TAMC plans to extend rail service between Monterey County and Santa Clara County

The Southern California fires have derailed train service in the Bay Area and Central Coast. Amtrak has canceled service on its Coast Starlight Train south of Martinez.

Leaders with TAMC and other agencies around Salinas were going to take a bus up to San Jose Friday morning and then take the train back. The idea was to give people a feel for what increased passenger rail service to Salinas would look like. The rail tour has been canceled due to the fires, but even though the tour is derailed, the Rail Extension pProject is moving full steam ahead.

Currently, Amtrak provides some passenger rail service to Salinas, but officials say it’s not enough to accommodate the growing number of people who are moving to the Central Coast and then commuting back up to the Bay Area or Silicon Valley. TAMC said expanded train service will provide a reliable alternative to getting into the car for the long drive each day.

“We get calls all the time where people are looking for car pool alternatives to relieve that congestion along highway 101. So this is an opportunity to increase rail service,” said TAMC Community Outreach Coordinator Theresa Wright.

This project will extend passenger rail service from Santa Clara County South to Salinas. The service will start with two round trips, and depending on demand it could get up to six round trips.
The project would also extend Lincoln avenue in Salinas to provide better access to the station. They’ll also knock down some buildings that separate Oldtown and the train station to increase visibility and parking.

The entire project is expect to cost right around $70-million dollars, and will bring more than 800 jobs to Salinas. Construction should begin in 2018 with the start of service happening in 2020.