RECEIVE update on the planned increase in passenger rail service along the coast corridor between San Francisco and Los Angeles and DISCUSS timing for the tour of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit system.

The Coast Rail Coordinating Council Policy Committee met on Friday, February 24 to discuss grant applications and other issues of interest to the Council. The Committee tour of the SMART rail system was deferred, and staff wants to hear from the Committee on a possible reschedule of the tour.

The Coast Rail project capital and operation costs are under evaluation.

The Coast Rail Coordinating Council (CRCC) is a multi-agency advisory and planning organization focused on improving the rail corridor between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area along the California Central Coast. Members of the Council include all regional transportation planning agencies along the Central Coast – all of which have a strong interest in improving rail service and the rail infrastructure along the Central Coast’s portion of the California Coast Passenger Rail Corridor.

The CRCC Policy Committee met on February 24, 2023 and the working group met on March 17, 2023 via videoconference. Attached is the updated meeting schedule.

Staff attempted to arrange a tour of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) system for the Rail Policy Committee, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC), and Caltrans District 5 staff in late March. Only three elected officials confirmed their availability for the date, so the tour was deferred until a larger group is available, as the tour entails a significant level of effort for staff of both TAMC and SMART. The SMART map and train schedule are online as web attachments.

Staff will provide an update at the meeting on all activities.

• SMART train map
• SMART train schedule