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 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 public outreach, project design, environmental compliance and funding.
Public Outreach
At the February 1, 2021 Rail Policy Committee meeting, the project team shared information about the SURF! Survey that was developed for public input. The survey was open from January 25 through February 22, 2021. Survey participants were asked questions about their familiarity with MST services, current commute patterns, SURF! line onboard and bus stop amenity preferences and demographics. At the close of the survey, the project team received 162 responses.
Key findings from the survey include:
- Accessing the SURF!: Approximately 55% of respondents indicated they would need bicycle path access and/or sidewalk connections from the surrounding areas to access the SURF! busway. Walking (56%), biking/scootering/wheels (53%) and transit connections (46%) were the top responses for how respondents would access the SURF! busway.
- Stop area features: The top three bus stop area features of interest to respondents included good lighting in waiting and parking areas (79%), shaded benches to wait for the bus (65%), and security cameras and security personnel (63%).
- Project importance: When asked "If you don't plan to ride the SURF! line, what aspects of the project are important to you?" almost 80% of respondents indicated reducing traffic congestion along Highway 1.
- On-board Amenities: Approximately 78% of respondents indicated they would like to have Free Wifi onboard the buses.
- Travel time savings: When asked "How much travel time savings would encourage you to ride the SURF! line versus driving?", 40% indicated they would be inclined to take the SURF! if it saved them 11 to 15 minutes. Another 27% indicated a savings of 16 minutes or more would encourage them to ride the SURF! busway.
- It's notable that the current estimated travel time savings is 16 minutes per trip.
- Trip purposes: The majority of survey respondents indicated they would use the SURF! busway to access recreation (72%) or shopping (68%).
Project Design
The Busway enters the Monterey Branch Line right-of-way at Del Monte Boulevard and Palm Avenue in Marina, and exits the rail right-of-way at California Avenue and Fremont Street in Sand City. The busway parallels Highway 1 for approximately six miles. The majority of the busway runs on the east side of the rail right-of-way, with minimal crossing points over the rail tracks. As discussed during the October 5, 2020 Committee meeting, there are three proposed crossings over the rail line due to physical and geographic constraints in the corridor, and to minimize project costs. The three proposed crossings include:
- Crossing of the rail tracks before 8th Street due to the existing bridge columns east of the rail. This will help avoid the need to impact the Caltrans bridge structure.
- Crossing the rail tracks to reconnect with the east side of the corridor before a connection at 5th Street. The connection at 5th Street connects the buses with the proposed 5th Street Transit Station.
- After re-entering the rail right-of-way outside the 5th Street Transit Station, the busway runs the remainder of the way on the east side of the rail right-of-way until exiting the rail right-of-way at California Avenue and Fremont Street, where the buses re-enter mixed traffic.
The project team completed the 15% design milestone in December 2020 and has since been working towards the 35% design milestone. The process of reaching 35% design includes refining geometric layout, identifying locations for retaining walls, major drainage facilities and traffic signal improvements. This includes identifying the needs for cut and fill processes (moving dirt) which can significantly affect project cost.
During the Committee meeting, the project team will present on a few areas where the project's cost could be significantly reduced by removing or adjusting the existing rail tracks. The locations and actions being considered are:
- Removing track at the entry-point to the rail corridor from Marina Drive
- Removing track at the existing rail crossing of Playa Avenue
- Lowering approximately 1200' of existing rail north of 8th Street overpass about 0.5'-1' in depth
Environmental Compliance
Monterey-Salinas Transit is the Lead Agency for the project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). MST released a Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration on March 13, 2021. The public review period is open from March 13, 2021 through April 11, 2021. A public hearing on the project and consideration of the environmental document is tentatively scheduled before the MST Board of Directors on May 10, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
The environmental document is available for review during the circulation period at https://mst.org/about-mst/planning-development/surf.
Funding
MST is actively coordinating with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to apply for a Capital Investment Grant, a discretionary grant program to support transit capital investments including busway/bus rapid transit. The project has been accepted into the Project Development phase of FTA’s Capital Investments Grants program and MST and TAMC have been meeting quarterly with FTA to discuss project development. Using Measure X funding approved at the January TAMC Board meeting, MST hired a consultant to lead technical analysis required to reach a grant agreement with FTA.
The project team anticipates applying again to the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program this upcoming cycle.
Timeline
The overall project timeline for the SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit Project is:
- Data collection (Fall 2019-Summer 2020)
- Preliminary engineering and design (Summer 2020-Winter 2020/21)
- Environmental compliance (Summer 2020-Spring 2021)
- Final engineering and design (Summer 2022-Fall 2023)
- Construction (Beginning Spring 2024)
- Operation (Beginning Spring 2027)