MST Breaks Ground on SURF! Busway and BRT Project

Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST), CA, officially broke ground on the highly anticipated SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project with a celebratory ceremony June 28. Held at the site of the future Fifth Street Station in Marina, the event gathered MST staff, board members, project partners, elected officials, community supporters, and residents to mark the beginning of this transformative initiative.

Set against clear skies and coastal breeze, the groundbreaking ceremony celebrated the next phase in bringing fast, sustainable, and reliable transit to the Monterey Bay region. The SURF! project will feature a five-mile dedicated busway running parallel to the frequently congested Highway 1, allowing MST’s zero-emission buses to bypass traffic and significantly reduce travel times.

“The SURF! Busway represents more than just an investment in transit infrastructure,” said MST General Manager/CEO Carl Sedoryk. “It’s an investment in how we better connect people, places, and opportunities, while tackling the urgent challenges of climate change, mobility equity, economic opportunity, and affordable regional growth impacting the Central Coast”

The project reflects MST’s long-term vision to integrate transportation and environmental stewardship. With new bus stops, a multimodal mobility hub at Fifth Street Station, and zero-emission buses, the SURF! line is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve local air quality, and offer a meaningful alternative to car travel.

Rep. Jimmy Panetta, (D-CA), shared, “This project exemplifies how sustainable transit infrastructure can strengthen communities, drive economic growth, and lead us toward a cleaner, more resilient future.”

State Sen. John Laird added, “SURF! is a significant step toward a more connected region, expanding access to jobs, recreation, and opportunity. It represents real progress in strengthening public transit and advancing sustainable transportation solutions.”

Other local elected officials spoke to the importance of this project for the youth, elderly, and economically disadvantaged who use transit today, and for those who use transit by choice, or necessity, both now and in the future.

Slated to begin service in early 2028, the SURF! Busway and BRT line will directly serve communities along the Monterey Peninsula and beyond, helping to close transportation gaps and improve quality of life for thousands of residents and visitors alike.