Salinas transit study advances three downtown relocation options and two bus-rapid alternatives

Monterey Salinas Transit told the Historic Resources Board that a Caltrans‑funded study is evaluating replacement and corridor upgrades for the Salinas Transit Center, identifying three downtown candidate sites and two corridor alternatives as the watchdogs and transit agency continue community outreach.

"On an average weekday, there are about 3,400 people that use that transit center," said Michelle Overmayer, director of planning and innovation at Monterey Salinas Transit, citing the agency's counts and a recent rider survey. Overmayer said 40% of surveyed riders walk to the station, a key reason MST is prioritizing downtown locations that preserve pedestrian access.

MST told the board it began with five candidate locations and narrowed them to three: the publicly owned Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC), a publicly owned 1.15‑acre lot across from the post office (111 West Alisal), and a privately owned 1.26‑acre site at 425 Main Street/127 John Street. The ITC is the largest option (more than 3 acres) and would require the fewest route changes, while the privately owned John Street site would require larger routing adjustments and is nearer the southern edge of downtown.

The study also evaluated corridor‑level improvements for Alisal/Williams: MST presented two alternatives moving forward — side‑running dedicated bus lanes and an improved stopping configuration without dedicated lanes (in‑lane boarding). "We presented these options to the public and the public preferred side‑running bus lanes," Overmayer said, describing outreach that included community pop‑ups, bus ride‑alongs and more than 300 survey responses.

Board members and public participants pressed MST about tradeoffs. A board member raised concerns that moving the transit center away from the current downtown site could impose longer walks or transfers for many riders. MST said the 111 West Alisal lot would be the most centrally located of the three study sites for existing routing, while the ITC could better support future commuter rail intermodal connections but poses Caltrans permitting challenges on Market Street.

Historic preservation emerged as a focal point for the board. One member asked that staff release preliminary plans including elevations for the John Street/Main Street candidate site so the board can review potential impacts. "This is where Salinas began," the member said, urging that changes "meet the Secretary of the Interior's standards" and not destroy important historic fabric. MST acknowledged the John Street option includes architecturally significant buildings and said the site presents more design and access constraints.

MST said the study is nearing the end of its planning phase: outreach round two will begin later this month, a final plan is expected this fall, and MST board approval could come later this year (the schedule may extend into next year). Funding and property acquisition or negotiation would be required before any construction; MST emphasized the current work is feasibility and planning only.

The study also touched on fleet electrification and station amenities. Overmayer said MST is expanding electric bus purchases (dozens of full‑size electric buses recently ordered or delivered) and noted a state requirement that transit fleets be fully electric by 2040. MST reported the current center has nine gates and is about 0.75 acres; study targets assume a larger facility of roughly 1.1 acres to support 12 gates and increased customer facilities.

Next steps: MST will publish the draft study materials and post a public survey via a project webpage and QR code; the agency will continue community engagement and refine recommendations before returning to decisionmakers.