MEETING REPORT

Transportation Agency for Monterey County Rail Committee

November 18, 2004

Reported by Chris Flescher, RailPAC

There was more info presented about the possibility of a water pipeline in the right of way between Castroville and Marina. The pipeline company would hire an appraiser and TAMC would do the same to determine the market value of an easement on TAMC property. The project would be mainly cut and cover except for a bridge over the Salinas River and possibly one or two creeks. It looks like a bridge over the Salinas River would include a bike/pedestrian path. The city of Marina has a concern that putting in a pipeline might restrict the ability to put buildings on the r-o-w, because they are considering transit oriented development there.

For the Salinas Intermodal Transit Center (ITC), the TAMC people came up with 17 designs, with the last one considered best. After meeting with property owners who made suggestions, TAMC modified #17 slightly to get #18. The most significant problem is that one company said they might go out of business if we take any land from them, even just 25 feet like TAMC wants to do. So, now TAMC is considering buying out all their property. Doing so would provide enough space for a surface parking lot instead of a garage, which could save $5-10 million. Now TAMC will do an environmental study for the designs #17 and 18. TAMC will meet with the city of Salinas on Dec 7, and with the MST board of directors on DEC 13. There will be a report back to the whole TAMC board of directors on Jan 26. MST isn't sure if they definitely want to move, but they approve of the general concept of the ITC plans. if the MST transit center moves, the city of Salinas may want to keep a kind of smaller transit center/super stop at the "main part" of downtown, namely in front of the city hall or library. Right now, Market Street is wide and very busy, so it cuts off the train station from downtown somewhat. There may be a pedestrian bridge between a new parking structure (about to open) and the Steinbeck Museum, and the city may want a similar bridge over Market. TAMC voted to present design #18 as the preferred one.

The City of Marina seems less opposed to rail service through their town. In the past, the mayor said that she would do everything possible to stop the trains, but now she appears willing to consider it. The city council was also opposed, but at a recent meeting, they made no negative comments. The city council seems willing to support rail service if they have some kind of control of what kind of service occurs, such as having all the trains stop there, and having at least half of the trains also stop at Castroville.


RailPAC Contacts Publications Issues Meeting Reports 2004 Reports 2004-11 Monterey 2004-11 San Joaquin 2004-09 Coast Rail 2004-09-15 Capitol 2004-09 San Joaquin 2004-08 Coast Rail 2004-07 San Joaquin 2004-06 TAMC 2004-04-26 Coast Rail 2004-04-21 Capitol 2004-04-13 LOSSAN 2004-04-13 CAHSRA 2004-03-23 Fresno Station 2004-03-12 San Joaquin 2004-02-18 Capitol 2004-02-02 Monterey 2004-01-09 San Joaquin 2004-01-07 LOSSAN Membership Links	MEETING REPORT Transportation Agency for Monterey County Rail Committee November 18, 2004 Reported by Chris Flescher, RailPAC There was more info presented about the possibility of a water pipeline in the right of way between Castroville and Marina. The pipeline company would hire an appraiser and TAMC would do the same to determine the market value of an easement on TAMC property. The project would be mainly cut and cover except for a bridge over the Salinas River and possibly one or two creeks. It looks like a bridge over the Salinas River would include a bike/pedestrian path. The city of Marina has a concern that putting in a pipeline might restrict the ability to put buildings on the r-o-w, because they are considering transit oriented development there. For the Salinas Intermodal Transit Center (ITC), the TAMC people came up with 17 designs, with the last one considered best. After meeting with property owners who made suggestions, TAMC modified #17 slightly to get #18. The most significant problem is that one company said they might go out of business if we take any land from them, even just 25 feet like TAMC wants to do. So, now TAMC is considering buying out all their property. Doing so would provide enough space for a surface parking lot instead of a garage, which could save $5-10 million. Now TAMC will do an environmental study for the designs #17 and 18. TAMC will meet with the city of Salinas on Dec 7, and with the MST board of directors on DEC 13. There will be a report back to the whole TAMC board of directors on Jan 26. MST isn't sure if they definitely want to move, but they approve of the general concept of the ITC plans. if the MST transit center moves, the city of Salinas may want to keep a kind of smaller transit center/super stop at the "main part" of downtown, namely in front of the city hall or library. Right now, Market Street is wide and very busy, so it cuts off the train station from downtown somewhat. There may be a pedestrian bridge between a new parking structure (about to open) and the Steinbeck Museum, and the city may want a similar bridge over Market. TAMC voted to present design #18 as the preferred one. The City of Marina seems less opposed to rail service through their town. In the past, the mayor said that she would do everything possible to stop the trains, but now she appears willing to consider it. The city council was also opposed, but at a recent meeting, they made no negative comments. The city council seems willing to support rail service if they have some kind of control of what kind of service occurs, such as having all the trains stop there, and having at least half of the trains also stop at Castroville.
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