Monterey County Rail Extension - Union Pacific Property Acquisition Request for Proposals:

1. APPROVE the scope of work for the request for proposals for real estate acquisition, appraisal, and legal services for Union Pacific Railroad properties for the Monterey County Rail Extension project, subject to legal counsel approval;
2. AUTHORIZE staff to publish the request for proposals and return to the Board of Directors with a recommendation for approval of a consultant, including the final scope of work;
3. APPROVE the use of Traffic Congestion Relief Program funds for this project; and
4. AUTHORIZE the Executive Director to take such further actions as may be necessary to fulfill the intent of the program, including modifications that do not significantly alter the scope of work.

The Transportation Agency for Monterey County, as the local lead agency, grantee agency and owner of the Monterey County Rail Extension project, is proposing to extend passenger rail service from Santa Clara County south to Salinas. The service will start with two daily round trips, expanding to up to six round trips as demand warrants. The project provides an alternative to the highly congested US 101 corridor to access to jobs, education, and health care, and improves interregional transportation and air quality. It also promotes mixed-use, transit-oriented development, affordable housing, livable communities and economic growth around the station.

The Kick Start Project is Phase 1 of the overall Monterey County Rail Extension project. The Kick Start Project is focused on improving the existing Salinas train station to accommodate new passenger rail service connecting Salinas to the San Francisco Bay Area, and making track improvements at Gilroy to allow through trains to stop at the Gilroy train station. This Phase 1 is separated into three construction packages:

Package 1: Salinas Station: Lincoln Avenue Extension, circulation, and parking improvements
Package 2: Salinas Layover Facility
Package 3: Gilroy Station & Track Improvements

The right-of-way acquisition necessary for the construction of Package 1 has already been completed and the improvements have been constructed, and the acquisition of five parcels for Package 2 is currently underway. The remaining outstanding parcels that may be needed for Packages 2 and 3 are all owned by Union Pacific Railroad. Agency staff had been in discussion with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority about the potential for their agency to conduct the acquisitions of the parcels located in Gilroy, however the schedule for the project requires this component to move sooner and Agency staff is recommending to now oversee this work.

This Request for Proposals will allow staff to select a qualified consulting team to assist with the potential acquisition, appraisal, and legal issues of the single Union Pacific-owned parcel that may be needed for Package 2 and the four parcels that may be needed for Package 3.  The selected consultant team will provide acquisition agent services necessary to negotiate equitable right-of-way agreements, complete the property purchases, conduct property appraisals with review appraisals provided by a sub-consultant, and provide legal advice for all aspects of the acquisitions. For those parcels where agreement is reached, the selected consultant team shall secure title reports, prepare grant deeds, prepare escrow instructions, and coordinate with the Transportation Agency to assure close of escrow and payment to owner.

The proposed schedule for the Request for Proposals is as follows: