SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County’s long-planned expansion of passenger rail service along the Coast Mainline is taking shape, with multiple projects advancing from Salinas to King City and beyond.
At its October meeting, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) Board received an extensive update on the Coast Rail program, outlining progress on station development, track upgrades and regional planning efforts aimed at restoring and expanding passenger rail service between San Jose and San Luis Obispo.
A central component of the effort is the King City Multimodal Transportation Center, which TAMC officials reported is currently in the design phase. The future station is intended to serve as a new rail access point for southern Monterey County, providing a passenger platform, parking and bus connections as part of a regional mobility hub.
In a separate announcement, the City of King released new details on its project — referred to locally as the King Station Multimodal Transit Center — confirming that work on the first phase is fully funded and moving toward construction.
According to the City, the project will “re-establish a passenger rail station as part of the new Amtrak Coast Starlight train service near Pearl Street and First Street.” Officials noted that the Coast Starlight currently passes through King City without stopping as it travels a 100-mile stretch between Salinas and Paso Robles.
The City also described the historical significance of the site, stating, “The station, despite its historic importance to King City, ended service decades ago. A new platform in the approximate location of the old station is proposed along with track improvements and supporting facilities to bring passenger rail service and multi-modal connectivity back to King City.”
Phase 1 of the project includes several major components, including the construction of the accelerated platform, which will allow passenger service by Amtrak; a staging area for soldiers at U.S. Army Fort Hunter Liggett using Amtrak; extension of Broadway across the railroad tracks; and closure of Pearl Street. The City estimates construction of Phase 1 to begin in 2028-29.
TAMC also highlighted progress on other interconnected rail efforts:
- Salinas Rail Kick Start Project: Package 1, consisting of Salinas station improvements, is complete. The final design is advancing for Package 2, which will build a layover facility for train storage, and Package 3, which will upgrade tracks in Gilroy. These upgrades are essential to extending passenger rail service from Salinas into the Bay Area.
- Pajaro/Watsonville Multimodal Transit Hub: Now in environmental review, this future station in Pajaro is planned to serve Watsonville-area residents with direct rail access to the Bay Area and support future transit-oriented development.
- Castroville Multimodal Station: Still considered a priority, the project would connect the Monterey Peninsula to the Coast Mainline and link with future Monterey Branch Line service. Environmental and design work are currently paused until additional funding becomes available.
TAMC staff emphasized the importance of preparing projects for upcoming state and federal grant cycles. Coordination with the Coast Rail Coordinating Council continues as agencies across the region work to align environmental reviews and project timelines.
“Expanding passenger rail service along the Coast corridor is a long-term investment in regional connectivity,” said TAMC Executive Director Todd Muck. “Each of these station projects plays a vital role in building a network that serves residents across Monterey County and beyond.”
