In the fall of 2004, MST commissioned the Salinas Area Service Analysis. This study was designed to evaluate how well MST’s bus service in and around the city of Salinas is meeting passenger demand with regards to on-time performance, safety and convenience; to examine present and anticipated development and travel patterns; and to subsequently propose a series of new and adjusted bus routes that would better serve existing and future public transit customers as well as increase overall ridership. Prior to this study, MST’s Salinas bus service had not been comprehensively evaluated since 1997.

Based on the findings of the data analysis, recommendations were made in a number of categories. Eleven MST bus lines were affected by this study. Of those eleven lines, recommendations for changes were made for nine lines, including one in Monterey. In addition, one new line was designed for possible implementation. Some of these recommended service improvements were implemented in July and October of 2005. Others may be implemented in future service changes as funding becomes available.

The Salinas Area Service Analysis final report is now available for download. Preparation of this study and the resulting final report were financed, in part, by a Section 5303 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, per the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). Acceptance of this report by Monterey-Salinas Transit in no way reflects the views of, or is a funding commitment by, the grantor agencies