$22M CIG to Support Construction of MST Surf! Busway and BRT Project

Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST), Monterey, CA, has been awarded a $22.17 million FTA Capital Investment Grant (CIG) to help fund construction of its SURF! Bus and BRT project.

The SURF! Busway and BRT project includes a six-mile dedicated busway along a former rail right-of-way parallel to California Highway 1; bicycle and pedestrian improvements; and a transit signal prioritization system along some segments, and will reduce congestion impacts, improve on-time performance, and expand transit ridership in the increasingly congested Highway 1 corridor.

“The MST Board of Directors is committed to connecting communities, creating opportunity, and being kind to our planet, and this project meets all of those objectives,” said MST General Manager/CEO Carl Sedoryk stated. “For a little over five years, MST staff; our team of consultants; federal, state and local elected officials; advocates; and stakeholders have worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome, which is an important milestone for us to finally start construction later this year.”

With the federal funding secured, and the remaining $25 million in state funding expected to be allocated in the coming months, the SURF! project is fully funded and is expected to break ground this spring.

“By investing in bus rapid transit projects across the country, the Biden-Harris Administration is increasing access to sustainable, reliable transportation that connects more people to all that’s important in their lives,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The funding we’re announcing today for California’s SURF! Line will continue this good work and will allow residents, workers, and students from Monterey to Salinas to get where they need to go faster.”

“Working families and essential workers in Monterey County spend too much time, money, and opportunities stuck in traffic,” said Rep. James Panetta (D-CA). “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this federal investment in the SURF! Busway and Rapid Transit project will deliver sustainable, efficient, and reliable transportation solutions for our home and for our families during their commutes. I am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues at every level of government to secure this critical funding for Monterey-Salinas Transit, protect our environment, and support economic growth throughout the Central Coast.”

The SURF! BRT line is expected to be in service by 2028.