RECEIVE update on the planned increase in passenger rail service along the coast corridor between San Francisco and Los Angeles and RECOMMEND the TAMC Board appoint representatives to the Coast Rail Coordinating Council Policy Committee.

Progress since the last update to this Committee in November includes a Policy Committee meeting in Ventura.

The Coast Rail service project construction and operation costs are still under evaluation.

The Coast Rail Coordinating Council is a multi-agency advisory and planning organization focused on improving the rail corridor between Los Angeles and the San Francisco bay area along the California Central Coast. Members of Council include all regional transportation planning agencies along the Central Coast – all of which have a strong interest in improving rail service and the rail infrastructure along the Central Coast’s portion of the California Coast Passenger Rail Corridor.

The working group met on November 15 and the Policy Committee met in Ventura on December 13. The 2020 Policy Committee meeting schedule is tentatively as follows: March 20, June 19, September 18, and December 11. One of those meetings is expected to be held in Monterey.

The group is anticipating that one or two of those meeting dates will feature a tour of one of these services (see web attachments): 

• The East Contra Costa County BART extension ("eBART"), Diesel Multiple Unit trains in the median of State Route 4 that connect with the existing BART system at a Transfer Platform just east of the Pittsburg Bay Point Station and carry passengers ten miles via Pittsburg Center to Antioch. eBART opened for service on May 26, 2018.
• Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit Larkspur extension, 2.2 miles of new tracks connecting San Rafael to the Larkspur Landing ferry terminal, which opened for service on December 13, 2019.

In January 2019, the TAMC Board approved the Rail Policy Committee recommended appointment of Dave Potter as the TAMC representative and Mike LeBarre as the TAMC alternate for a one-year term, and the CRCC Policy Committee selected Mr. Potter as the Chair. The Rail Policy Committee is now asked to recommend appointments to the CRCC Policy Committee for the period ending January 2021. The appointment involves attending up to four meetings of the Committee and potentially representing the group at a legislative day in Sacramento with the Intercity Passenger Rail group and the California Passenger Rail Summit (April 21-22, 2020 in Los Angeles).

• BART to Antioch: East Contra Costa BART Extension
• Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit Larkspur Extension Project
• California Passenger Rail Summit