RESOLUTION NO. (N.C.S.)
SUPPORT FOR PILOT RAIL SERVICE BETWEEN LOS ANGELES AND THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA FOR THE SUMMER 2028 OLYMPICS WHEREAS, the City of Salinas is a member jurisdiction of the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC), which coordinates through the Coast Rail Coordinating Council, and its Central Coast transportation planning agency partners to advocate for rail improvements along the Central Coast Rail Corridor; and WHEREAS, TAMC has been leading the planning, funding, and implementation of passenger rail service extensions to Monterey County in coordination with federal, state, and regional partner agencies in the Central Coast Rail Corridor, which is a regional priority for enhancing mobility and economic benefits for Monterey County communities and visitors; and WHEREAS, the 2028 Olympics Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, and official venues will be in other large metropolitan areas such as San José and San Diego; and WHEREAS, the 2028 Olympics Games will attract millions of domestic and international tourists that would choose to take rail or air service between southern and northern California; and WHEREAS, there is a gap in state-supported passenger rail service between San Luis Obispo and San Jose on the Pacific Coast Route connecting Southern and Northern California with no state-supported trains that connect Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area; and WHEREAS, existing rail infrastructure could support an additional passenger train frequency if train equipment and rail crews can be provided; and WHEREAS, the Coast Rail Coordinating Council is now identifying the funding need to support planning, capital, and operations of a passenger rail pilot service during the Olympics; and WHEREAS, a passenger rail pilot service for the 2028 Olympic Games would leverage interest in transportation for this international event and serve to complement implementation of ongoing, regular passenger rail service to Monterey County; and WHEREAS, State-supported intercity passenger rail operations, including new passenger rail services now operating between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, and San Luis Obispo to San Diego on the Pacific Surfliner trains are only funded through June 2027 and should be continued to allow for a pilot Central Coast passenger rail service through the Summer 2028 Olympics; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Salinas City Council as follows:
The City Council supports fully funding Annual Business Plans for the Capitol Corridor and Los Angeles-San Luis Obispo-San Diego (LOSSAN) Corridor intercity passenger rail services to maintain operations funding needed to sustain pre-COVID passenger service levels and allow for planned expansion of State-supported intercity passenger rail service in the Central Coast Rail Corridor; and The City Council supports efforts by the Coast Rail Coordinating Council to provide passenger rail pilot service between Los Angeles-San Luis Obispo-San Franciso Bay Area during the 2028 Olympics Games.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 1st day of September, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED:
Dennis Donohue, Mayor
ATTEST:
Patricia M. Soratos, City Clerk
Page | 2