RECEIVE update on the Monterey Bay Area Rail Network Integration Study.

The study will lay the groundwork for implementing the State Rail Plan in the Monterey Bay Area.  Progress on the study since the last report to this Committee in January includes a Network Advisory Committee meeting. Consultants will present a future service vision for discussion.

The study has a budget of $500,000, funded out of the state Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program: $350,000 for consultant costs and $150,000 for staff and in-house costs.

The study focuses on 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 TAMC by providing the data needed to prepare grant applications for funding new stations at Pajaro/Watsonville, Castroville, Soledad and King City. The second Network Advisory Committee meeting was held on January 27, 2020, in TAMC's conference room.

The Monterey Bay Regional Rail Network Integration Study requires a service concept for a robust passenger rail service connecting Monterey Bay communities and the Central Coast to San Jose. Through the service planning and network integration process, the project team is designing an implementable, technically sound vision for a future Monterey Bay Area regional rail network that accomplishes TAMC’s service goals and provides technical inputs for implementation planning. Attached is a memo outlining the future service vision process.

Staff and consultants will present an update at the meeting.