News Archive | Rail and Trail

Mar 22, 20233 min read

Why do EIRs include Discredited Alternatives

Alternative Scenarios in EIRs Many folks have been wondering why there is still discussion of the ‘interim trail’ in the Draft...

Dec 7, 20223 min read

TRAIL FUNDED! $103M Awarded for Rail Trail Construction

We’re so excited to announce that the latest Coastal Rail Trail grant applications have been a huge success. Both the City of Santa Cruz...

Dec 1, 20222 min read

RTC Approves Electric Rail Next Step!

Moving Forward with Rail Planning Thanks to community support for expanding our transportation system to include both a trail AND...

Jul 31, 20223 min read

Where’s my Stop? Planning the Next Step for Electric Rail!

A quick guide to the rail design process that Santa Cruz County will take over the next few years.

Jul 10, 20224 min read

NO on D Election Landslide: Next Steps for Rail & Trail

On June 7 2022, the Santa Cruz County electorate came together with an outpouring of support for keeping the current plan to have both...

Apr 27, 20226 min read

20 Years of Progress Blocked by Anti-Transit Organization Greenway

In 2002, over 20 years ago, the Santa Cruz County Friends of the Rail & Trail was established with the mission of manifesting a paved...

Mar 15, 20222 min read

History of the Rail & Trail Project: Progress VS Obstruction

Last Updated: 9/5/2022 The Vision In 2002, a small group of citizen activists recognized the potential for the Santa Cruz Branch Rail...

Mar 13, 20229 min read

Bay Area Transit Org Issues Scathing Greenway Statement

TRANSDEF: County Analysis Fails to Address Greenway Harms The Transportation Solutions Defense and Education Fund, known as TRANSDEF, is...

Feb 12, 20225 min read

RTC Meeting Shocker

The February 3 Regional Transportation Commission meeting turned into a proxy battle surrounding the June “trail only” Greenway ballot...

Feb 11, 20222 min read

Rail Transit is Feasible

Some recent press coverage has stated that rail transit is unfeasible. The data shows otherwise. All of the past studies conducted by...

Feb 10, 20222 min read

Santa Cruz City Council Opposes Abandoning Freight Lines

Good Times By Aiyana Moya The Santa Cruz City Council unanimously voted to oppose the potential abandoning of freight service on the...

Feb 10, 20227 min read

The ‘Rail Trail’ Movement, Explained—and What it Means For Rail in Santa Cruz County

California Local By Jonathan Vankin Sometime in 1865, 15 years after Santa Cruz became one of California’s original 27 counties, a group...

Feb 10, 20223 min read

Railbanking Sleight of Hand

Guest Post by Paul Schoellhamer Railbanking is a real thing, but some of the claims being made about it here in Santa Cruz County have...

Feb 9, 20226 min read

Schiffrin: Freight Abandonment Could Kill Rail for Good

Transcript by California Local Andy Schiffrin, who served for 40 years as an administrative analyst for the Santa Cruz County Board of...

Jan 26, 20222 min read

SLV Fire Officials Respond to RTC: Oppose Forced Abandonment of the Felton Branch Line

Dear Supervisor McPherson and members of the SCCRTC: We write you today to urge you not to proceed with any efforts to abandon freight...

Jan 24, 20224 min read

Roaring Camp’s Future in Question: Transportation Commission Considers Forced Abandonment

SLV Post By Jayme Ackemann In January, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that thanks to surplus budget revenues and a massive federal...

Jan 22, 20222 min read

"Adverse Abandonment": Felton Branch

Last week during the January RTC meeting, it became clear that the rumors we had heard about the RTC seeking “adverse abandonment” were...

Nov 18, 20211 min read

Speak For Change With Thomas Sage Pedersen

Ep.113: Faina Segal | Why Santa Cruz County Needs a Rail & Trail ICYMI: Here’s a download of what’s going on with the Rail & Trail...

Nov 12, 20213 min read

Clean energy Coast Futura rail demo met with excitement, hope for the future

Spanning two weekends — one each in Watsonville and Santa Cruz — the clean-energy, all-electric light rail vehicle gave the community a ...

Oct 31, 20213 min read

Accusations Abound as Electric Streetcar Demo Rolls Out

San Lorenzo Valley Post By Jayme Ackemann A private excursion train operator is hosting a demonstration project for one vision of rail...