The Monterey County Rail Extension Project will extend passenger rail service from Santa Clara County south to Salinas. TAMC is pursuing a phased implementation of the Project. Phase 1, known as the Kick Start Project, includes Salinas train station circulation improvements, a train layover facility in Salinas, and track improvements at the Gilroy station and between Salinas and Gilroy. The Kick Start Project is wrapping up construction of Package 1, improvements at the Salinas train station. The layover facility (Package 2) and track improvements (Package 3) are now in final design.
Construction of Package 1: Salinas Station Improvements
TAMC hired Monterey Peninsula Engineering (MPE) for construction of Package 1, MNS Engineers as Construction Managers on the project, and HDR Engineering to provide design support during construction. In November and December 2021, the construction team worked to close out the Caltrans and Salinas permits. Landscaping maintenance wrapped up in December. Staff closed out the construction contract in December.
TAMC staff is coordinating with Caltrans and the City of Salinas on the logistics to transfer ownership of the completed project to the City, pursuant to the adopted Memorandum of Understanding. The land transfer must be approved by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to empower the City and TAMC to approve transfer agreements. The CTC is requiring the City to commit to replacing any parking spaces used for future development in a location walking distance from the station.
Property Acquisition for Package 2: Salinas Layover Facility
On December 4, 2019, the Transportation Agency Board approved Resolutions of Necessity on portions of four parcels and one full parcel needed for the Salinas layover facility. TAMC staff continues to oversee the right-of-way consulting team of AR/WS and Meyers Nave to further negotiations and finalize the remaining acquisitions. A request for proposals for a team to assist in the negotiations regarding Union Pacific Railroad parcels in Gilroy and Salinas resulted in three responses; staff will bring a contract to the Board in January.
Final Design for Package 2 and Package 3: Gilroy Station & Track Improvements; Operations Scenarios
HDR Engineering prepared the 90% plans, specifications and estimates for stakeholder review on November 8. Comments are due from partner agencies by January 7.
The final design team held the following meetings to further the project's design:
- Amtrak - December 15
- Amtrak and Union Pacific - November 2 and December 7
- Caltrain - November 19
- Caltrans and Caltrain - November 15 and December 14
- City of Gilroy and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) - November 8 and December 13
- City of Salinas - December 22
- Northern California megaregion group - November 9
- Union Pacific - December 14
- VTA - November 4
Documents the team is preparing for future Committee/Board approval include the following:
- Memorandum of Understanding between TAMC and Caltrain outlining the process towards an operating agreement.
- Memorandum of Understanding among TAMC, VTA and Gilroy for improvements near the Gilroy train station to support the extension of passenger rail service south from Gilroy.