Monterey County, California, considers rail - two rail options including commuter service looked into - Brief Article

Railway Age, Jan, 1998

The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC), the county's regional transportation planning agency, is considering development of a rail passenger service that could be financed by California's $2 billion Proposition 16 transportation bond measure approved by voters in 1990.

Two rail service options have been identified. One is an extended-weekend intercity, service over a 123-mile Union Pacific route linking San Francisco with the Monterey Peninsula. It would provide a single daily round trip operating either Thursday's through Sunday's or Fridays through Mondays.

The second option, a commuter rail service over a 69-mile LIP route between Salinas and San Jose, would likely be through an agreement with the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, which already operates Caltrain commuter rail service as far south as Gilroy, 34 miles south of San Jose.

Once negotiations have been completed with UP, TAMC expects to choose one of the options and then develop a business and operating plan. An application for $17 million in capital funding available under the Proposition 16 bond bill must be submitted by, mid-1998.

Separately, Monterey County, has joined with neighboring Santa Cruz County to study the feasibility of developing an "around the ban," diesel railcar passenger service over existing rail lines to connect tourist destinations and educational institutions in the two counties. The service could connect with the proposed intercity, service option now under consideration. LS Transit Systems is conducting the study, which is financed by an FTA grant and local matching funds. Siemens Transportation Systems' RegioSprinter DMU was demonstrated in the area last January.