MEETING REPORT

Transportation Agency for Monterey County Rail Committee

January 10, 2005

Reported by Chris Flescher, RailPAC

TAMC has a legislative agenda and it seems to mean that they are asking the state and federal government to support these things:

Preserve Prop 42 funds for transportation (state)
Preserve money for new rail starts (federal)
Support Transit Oriented Development financing (both?) (TOD)
Support MST plan that would change Fort Ord from something else to an economic development district (both?)

There was a meeting with property owners in Marina and the board apparently decided not to automatically accept the proposal from Longwood to develop the area around the proposed station, but to open it to bids from others. They still want to have TOD there and they may choose a developer in a month.

A possible land swap would give MST some land near the train station and Marina some to the south of there.

If the development process doesn't have open bidding, TAMC could lose some federal money that would help create TOD. Also, I think Longwood wants to own the property, while TAMC is considering leasing it out.

The Marina city council approved the concept of placing TOD on any property that ends up not needed for TAMC.

There is a very narrow piece of land originally used for parking, and for assembling trains, but TAMC doesn't expect to ever need it. Therefore, TAMC should give it up in return for land elsewhere. The piece is about 2 acres, but very narrow, maybe 30 feet wide. The piece seems to be in the way of planned TOD, so the developers will need it. It's apparently right in the middle of where a shopping center will probably go. Also, in the past, TAMC considered holding onto land in order to keep leverage over the city of Marina. However, Marina opposed rail service, but they don't seem interested in that any more. Earlier attitude was "Marina will do all it can to stop any rail service." Now the attitude is more like this: "Marina sees benefits in rail service and sees that it will probably happen in the future, so Marina wants to work with TAMC to lessen negative impacts." Before TAMC does a land swap, they should make sure they won't need the land in the future.


RailPAC Contacts Publications Issues Meeting Reports 2005 Reports 2005-11-16 Capitol 2005-11-10 San Joaquin 2005-11 Announcement 2005-10-24 Bay Area 2005-09-21 Capitol 2005-09-14 LOSSAN 2005-09 Coast and TAMC 2005-09-08 San Joaquin 2005-07-14 San Joaquin 2005-07-11 TAMC 2005-06-25 CASHRA 2005-06-16 LOSSAN 2005-06-15 Capitol 2005-05-30 TAMC 2005-05-12 San Joaquin 2005-04-27 Coast Rail 2005-04-19 LOS-SAN 2005-03-11 San Joaquin 2005-02-16 Capitol 2005 Annual 2005-01 San Joaquin 2005-01 Monterey Membership Links	MEETING REPORT Transportation Agency for Monterey County Rail Committee January 10, 2005 Reported by Chris Flescher, RailPAC TAMC has a legislative agenda and it seems to mean that they are asking the state and federal government to support these things: Preserve Prop 42 funds for transportation (state) Preserve money for new rail starts (federal) Support Transit Oriented Development financing (both?) (TOD) Support MST plan that would change Fort Ord from something else to an economic development district (both?) There was a meeting with property owners in Marina and the board apparently decided not to automatically accept the proposal from Longwood to develop the area around the proposed station, but to open it to bids from others. They still want to have TOD there and they may choose a developer in a month. A possible land swap would give MST some land near the train station and Marina some to the south of there. If the development process doesn't have open bidding, TAMC could lose some federal money that would help create TOD. Also, I think Longwood wants to own the property, while TAMC is considering leasing it out. The Marina city council approved the concept of placing TOD on any property that ends up not needed for TAMC. There is a very narrow piece of land originally used for parking, and for assembling trains, but TAMC doesn't expect to ever need it. Therefore, TAMC should give it up in return for land elsewhere. The piece is about 2 acres, but very narrow, maybe 30 feet wide. The piece seems to be in the way of planned TOD, so the developers will need it. It's apparently right in the middle of where a shopping center will probably go. Also, in the past, TAMC considered holding onto land in order to keep leverage over the city of Marina. However, Marina opposed rail service, but they don't seem interested in that any more. Earlier attitude was "Marina will do all it can to stop any rail service." Now the attitude is more like this: "Marina sees benefits in rail service and sees that it will probably happen in the future, so Marina wants to work with TAMC to lessen negative impacts." Before TAMC does a land swap, they should make sure they won't need the land in the future.
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