain to continue its electrified service on the High Speed Rail tracks in that corridor. The next step is a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement that is anticipated to be out late 2019 for public review, with an expected final environmental document in November 2020.
Caltrain continues development of their business plan with a 2040 time horizon. The staff recommended alternative is the "moderate growth" alternative for consideration at the October 3 Joint Powers Board meeting. TAMC and other partner entities sent letters to the Board asking that the extension of Caltrain service to Salinas be reflected in the Business Plan.
TAMC staff had a call with Caltrain operations staff on September 12 to discuss next steps on an operations agreement. Caltrain planning staff is currently drafting a "feasibility study" and expect it to be a "fee for service" agreement. Caltrain engineering staff also provided comments on the 75% plans for Packages 2 and 3. TAMC will bring a request for proposals to the TAMC Board in October for final design on those packages.
The Northern California Rail Working Group met on August 29. Highlights from that meeting:
- Caltrans announced they are already kicking off the next Statewide Rail Plan (due 2022), that they hope will incorporate the findings of all the Network Integration Studies that are in development around the state.
- Caltrans is doing an intercity bus study to help prioritize federal and state bus funds to increase service in rural and underserved communities and reduce duplication of services.
- The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) is hoping to open their Larkspur extension in December, once approved by the Federal Railroad Administration.
- Caltrans is developing a statewide rail ridership model (expected to be available in 2021) that could help with future grant applications.
- Caltrans has not yet heard back from Union Pacific related to the implementation of Positive Train Control on the Central Coast, which was expected to be initiated this summer.
Staff will provide verbal updates on all activities at the meeting.