Monterey-Salinas Transit
A growing transit fleet requires expanded maintenance closer to core routes. By modernizing and consolidating operations, the agency reduced fuel use, cut unnecessary mileage and created long-term efficiency while meeting environmental and regulatory demands.
Project
Overview
Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) faced a growing operational challenge along California’s Central Coast: Increased ridership along its most heavily traveled routes required expanded bus storage and maintenance capacity closer to daily service areas.
Operating from distant facilities added unnecessary mileage, increased fuel consumption and accelerated wear on critical equipment. To improve efficiency and protect long-term assets, MST committed to renovating and expanding its Salinas operations and maintenance facility.
To deliver the project with confidence and predictability, MST utilized the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract to secure a solution in partnership with SSB Contracting, Inc., a Butler Builder®.
The project scope was substantial. It included 11,200 square feet of new construction, renovation of existing structures to bring the total facility footprint to 30,000 square feet and an additional 6,600-square-foot fueling and bus wash canopy.
The expanded campus needed to support higher bus volumes, improve maintenance workflow and modernize driver operations and training spaces while remaining compliant with current environmental and storm water regulations.
The team integrated local expertise with a systemized construction approach designed for performance and durability.
The existing facility received comprehensive upgrades, including improved driver operations areas, enhanced training spaces and a new façade that modernized the campus presence.
New construction expanded core maintenance capabilities with dedicated bus repair bays, a steam cleaning bay, a parts building, a bus wash area and a fuel island designed to support daily fleet demands. Site improvements increased bus parking capacity and incorporated water saving landscaping and a new irrigation system to bring storm water controls into compliance with current water-saving regulations.
The completed facility can maintain up to 90 buses, significantly increasing MST’s ability to service its fleet closer to where it operates most.
By reducing the distance buses travel between Salinas and Monterey, the agency expects to decrease fuel usage, limit unnecessary mileage and extend vehicle service life. These operational efficiencies translate directly into financial performance, with MST projecting approximately $250,000 in annual savings in fuel and labor costs.
The project was delivered in 18 months, meeting schedule expectations while maintaining quality and accountability at every stage. The result is a modernized operations and maintenance hub that supports MST’s mission today and adapts to future transit needs.
Built with Butler systems and delivered through a trusted design-build partnership, the Salinas facility stands as a clear example of how precision-engineered construction and cooperative procurement create assurance for public agencies tasked with doing more with every dollar invested.
