The Kick Start project is Phase 1 of the overall Monterey County Rail Extension project. The Kick Start Project is focused on improving the existing Salinas train station to accommodate new passenger rail service connecting Salinas to the San Francisco Bay Area, and making track improvements at Gilroy to allow through trains to stop at the Gilroy train station.

The Salinas train station, also known as the Intermodal Transportation Center, is in downtown Salinas on State Route 183 (Market Street), a walkable distance (0.2 miles) to the Monterey Salinas Transit (MST) bus center and the main employment areas of downtown Salinas. Recently constructed improvements to the Salinas station as part of the Kick Start Project include a new direct signalized access point to downtown via the extension of Lincoln Avenue across Market Street, a five-bay bus transfer area, bike lanes and bike lockers, safe pedestrian crossings and sidewalks, and commuter parking. This station will integrate new passenger rail service to the San Francisco Bay Area with existing service by Amtrak intercity trains and buses, MST local buses, and Greyhound intercity buses.

The Kick Start project also includes a train layover facility in Salinas and improvements to the tracks between Salinas and Gilroy.

Estimated Capital Cost: $81 million

Construction Packages

This project is separated into three construction packages:

1: Salinas Station: Lincoln Avenue Extension, circulation, and parking improvements

Current Status: Construction of new signalized access to the train station, new parking & landscaping is now complete!

Status Update - June 28, 2021

Remaining work onsite is landscaping and bioretention area maintenance through December 2021.

Monterey County Rail Extension Newsletter - Vol. 3 - March 2021

Monterey County Rail Extension Newsletter - Vol. 2 - March 2020

Monterey County Rail Extension Newsletter - Vol. 1 - March 2019

Construction Celebration/ Ribbon-Cutting

Progress Photos

Ribbon Cutting; 1/15/2021

Aerial of the Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center; June 2021

Aerial of the Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center; June 2021

Aerial of the Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center; June 2021

Aerial of the Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center; June 2021

Aerial of the Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center; June 2021

Elected Officials cut the Ribbon; 1/15/2021

View from the Gateway Apartment Building; 2/8/2021

View from the Gateway Apartment Building; 2/8/2021

View from the Gateway Apartment Building; 2/8/2021

Railroad Avenue; 2/7/2021

Crews shaping and texturing fresh roadway pavement: 11/19/20

Concrete Roadway Paving; 11/12/2020

Final weeks of concrete work; 10/15/2020

Station Place buildup of subgrade; 9/24/2020

The new Station Place roadway taking shape: 8/6/2020

Active construction day. Development of the new Station Place roadway: 9/17/2020

Rooftop view from Salinas Gateway Apartments; 07/15/20

Rooftop view from Salinas Gateway Apartments; 07/15/20

Rooftop view from Salinas Gateway Apartments; 07/15/20

Bus departs newly opened extension of Lincoln Ave; 06/11/20

Parking lot striping underway; 06/03/20

Completion of paving the west parking lot; 05/21/20

Completion of paving the west parking lot; 05/21/20

Completion of grading work; 05/07/20

Paving the east parking lot; 05/14/20

Rooftop view from Salinas Gateway Apartments; 04/27/20

Rooftop view from Salinas Gateway Apartments; 04/27/20

Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center project site aerial; 04/22/20 Photo Credit: Jason Camp

Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center project site aerial; 04/22/20 Photo Credit: Jason Camp

Construction of trash enclosure; 04/16/20

Concrete roadway designed for large buses at Railroad Avenue/Station Place; 04/16/20

Concrete “valley” gutter (or v-gutter) in the west parking lot to facilitate drainage; 03/26/20

Planting of trees and other landscaping; 03/26/20

Illuminating parking lot lights; 03/12/20

Illuminating parking lot lights; 03/12/20

View from the Granary Building; 02/28/20

View from the Granary Building; 02/28/20

Irrigation components and soil mix filling the stormwater treatment areas; 02/28/20

Irrigation components and soil mix filling the stormwater treatment areas; 02/28/20

Irrigation components and soil mix filling the stormwater treatment areas; 02/12/20

Constructing the trash enclosure 02/12/20

Progression of construction activities on Market Street; 02/12/20

Irrigation components and soil mix filling the stormwater treatment areas; 02/12/20

View from the Gateway Apartment Building; 02/04/20

View from the Gateway Apartment Building; 02/04/20

View from the Gateway Apartment Building; 02/04/20

City of Salinas Storm Drain project underway; 6/28/2019

City of Salinas Storm Drain project underway; 6/28/2019

Demolition and site clean-up in progress; 11/13/2018

View from the Gateway Apartment Building; 7/18/2018

View from the Gateway Apartment Building; 7/18/2018

2: Salinas Layover Facility

• Current Status: Final Design, conducting railroad negotiations; Right-of-Way Acquisition
• Coming Soon: Construction

3: Gilroy Station & Track Improvements

• Current Status: Final Design, conducting railroad negotiations
• Coming Soon: Construction

Visual Simulations

Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center, Lincoln Avenue entrance Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center, Lincoln Avenue entrance

Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center, Harvey-Baker House and the Monterey-Salinas Transit bus center Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center, Harvey-Baker House and the Monterey-Salinas Transit bus center

Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center, pedestrian plaza Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center, pedestrian plaza

Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center, commuter rail platform Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center, passenger boarding platform

Christina Watson is the Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s rail program planner. If you have any questions, you can reach her at (831) 775-4406, or via email at: christina (at) tamcmonterey.org.