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 November include the fifth Network Advisory Committee and completion of a revised fleet strategy memo, an updated governance and operation memo, and a draft capital cost estimate memo.

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.

The Network Advisory Committee (NAC) met on November 30, 2020 and discussed the future vision scenario, governance options, and fleet strategies. The next NAC meeting is scheduled for February 22, 2021.

The team also met with partner agencies to discuss the study, including Caltrain, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments.

The following deliverables are online as a web attachment:

• Draft Fleet Strategies Memo, which identifies potential fleet strategies, describes fleet size needs, technical operating requirements, and fleet procurement strategies for each of the three service concepts (Initial, Phased, and Vision) for the region’s future rail network.

• Updated Governance & Operations Memo, which fleshes out the previous draft memo presented at the November Committee meeting with examples of each governance option and recommendations for each phase of service implementation.

• Draft Cost Estimates Memo, which lays out the capital cost implications of the phased scenarios.

Future deliverables expected for a future Committee meeting:

• 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.

• Draft Fleet Strategies Memo
• Draft Governance and Operations Memo
• Draft Cost Estimates Memo