RECEIVE update on the Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit project in the Monterey Branch Line corridor.

The SURF! project will construct a busway and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line within the Monterey Branch Line right-of-way, parallel to State Route 1, making it faster and easier to travel between Marina and Seaside, facilitating travel throughout the County, including from the Salinas Valley and northern Monterey County all the way to downtown Monterey. TAMC Principal Engineer Doug Bilse and MST Director of Planning and Innovation Michelle Overmeyer will present a project update reviewing the current schedule, project costs, funding opportunities, and upcoming public outreach.

MST and TAMC were successful securing a $25 million grant through the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP). State Senator John Laird secured an additional $2.5 million in the state budget. MST expects US Senator Dianne Feinstein to request another $1 million via the federal transportation appropriations bill.

The proposed SURF! Busway and BRT project is part of MST's larger efforts in connecting communities, creating opportunity, and being kind to the planet. MST is building a modern transit network to enhance connections on the Monterey Peninsula and beyond. When complete, SURF! will serve as a vital transit link for the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas Valley. The SURF! line will connect to many existing transit lines, including the JAZZ bus rapid transit line that serves Seaside, Line 20 Salinas-Monterey, and other routes that serve the Veteran's Administration Clinic and California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB). A link to the MST project site is provided via web attachment.

The SURF! project will make it faster and easier to travel from the Salinas Valley and northern Monterey County all the way to downtown Monterey via future rapid transit along US 101. Whether riding to get to work, school, medical appointments, shop for groceries, or simply to visit a friend, the SURF! line will connect Monterey Peninsula's diverse communities.

The SURF! project includes the following components:

• A six-mile, bus-only route parallel to Highway 1, from Marina to Sand City and Seaside.
• Bicycle and pedestrian path improvements along Del Monte Road and Beach Range Road.
• A new mobility hub near 5th Street in Marina, east of Highway 1, which will include bus bays, drop-off areas, public parking, and other first- and last-mile amenities.
• New transit stops at Del Monte Boulevard and Palm Avenue in Marina and California Avenue and Playa Avenue in Sand City.
• Intersection improvements at Playa and California in Sand City for better traffic flow on city streets.

The current cost estimate for the SURF! project is $58.8 million. TAMC has allocated $15 million in project support through Monterey County's Transportation Safety & Investment Plan (Measure X) funds approved by a supermajority of voters in 2016. MST was successful securing a $25 million grant through the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP). State Senator John Laird secured $2.5M in the state's budget.The funding balance  of $16.3 million is being sought through state and federal grants. MST expects US Senator Feinstein to submit a $1 million request via the federal transportation appropriations bill. 

Early planning and environmental review for the SURF! project is now complete. Detailed design has begun. The current schedule estimates that the design process will be completed in the Spring of 2024 with some construction beginning by the end of 2024. Community outreach is an important aspect of this project. A number of public outreach events are scheduled for August. Project team members will provide a verbal update at the meeting.

SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit Project