Planning / Development

Major Studies

MST periodically conducts planning studies to evaluate current routes and schedules and to assess demand for transit.

• Monterey-Salinas Transit District Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) Rollout Plan (12/13/2021)
• MST COVID-19 Recovery Plan (9/14/2020)
• Salinas Valley Express Transit Corridor Planning Study (05/23/2019)
• MST Marketing Plan 2019-2020 (05/03/2019)
• Final Project Report Monterey Bay Area Feasibility Study of Bus on Shoulder Operations on State Route 1 and the Monterey Branch Line (6/26/18)

Transit-oriented Development Planning Study

This planning study identifies 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 goals are decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reducing vehicle miles travelled (VMT) from development, and lowering TOD parking requirements to collectively make TOD more effective and attractive to developers and more desirable and affordable to Monterey County residents.

• Background Conditions Report (April 2023)
• Appendices

• Implementation Strategy – coming 2023

2021 Comprehensive Operational Analysis

This planning study will assist MST in identifying short and long range plans for its transit system. The plan will address the system as a whole and include operational improvements. The plan will inform MST decision makers of the most effective way to leverage funding to increase ridership and revenue, while addressing the transportation needs of the region. The purpose of this study is to not only provide a development strategy for the next two years, but also to provide direction and guidance in how MST should mold its transit program to best support the continued growth and development of Monterey County.

• Final Network Plan (February 2022)
• Choices Report (May 2020)

SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit Project

The Surf! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit project will create an express transit route parallel to Highway 1 between Marina and Sand City. It begins at the existing Marina Transit Exchange and has three stops strategically located along the corridor before terminating in the heart of Sand City at the intersection of Contra Costa and Orange.  By building the Surf!, passengers will have express service to and from work during peak commute times, bypassing the Highway 1 corridor when most heavily congested.  This bus rapid transit line will be constructed along the Monterey Branch Line, which Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) purchased using State Proposition 116 funds in 2003.  Operating along this dedicated right-of-way running parallel to the inactive railroad, the Surf! will promote safety, improve transit efficiency, allow for more frequent bus service, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce traffic congestion.

South County Operations and Maintenance Facility Project

The Monterey-Salinas Transit South County Operations and Maintenance Facility Project
(proposed project) consists of developing an approximately 4.8-acre, vacant parcel in King City, California, to construct an operations and maintenance facility for public transit vehicles that primarily serve southern Monterey County. The proposed project would accommodate existing future transit needs in the surrounding rural communities of Monterey’s South County. The proposed project site is part of the existing industrial park site for which King City has approved the East Ranch Business Park Specific Plan.

The following attachments support a Notice of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines:

Attachment 1. Project Description
Attachment 2. Air Quality GHG Impact Analyses
Attachment 3. Biological Study and BA
Attachment 4. Facility Equity Analysis
Attachment 5. Historic Property-Finding of Effect
Attachment 6. Phase I ESA
Attachment 7. Traffic Impact Analysis
Attachment 8. Socioeconomic and Environmental Justice Analysis

Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration – Monterey Bay Operations and Maintenance Facility

The Project intends to improve the efficiency of the existing MST Monterey Bay Operations and Maintenance Facility property through site improvements and building and bus parking expansion.  The Project would reconfigure the existing facility to focus on operations and maintenance and would relocate most of MST’s management and administrative functions off-site.

• Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
• Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
• Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration
• Aviso de la intención de adopter una declaractión negative mitigada
• Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration

• Appendices
  • Appendix A- Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Assessment.pdf
  • Appendix B- Biological Study.pdf
  • Appendix C- Tree Assessment.pdf
  • Appendix D- Geotechnical.pdf
  • Appendix E- Phase 1 ESA.pdf
  • Appendix F- Lead-Based Paint and Asbestos Study.pdf
  • Appendix G – Water Demand Estimate.pdf
  • Appendix H- Traffic Impact Analysis.pdf

Designing for Transit

Why is the integration of public transportation with land use important? The coordination of land use developments with public transportation planning enables safe, efficient, and effective transit operations. The benefits are apparent at the regional and individual experience. Designing for Transit gives decision-makers, developers, planners, engineers, and community members the ability to plan for safety and efficiency of transit on our streets and highways. When public agencies and private interest groups fail to include safety and efficiency standards for bus operations, fewer people will ride the bus and the region will carry the burden of more congestion and more pollution.
Designing For Transit Manual