Item Coversheet

Agenda Item 4.

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TRANSPORTATION AGENCY FOR MONTEREY COUNTY
Memorandum
To: 

Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee

From:

Christina Watson, Director of Planning

Meeting Date:

May 3, 2023

Subject:

Monterey-Salinas Transit Transit Oriented Development Planning Study

RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE presentation from the Monterey-Salinas Transit District regarding the Transit Oriented Development Planning Study.
SUMMARY:
The Monterey-Salinas Transit District (MST) is leading a planning study to identify opportunities to increase transit-oriented development (TOD) viability by enhancing multimodal connections within the SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit project corridor through the implementation of enhanced bicycle, transit, and pedestrian facilities; and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies. The project goals are to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduce vehicle miles travelled (VMT) from development, and lower TOD parking requirements to collectively make TOD more effective and attractive to developers and more desirable and affordable to Monterey County residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:

The Plan will identify the most promising TOD policies, multimodal improvement packages, and TDM programs that local jurisdictions should pursue along with approaches for pursuing grant funding and project financing.

DISCUSSION:

The MST Transit Oriented Development study launched in summer of 2022, and is focusing on five areas surrounding key SURF! stations in the cities of Monterey, Seaside, Sand City, Marina, Salinas, and California State University Monterey Bay. The consultant team has completed a comprehensive Background Conditions report, which reviewed land use policies and transportation plans within the study area and identified opportunity areas and constraints for TOD and transit-supportive projects. The team has held numerous meetings with members of the study’s technical advisory committee to review the Background Conditions findings and better understand the unique land use and transportation needs in each community.

 

To support the Background Conditions work, the Consultant team has conducted several public outreach activities, which included holding a focus group with community-based organizations and local employers and holding a series of meetings with affordable and market-rate developers and architects. The community-based organizations and employer focus group concentrated on community travel needs, challenges with accessing transit services, and issues related to affordable and workforce housing in the region. The developer and architect meetings focused on the market potential for TOD within the study area, building department regulations, and policies related to parking.

 

A public survey was conducted in March 2023 to gauge community values and preferences for services near housing sites.

 

The team is now working on a TOD Implementation Strategy Plan that will develop a series of recommendations for promoting TOD and first and last-mile access to SURF! within the study area. The Plan will include the following elements:

  • A survey of TOD opportunity areas and their potential to increase housing close to transit;
  • TOD “best practices” guide on development standards and policies including parking ratios;
  • Bicycle and pedestrian improvements to enhance access and safety around SURF! Stops;
  • Mobility hub features along the SURF! corridor such as bicycle parking, passenger pick-up/drop-off zones, and enhanced rider information systems to promote first and last-mile connectivity;
  • TDM and parking policies to promote a shift from auto to transit;
  • An assessment of the transit benefits of these strategies, including changes in ridership, VMT and benefit-cost analysis.

 

Michelle Overmeyer, Director of Planning and Innovation for MST, will provide an update on the study to the Committee at the meeting.