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 greatest benefit for the investment. 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 project design, environmental compliance and funding.
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 avoid impacting 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's 15% design plans were completed in December 2020, and the team is currently refining the 35% plans. 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. The 35% design plans are currently under review by both TAMC and MST staff. The project team also held a recent coordination meeting with Caltrans District 5 staff.
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 12, 2021. A public hearing on the project was held at the May 10, 2021 MST Board Meeting. The public hearing will continue to the June 14, 2021 MST Board meeting at 10:00am for the below limited purposes:
- Consider findings and adopt the final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration;
- Approve the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; and
- Approve the project.
The environmental document is available 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)