In 2018, Monterey-Salinas Transit (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 bus rapid transit corridor on a segment of the Monterey Branch Line would provide the best benefit-cost ratio. 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 SURF! Busway and Rapid Transit project, a Measure X project, is a proposed two-way bus-only lane in the TAMC-owned Monterey Branch Line right-of-way. The SURF! Corridor would formally begin at the Marina Transit Exchange and operate in mixed traffic until it enters the rail right-of-way at Del Monte Boulevard and Palm Avenue in Marina. The interim end-point of the SURF! Corridor will be at the Sand City Station located at the Edgewater Shopping Center in Sand City. The SURF! Corridor would span a total of approximately 6-miles from Marina through Sand City/Seaside.
Key goals of the SURF! Busway and Rapid Transit project are to:
- Preserve and protect the TAMC rail corridor for future rail services
- Increase transit, walking and biking mode share
- Improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Provide a reliable alternative service for commuters and users of Highway 1
- Build transit ridership
Preliminary Engineering/Design
The project is nearing 15% design and the project team is seeking input from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee on the following bicycle and pedestrian connections within the SURF! Corridor:
1) Bicycle connection at an existing crossing that the Busway would go through at the connection between Beach Range Road and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail (owned by Caltrans). Design options include:
- 4-way stop for bicyclists and buses
- Extend Beach Range Road bike route to Marina Drive, west of the railroad tracks
2) 5th Street connection with the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail; features under consideration are:
- Protected cycle-track paralleling bus-only lane
- Connection with FORTAG at 5th Street
- Bike lockers and general bicycle storage
3) Beach Range Road southern terminus (adjusting existing rec trail connection): continuation of Beach Range Road along west side of Busway
4) Bike and pedestrian circulation around California Avenue/Fremont Street, where buses would exit the rail right-of-way and enter mixed-flow traffic.
During the Committee meeting, staff will present the latest engineering drawings of these key connections on the screen to provide a visual reference for discussion. An overview diagram portraying the location of these four major areas within the SURF! Corridor is provided as an attachment to the staff report.
In addition to the connections discussed above, there is a long-term vision for a cut and cover tunnel underneath the Fremont/Highway 1 Interchange, once it is reconstructed. This tunnel envisions a bus-only roadway and a protected cycle track that would remain within the TAMC-owned rail right-of-way and be designed to accommodate future rail service.
Environmental Review
The Notice of Preparation for the project's Environmental Impact Report was released by Monterey-Salinas Transit on August 13, 2020 and is currently available for public review and feedback. The Notice of Preparation is included as a web attachment to this report. Comments on the Notice of Preparation should be submitted to Michelle Overmeyer, Director of Planning and Innovation at MST, by 5pm on September 14, 2020.