Capitola: Build rail-trail along Park Avenue
- Friends of the Rail and Trail
- Apr 8
- 3 min read
By Michael Guth | Published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel
The Sierra Club is a steadfast advocate of active transportation that fosters access to opportunity while ensuring the safety of all users. Given the alarming rise in pedestrian and cyclist injuries and fatalities in Santa Cruz County and Capitola, effective traffic calming measures and fully separated protected trails are more crucial than ever.
The Sierra Club supports the construction of the segment of Coastal Rail Trail proposed between the tracks and Park Avenue in Capitola.
The city of Capitola has been offered two good options (A or B) for this Coastal Rail Trail segment. Both are superior to the earlier option, which would have had greater negative environmental impacts.
We have been alarmed to see the discussion of this 0.7 mile segment of trail devolve into debates about the trail in other parts of the county, or railbanking, or the use of the trestle. These arguments only serve to confuse the community about what is really a simple question: Do we want safety improvements for active transportation in this part of Capitola, or not?
In 2022, Santa Cruz County received the largest active transportation grant ever awarded to a county by the California Transportation Commission, totaling over $105 million. Approximately $70 million of this funding is allocated for the development of the Coastal Rail Trail Segments 10 and 11, including the portion passing through Capitola. More recently a significant federal grant was awarded for construction of this same project.
Either of the proposed options to realign the Coastal Rail Trail along Park Avenue would significantly improve the trail. The earlier proposal to build the trail on the oceanside of the tracks would have greater impacts on monarch butterfly habitat, require expensive retaining walls, and present maintenance challenges. Additionally, the prior alignment would cost more to build and maintain over time.
In contrast, Options A and B provide several important advantages:
• Affordability: Both options ensure that the Park Avenue section of Segment 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail remains within budget to build and cost significantly less to maintain.
• Speed of implementation: Both allow faster construction, lowering the risk of missing state deadlines or compromising the project’s timeline, which puts future funding at risk.
• Bike and pedestrian safety: Both options provide a fully separated, raised Class 1 trail with a 3-foot buffer, offering a safe route for all users between Depot Hill and New Brighton State Beach.
• Community access: These options offer better access for nearby neighborhoods, ensuring safe passage to and from the trail without crossing the tracks.
• Public safety: The alignment along Park Avenue is superior for public safety, with a more visible trail less likely to attract antisocial behavior. It will also give easier access for emergency vehicles.
• Scenic experience: The alignment along Park Avenue provides unparalleled views of Monterey Bay.
• Traffic calming: Option A includes an additional northbound bike lane and narrower car lanes, contributing to traffic calming.
• Protecting monarch habitat: Option B is shifted further inland, leaving more of the monarch butterfly habitat undisturbed.
• No cost to Capitola: The implementation of Options A or B does not require the expenditure of any Capitola city funds.
We strongly urge the Capitola City Council to reject further delays based on unfounded and misleading arguments. Successful completion of this project hinges on moving forward with the fully funded plan that will benefit the entire community for generations to come. Failure to advance the project could also jeopardize future funding opportunities.
Safe active transportation is critical to our shared future. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Capitola City Council, city staff, RTC staff, and county employees who are working diligently to make the Coastal Rail Trail a reality.
Michael Guth is Chair of the Santa Cruz Group of the Sierra Club and a Santa Cruz resident.
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