The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Jan. 13, 2025, announced a $22.2 million construction grant award with Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) to support the SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
Funded by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, MST will use the funding to build a 6-mi. dedicated busway as a part of a 20-mi. planned route that will connect Monterey to Salinas.
"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," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. "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."
SURF!'s dedicated busway will run along a path replacing railroad rails, parallel to California Highway 1. SURF! riders will avoid sections of heavy traffic along Highway 1, saving riders up to 15 minutes of travel time.
In addition to the dedicated busway, the BRT project will include new stops serving Marina, Sand City and Seaside, including a new multimodal mobility hub in the former Fort Ord redevelopment area, bicycle and pedestrian access improvements, and transit signal priority along part of the route.
"The SURF! Busway and BRT line isn't just about faster service, it's about creating better access to jobs, schools, and healthcare for the people who need it most," FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. "This is an important step to help make the region more affordable and open up economic opportunity for all."
SURF! will connect residents and visitors to recreational areas, including the region's famed beaches and Fort Ord Dunes State Park; Monterey Conference Center; new residential and commercial spaces; and medical and educational facilities along the line. It also will expand transit connectivity throughout Monterey County by linking two key existing transit hubs — Salinas Transit Center and Monterey Transit Plaza — and provide easier connections to California State University at Monterey Bay.
More than 26 percent of the workforce in the cities connected by the line will live within a half mile of a SURF! bus stop. With better transit connectivity and improved access to commercial and residential spaces, the SURF! BRT project is expected to generate 650 jobs.
SURF! will be MST's second BRT line. Not having a car is the number one reason riders report taking MST services, with 77 percent of MST riders earning an annual household income under $40,000.
The total project is estimated to cost $100.5 million. Federal support for the project comes from FTA's Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, which helps communities implement transformational transit projects.
The SURF! BRT line is expected to be in service by 2028.
