Item Coversheet

Agenda Item 3.5.1

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TRANSPORTATION AGENCY FOR MONTEREY COUNTY
Memorandum
To: 

Board of Directors

From:

Christina Watson, Director of Planning

Meeting Date:

March 23, 2022

Subject:

Monterey County Rail Extension project - MOU with City of Gilroy and VTA


RECOMMENDED ACTION:

ADOPT Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Gilroy and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for Gilroy area rail improvements to support the Monterey County Rail Extension project.

SUMMARY:
TAMC staff have been coordinating with the City of Gilroy and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for improvements at the Gilroy train station to support the extension of passenger rail service from Gilroy to Salinas. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) lays out the responsibilities and commitments among the agencies to support this project through completion.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Staff time on the Monterey County Rail Extension project is included in the Agency budget. Having this MOU will assist the project in moving forward and the City has agreed not to assess the project development fees in this MOU, which can save the project unexpected expenses.
DISCUSSION:

The Monterey County Rail Extension project Package 3 includes track and associated improvements around the existing Gilroy train station, which is the end of the line for the current Caltrain passenger rail service. In order to extend those trains southward to Salinas, the station track needs to be extended across 10th Street and Luchessa Avenue to connect with the Union Pacific mainline tracks. Other improvements include a relocated Caltrain equipment shed, railroad crossing enhancements, an improved sidewalk on 10th Street, and related stormwater improvements.

 

The City of Gilroy owns the streets and sidewalks, and will need to approve encroachment permits for TAMC's construction contractor to perform the work on City property. The City will also be accepting those improvements after construction, and maintaining the street, sidewalk, and stormwater facilities.

 

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) owns the station area, parking lot, and Caltrain layover yard. VTA needs to approve license agreements for the construction contractor to perform the work on VTA property. VTA will also be accepting the improvements after construction, and maintaining the yard, station area, parking lot, and stormwater facilities.

 

TAMC is responsible for securing the funding, environmental clearance (complete), stakeholder coordination, utility relocation, and hiring the design team (HDR Engineering), right-of-way acquisition team (Bender Rosenthal and Nossaman), construction manager (MNS Engineers) and the construction team (to be selected once the project is at 100% design).

 

Attached online is the three-party draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for adoption.

WEB ATTACHMENTS: