Coversheet


Agenda Item 6.


TRANSPORTATION AGENCY FOR MONTEREY COUNTY *Memorandum*

To:	Rail Policy Committee
From:	Madilyn Jacobsen, Transportation Planner
Meeting Date:	March 2, 2020
Subject:	SURF! Busway Update

RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE update on the SURF! Busway project along the Monterey Branch Line from Marina to Sand City.

SUMMARY:
Monterey-Salinas Transit initiated the environmental analysis and preliminary engineering for the SURF! Busway in November 2019. Staff will provide updated information the the status of the project's development.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

The preliminary engineering and environmental analysis phase of the project is budgeted to cost $1,550,000. Monterey-Salinas Transit is contributing $100,000 of its share of Senate Bill 1 Local Partnership Program funds for this phase. Funding for all phases of the Highway 1 SURF! Busway project is available from Measure X (up to a total of $15 million). Additional matching funds will be needed to fully fund the project, which currently has an estimated cost of $52 million.

DISCUSSION:

In 2018, MST completed the Monterey Bay Area Feasibility Study of Bus Operations on State Route 1 Shoulders and the Monterey Branch Line. The study analyzed seven alternatives and concluded that implementing a one-way bus rapid transit corridor on a segment of the Monterey Branch Line would provide the best cost to benefit. At the August 6, 2018 Rail Policy Committee meeting, MST staff presented an overview of the feasibility study, including next steps.

In Fall 2019, MST hired Kimley-Horn for the environmental review and preliminary design phase of work, and the project officially kicked-off on November 21, 2019. The following outlines the project's progress regarding stakeholder coordination, data collection and funding.

Stakeholder Coordination

MST and TAMC staff continue to meet with key stakeholders. Recent meetings include:

Cal State Monterey Bay and Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway connections
LandWatch
GraniteRock

At the end of February, the project team held a project development team meeting with all key project stakeholders, including: Cities of Marina, Sand City, Seaside, California Coastal Commission, State Parks, and Caltrans District 5.

Data Collection

Data collection is underway along the rail corridor. The consultant team recently received the topographic data and is working to modify the engineering drawings to reflect the topography of the corridor.

In mid-February, MST, TAMC and the consultants went on a biking site visit of the rail corridor to collect data and engage in discussions about key intersections within the corridor.

Funding

MST and TAMC jointly submitted a grant application for $25 million to the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program on January 15, 2020. Award announcements are anticipated for April 1st, 2020.

MST is actively coordinating with the Federal Transit Administration to apply for a Capital Investment Grant, a discretionary grant program to support transit capital investments including busway/bus rapid transit. Federal transit law requires transit agencies seeking funds to complete a series of steps throughout the life of the project.