Some amazing news for local pedestrians and bike riders, the Rail Trail from the Boardwalk to south of Aptos is now fully funded and will break ground for construction over the next two years. Last week, the extra funding we needed for construction was awarded to the RTC by the US Department of Transportation. The Mid-County Rail Trail will connect Aptos, Capitola, Live Oak and Santa Cruz, providing safe, pollution free access to schools, parks and beaches.
Getting the Rail Trail built is a seemingly simple task that has many steps. In this community-wide effort we want to offer a big Thank You to everyone who has advocated for, worked on, and voted to bring the Rail Trail to life. Special Thank you to the City, County and RTC planners, engineers and grant writers who work tirelessly on the Rail Trail.
Federal Support for the Rail Trail: Grant Award and Construction Next Steps
In early January, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), in partnership with both the City of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz County, received $19.5 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation. This grant tops off construction funding for segments 8 & 9, 10 & 11, and 12 of the Coastal Rail Trail spanning eight miles from Pacific Avenue in the city of Santa Cruz to Rio del Mar Boulevard in the unincorporated county area of Aptos. This means these segments of trail are fully funded!
Construction of the Coastal Rail Trail from the Santa Cruz Wharf to 17th Avenue (segments 8 & 9) will be overseen by the City of Santa Cruz. Trail construction from 17th to State park Drive (segments 10 & 11) will be overseen by the County of Santa Cruz. The Aptos trail from State Park Drive to Rio Del Mar (Segment 12) will be overseen in collaboration between the RTC and CalTrans who are overseeing the Highway 1 project, currently in design. Construction for these segments will be starting throughout 2026 to 2027.
The Mid-County Rail Trail provides a New Way to Get Around
We talked to Mid-County residents to hear what these extensions of the Rail Trail would mean for their mobility around Santa Cruz County.
For students and teachers, the new Rail Trail will be a game changer, enabling a better way to get to school. One teacher we talked to said, “I ride my bike to Shoreline Middle School every day from the Westside of Santa Cruz, it’s a whole different experience than driving. Being able to take the Rail Trail instead of the Murray Street bridge means my commute will entirely avoid busy streets with cars, it will be safer and also be much faster.”
What’s the lesson? The Rail Trail will make it possible for hundreds of teachers and students to get to school safely by walking, biking or rolling along the trail instead of on busy streets. There are ten schools along this section of the trail, including Shoreline Middle School, Del Mar Elementary, Cypress High School, New Brighton Middle School, and Opal Cliffs Elementary.
Do you enjoy getting out to the beach and hiking in the redwoods? The Mid-County Rail Trail will connect our neighborhoods to some of our favorite State Parks, including Nisene Marks, Seacliff State Beach, and Seabright State Beach. Parking will become a worry of the past when you can walk, ride and roll straight into the park.
For commuters, the Rail Trail offers a whole new route that avoids traffic. Mid-County resident Randa shared, “I am looking forward to the completion of [Rail Trail] segments eight through 11 so that I can have a beautiful and worry-free bike commute. I currently commute along Soquel Drive into Santa Cruz, which can be a little hair-raising in traffic. I’m also looking forward to having easy access to a long, safe, bike ride, [that] I can take with my kids.”
“This is such an important next step for our community, young and old, near and far,” said Matt Farrell, board chair for Friends of the Rail & Trail. “So many in our community have wanted this to come to fruition, and it is so inspiring that we can actually see our efforts make a difference for our community’s health and future. Soon, more pedestrians and cyclists will feel safe to traverse our county on the Mid-County Rail Trail!”
Segment by Segment: Trail Guides
Segment 8 stretches from the Santa Cruz Wharf past the Boardwalk and across the San Lorenzo River. Funding provided for this segment will help improve the bike infrastructure already established along Beach Street.
Segment 9 begins at the San Lorenzo River and extends to 17th Avenue in Live Oak. This segment goes through the Seabright neighborhood, across the Yacht Harbor (bypassing the Murray Street Bridge) and through the rail corridor to Simpkin Swim Center, behind Twin Lakes State Beach.
With these improvements, county residents in Live Oak, Twin Lakes, Seabright, and Lower Ocean will have greater access to safer bike and walking paths. The trail in this segment is approximately 1.6 miles, compared to 2 miles on the streets. Further, this will provide more secure bike and walk paths to bypass the dangerous Murray Street auto bridge,
Segment 10 goes from 17th Avenue to Jade Street Park in Capitola. Local swimmers will be able to hop on their bikes from the Simpkins Swim Center and pass through Rodeo Creek Gulch and 38th Avenue toward the city of Capitola. This will allow residents more accessible means to visit these locations — and Capitola Mall — by way of cycling or walking.
Segment 11 starts at Jade Street Park, and continues through Capitola to State Park Drive in Aptos. We’ll be able to walk, ride and roll through Capitola, enjoy the view along Park Avenue, and visit the state beaches at New Brighton and Seacliff.
Segment 12 runs from State Park Drive, over the highway, through Aptos Village and back over the highway to Rio Del Mar Boulevard. This segment will provide two, much needed car-free ways to get across the highway in Aptos.
