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.
During the Committee meeting, MST staff will provide an update on the project's status regarding environmental, funding and the project's timeline. No further design changes have been pursued since the last update was received by the Rail Policy Committee on June 7, 2021.
Project Overview: The SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit Project is part of a larger effort to build a modern mobility network for the Monterey Peninsula and beyond. The proposed SURF! Busway is a 6-mile bus-only corridor from Marina to Sand City and Seaside along the Monterey Branch Line corridor, parallel to Highway 1. With heavy traffic on the highway, transit riders will enjoy a faster connection between home and work or wherever they go, with a projected 16-minute reduction in travel time along the 6-mile stretch of Highway 1 compared to peak pre-COVID commute times.
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.
Environmental Compliance
Monterey-Salinas Transit is the Lead Agency for the project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). After approving the project at their June 14, 2021 meeting, MST received a cure and correct demand letter regarding the Brown Act. At their July 12, 2021 meeting MST rescinded their June 14th Board actions, received public comment, and approved two resolutions for the project:
- MST Resolution 2022-02: Finding the SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit project exempt from CEQA under the SB 288 statutory exemption
- MST Resolution 2022-03: Approving findings and adopting the final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration; and Approving the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; and Approving the project.
Two CEQA lawsuits have been filed on the projects challenging the Senate Bill 288 Statutory Exemption and arguing that MST should have prepared an environmental impact report and evaluated alternatives for the project. Potential impacts from the lawsuits to the project's schedule have not yet been determined.
Coordination is on-going with the Federal Transit Administration regarding National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance.
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 will be pursuing a Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grant this fall/winter.
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-Fall 2021)
- Final engineering and design (Summer 2022-Fall 2023)
- Construction (Beginning Spring 2024)
- Operation (Beginning Spring 2027)