Make sure to get your comments in for the design of Santa Cruz County's new passenger Rail Service. Comments are due December 20th 2024.
ICYMI - The Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission released the first draft engineering proposal for rail service in June. This proposal, officially called the Zero-Emission Passenger Rail and Trail Concept Report is the first step in the plan to bring passenger rail service to Santa Cruz County by 2034. The official plan of record, backed by 73% of Santa Cruz County voters, Caltrans and the FRA is to use the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line for both a trail and new zero-emission rail service. With this project we will be getting two new ways to get around the coast, serving the 70% of county residents that commute within our county and all of us who want an alternative to sitting in traffic.
While half of the Rail Trail system is being built now, the other half, from Aptos to Watsonville is still in the design phase and is included in this design report.
Now is the Time to Comment
To ensure the Rail & Trail system is being designed in a way that’s appropriate for our community. We all need to speak-up now! Here are five key design decisions that are being made now and that will make or break whether the final system will be the right system for us.
1 - Keep the Trail in the Corridor
There are many places to put the trail, but some are far better than others, as we look at the options presented it's clear that most options proposed where trail alignments are outside the rail corridor are not providing the trail we hope to have. In most cases these options will result in additional conflicts with cars and a far inferior trail experience. Friends of the Rail & Trail believes strongly that unless an alternative route provides a fully protected trail experience with access to locations that would otherwise be impossible, the best route for the trail is in the corridor.
Do you agree? Write to the RTC to tell them to keep the trail next to the rail tracks here:
2 - The Westside of Santa Cruz Needs Rail Service
3 - Watsonville needs two Stops
4 - Rail Station Amenities and Design
5 - More access to Mid-County Beaches
Bonus: Participate in the Virtual Open House
While we've made it easy for you to comment on the most important portions on the concept report above. The RTC also has a Virtual Open House you can participate in. This survey will allow you to see the maps and engineering drawings, as well as comment on additional stops and portions of the project. There's also an open comment form. This is a perfect place to share your thanks to the planners working on this project and tell them how your family will use passenger rail service to get around Santa Cruz.
About the Santa Cruz County Zero Emission Passenger Rail Project
The Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line is a 32 mile rail line owned by the County of Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, California Office of Rail Transportation and Federal Rail Administration are working together to implement new passenger rail service from Santa Cruz to San Jose via Salinas. The new 22 mile service between Santa Cruz and Pajaro with stops in Seabright, Live Oak, Capitola, Aptos and Watsonville is being designed now.
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