RECEIVE update, PROVIDE input on the Monterey Bay Area Rail Network Integration Study, and RECOMMEND the Board of Directors approve making the draft Study available for public review.

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 April includes the preparation of the draft Study. The draft study is a compilation of all the memos presented and discussed at previous Committee meetings.

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 draft study is a compilation of the information discussed in prior Committee meetings:

• Existing and Future Conditions
• Future Network Service Vision
• Public Sentiment Survey
• Fleet Strategy Governance and Operations Models
• Cost Estimates
• Caltrans Ridership Estimates
• Funding, Financing, and Grants Strategies     

Staff and consultants will present and seek feedback on the draft Network integration Study and seek the Committee's recommendation to the Board to make the Study available for public review. The draft Executive Summary is attached. The full draft study and relevant documents are posted to the project website (web attachment). 

The final draft Network Integration Study will be on the June 7, 2021 agenda for Committee recommendation to the Board to adopt.

• Monterey Bay Area Rail Network Integration Study website