Monterey-Salinas Transit
Update 2023
Presented to: City of Gonzales
Presented by: Carl Sedoryk, General Manager/CEO
Date: November 6, 2023
MST District Board of Directors
Jurisdiction Board member
Carmel-by-the Sea Jeff Baron
Del Rey Oaks Kim Shirley
Gonzales Lorraine Worthy
Greenfield Arianna Rodriguez
King City Mayor Mike LeBarre
Marina Liesbeth Visscher
Pacific Grove Joe Amelio
Monterey Ed Smith
Sand City Mayor Mary Anne Carbone, Vice Chair
Salinas Tony Barrera
Seaside David Pacheco
Soledad Mayor Anna Velazquez, Chair
County of Monterey Luis Alejo
MST Mission, Vision, and Values
➢ Mission: What do we do?
Advocating and delivering quality public transportation as a leader within our community and within our industry.
➢ Vision: Why do we exist?
Connecting communities. Creating opportunity. Being kind to our planet.
➢ Values: What do we believe?
➢ Safety: Caring for others, in all we do.
➢ Friendliness: Welcoming, helpful, and understanding.
➢ Dependability: Earning your trust, every day.
➢ Diversity: Valuing our differences.
➢ Achievement: Aspiring to be better.
Monterey-Salinas Transit in 2023
✓ 2.2 million passengers
✓ 19.4% increase over 2022
✓ 76% population historically underrepresented, non-white ✓ 77% annual household income under $40k
✓ 25% of trips start within a disadvantaged community
✓ 20% have a disability, dependent on others for mobility
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
2016 2018 2023
Monterey-Salinas Transit in 2023
WHERE RIDERS GO
Monterey-Salinas Transit in 2023
WHY RIDERS USE TRANSIT
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
No car
available
Avoid
traffic
Difficult
parking
Unable to
drive
Reduce
pollution
Reduce
traffic
Cost of
parking
Don't like
to drive
Cheaper
than
driving
2016 2018 2023
Monterey-Salinas Transit in 2023
A DAY WITHOUT TRANSIT
Gonzales 2023 Ridership
January 1, 2023 – September 30, 2023
Gonzales ridership:
FIXED ROUTE: 4,429 or 16 passenger boardings/day
On-Call: 5,390 or 20 passenger per day
RIDES: 1,712 or 5 passengers/day
1% of residents take public transit to work
62% of residents are within ½ mile of transit
Top most frequented bus stops:
1. 5th/Day (EB) #2332: 8 people/day board and 16 people/day alight
2. 5th/Gabilan (EB) #2336: 4 people/day board and 6 people/day alight
3. 5th/ Shopping Center (WB) #2340: 4 people/day board and 2 people/day alight Top Boarding Locations
January-September 2023
Stop Boardings Avg/Day
2332 - 5th / Day 2,299 8
2336 - 5th / Gabilan 1,075 4
2340 - 5th / Shopping
Center 1,055 4
Top Alighting Locations
January-September 2023
Stop Name Alightings Avg/Day
2332 - 5th / Day 4,297 16
2336 - 5th / Gabilan 1,575 6
2340 - 5th / Shopping Center 524 2
Monterey-Salinas Transit in 2023
100% of heavy-duty
fleet are renewable
biofuel or renewable
electric
12 zero-emissions
electric buses
scheduled for order
Winter 2023/2024
MST services remove
equivalent of 110k
single occupancy
vehicle trips from
area roadways
monthly
MST reduces GHG
emissions by 220
annual acres of forest
sequestered monthly
74% of passengers
agree reducing GHG is
important
Monterey-Salinas Transit in 2023
159 square miles service area
33 transit lines
Bus Operator Driving - Good/Excellent
➢ MST – 91% National Avg. – 73%
MST Services - Good/Excellent
➢ MST – 87% National Avg. – 58%
Bus Cleanliness – Good/Excellent
➢ MST – 82% National Avg. – 38%
Monterey-Salinas Transit in 2023
Community Survey of 409 residents who don’t use transit:
➢ 95% of residents feel that MST’s services are valuable to the community
➢ 87% of residents think it’s important for the entire County to support and fund improved public transportation
➢ 83% of residents think there should be greater levels of funding for transit over the next 5 years
➢ 70% of residents are familiar with the services provided by MST Fares, $3,144,016, -
5%
Measure Q,
$12,800,000, -
22%
State Sales Tax,
$19,395,686, -
33%
State Fuel Tax,
$5,255,584, -
9%
Federal Fuel
Tax,
$12,270,350, -
21%
Reserves,
$4,500,000, -
Other, $1,011,000, - 8%
2%
FY 2024 Budget - $58M
Revenue By Source
Labor/Benefits,
$32,563,050, 56%
Outside Services,
$3,968,375, 7%
Fuel, Parts,
Supplies,
$6,184,310,
10%
Purchased
Transportation,
$11,522,000, 20%
Other Admin,
$4,208,705, 7%
FY 2024 Budget - $58M
Expenses by Category
MST Measure Q
First county-wide sales tax for transportation to pass November 2014 won with 72.6% overall voter support
15-Year, 1/8 of one-percent retail sales tax
Est. dollars raised over the life of the tax: $100 Million (2012 $) 100% of funds go to MST supporting services for veterans, seniors and persons with disabilities including:
✓ MST RIDES ADA Services
✓ Senior Shuttle Routes
✓ Taxi Vouchers
✓ Travel Training, Navigator Volunteers
✓ Travel Reimbursement Incentive Program
Transportation Agency for Monterey County
Measure X
• Second county-wide sales tax for transportation
• November 2016 won with 67.7% overall voter support
• 30-Year, 3/8 of one-percent sales tax
• Est. dollars raised over the life of the tax: $600 Million (2015 $) • Funding distribution:
– 60% for local streets and roads for Cities and County – 27% regional road safety and congestion projects
– 13% for pedestrian and bicycle safety and mobility projects • Approx. 7% to MST for Hwy 1 rapid bus corridor, Salinas Valley transit centers Recent Accomplishments
• Nationally Recognized COVID Response and Recovery
• New South County Operations and Maintenance facility in King City, fall 2021
• University and College Transit Pass Partnerships
• Contactless Credit/Debit/eWallet Fare Payment and Capping • Subsidized Vanpool Program
• Better Bus Network
MST Contactless Fare Payment
• First project in the State, in the Country, and in a Small Urban/Rural Area
• Daily/Weekly/Monthly Fare Capping
• First in the world to synch discount with a
Government-issued ID
• Cards available to those without a bank account or
credit card
• 95,000 contactless trips made to date
✓ Service location:
• 40% Monterey-Seaside
• 40% Greater Salinas
• 20% Regional
✓ Focus on high demand, high need areas
✓ More direct routes
✓ Avg. 30 min. decrease in travel time
✓ 20% increase in residents and jobs near
service with 30 min. frequency or better
✓ Lower fares ($2/2 hours)
✓ Subsidized vanpools
The Future of MST……..
MST Major Projects
SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit, $77M
Salinas Operations and Maintenance Facilities, $25M
Salinas Alisal Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Transit Center Study, $500K
100% Zero-Emissions Fleet Rollout, $100M
Battery Electric and Fuel Cell Infrastructure, $20M
Busway and Bus
Rapid Transit Project
SURF! Project Benefits
✓ Congestion relief and
better connectivity
✓ Frequent, reliable transit
✓ Zero-emissions vehicles only
✓ New Transit Station at 5th
Street
✓ Preserves rail corridor for
future generations and train
service
SURF! Project Rendering
MST Major Challenges and Opportunities
Restoration of local economy and employee recruitment Coach operator shortage
Federal government dysfunction, ongoing
Zero-emissions bus regulations, workforce development Land use decisions – TOD Planning Study, bus stops
Changing demographics of region
SB 125 challenge
Questions?