Letter to the editor: A train could have eased congestion from Murray Street Bridge closure

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As someone with an office at the Santa Cruz Harbor, I’ve experienced firsthand how difficult the Murray Street Bridge closure has made it for clients and businesses. Every route into the harbor is congested, and there is simply no way to avoid the delays.

Why didn’t the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) and the City of Santa Cruz take advantage of the existing rail line during construction? We already saw the Coast Futura demonstration a few years ago, proving that passenger rail on this corridor is possible.

A temporary train service between Capitola and Santa Cruz could have given some commuters, employees and visitors an alternative to driving while providing easy access to Seabright and harbor businesses. It wouldn’t have solved every traffic problem, but it could have taken meaningful pressure off our crowded roads while supporting local commerce.

Instead, this once-in-a-generation bridge project has proceeded without making use of an existing transportation asset. That feels like a significant missed opportunity.

Makena Macambridge

Santa Cruz