RECEIVE update and PROVIDE input 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 October includes completion of a memo about the public outreach survey. Staff seeks the Committee's feedback on the study and the proposed path forward to implementation.

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 will be the foundation for future applications for rail capital and operations grant funding.

The Monterey Bay Area Rail Network Integration 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 study is intended to provide information for the TAMC Rail Policy Committee to consider in recommendations to the TAMC Board of Directors as to next steps on implementing rail projects in Monterey County connecting to the Central Coast and the Northern California megaregion. Staff is seeking Committee input on key decision points related to governance options and operator agreements. 

The next Network Advisory Committee (NAC) is scheduled to be held on November 30, 2020.

The following deliverables are online as web attachments:

• Final Public Sentiment Survey Memo
• Final Future Service Vision Memo, with appendices and rail/bus schedules

Future deliverables expected for the January Committee meeting:

• Draft Fleet Strategies Memo

• Updated Governance & Operations Memo
• Draft Cost Estimates Memo
• Draft Ridership Estimates Memo
• Draft Network Integration Study

The team will present an update on work completed to date and solicit input on the work accomplished to date and the path forward to implementation of the memo's recommendations.

• Public Sentiment Survey Memo
• Future Service Vision Memo (with appendices and rail/bus schedules)