Rail Network Integration Study Contract Amendment #1:

1. APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Executive Director to execute contract amendment #1 with AECOM, to extend the deadline by six months from June 30, 2021 to December 31, 2021, to complete the Monterey Bay Area Rail Network Integration Study; and
2. AUTHORIZE the Executive Director to take such other further actions as may be necessary to fulfill the intent of the contract, including approvals of future modifications or amendments that do not significantly alter the scope of work, or change the approved contract term or amount.

The Monterey Bay Area Rail Network Integration Study has been drafted for Board review. Due to a delay in completion of the Caltrans ridership estimates, Caltrans approved a time extension on the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funds allocated for this study. The time is needed to do public outreach on the draft study and to finalize the study. AECOM was originally hired for this work in April 2019 after a formal request for proposals process.

The AECOM contract not-to-exceed amount is $350,000.This amendment does not propose an increase to that amount.

The Monterey Bay Area Rail Network Integration Study (“Study”) supports multiple goals at the state and regional level. The study lays the groundwork for implementing the State Rail Plan in the Monterey Bay Area by 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 the Transportation Agency by providing the data needed to prepare grant applications for funding new stations at Pajaro/Watsonville, Castroville, Soledad and King City.

The draft study was approved by the TAMC Board on May 26, 2021 for public review. Public outreach will be conducted through June 30, 3021. Information received during that period will be incorporated into finalizing the study. This contract time extension will provide the team sufficient time to produce a document that will meet the Agency's needs and goals.

Attached is the draft contract amendment #1.