RTC offers peek at passenger rail vision for a 45-minute train ride from Natural Bridges to Pajaro

Santa Cruz County residents got their first look Tuesday night at what passenger rail service could look like in the region, with up to 10 permanent stations as well as several seasonal stops served by a hydrogen-powered train that transit officials said could take 45 minutes one-way between Natural Bridges State Beach and Pajaro.

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) and Nebraska-based engineering consultant firm HDR, Inc. gave an overview to a virtual public meeting of where stations for a passenger rail service in Santa Cruz County could be located, as well as some options for the rail and trail’s path through the county.

HDR Vice President Mark McLaren showed a list including stations in Pajaro, downtown Watsonville, Aptos, near Cabrillo College, Capitola, 17th Avenue, Seabright, Beach Street, Depot Park and Natural Bridges as “an appropriate starting point.” He said HDR and the RTC will be studying the trade-offs in the various locations, such as whether the locations would provide frequent enough stops and a short enough travel time, in order to refine the list.

McLaren also said that they have chosen a few locations where seasonal stations could be built, including Manresa State Beach, Ohlone Parkway, Seascape Beach, Hidden Beach, Rio Del Mar, Seacliff, 7th Avenue and Almar Avenue in Santa Cruz.

McLaren said that currently, HDR and the RTC estimate that it would take about 40 to 45 minutes for a train to take an entire trip between the proposed end points — Natural Bridges and Pajaro. He said that this is a relatively conservative estimate, and that it might be possible to “take a couple minutes off that estimate.”

When it comes to the type of train, McLaren zeroed in on multiple-unit vehicles, which are popular options for commuter rail services because they can be built to meet a specific level of ridership. He said that they would be hydrogen-powered, and that each end of the train is essentially a cab of its own, meaning that it can go in either direction without needing to turn around. 

HDR lead engineer Chris O’Gara went over some options for where the train could run through the county, particularly in some areas where there are several routes that the train could take. In Watsonville, he said that the organizations are discussing placing the Watsonville station at one of two locations along Walker Street — either at the old Watsonville depot location near the intersection of West Beach Street and Walker Street, or between West Beach Street and 2nd Street — and running the tracks along the east curb of Walker Street.

In the Hidden Beach area of Aptos, O’Gara said the agency has considered building a trail bridge that lets the trail leave the rail corridor and extend out to Sumner Avenue to run south through the Seascape area before meeting up with the railroad again. There is separate planning for the Coastal Rail Trail, including some sections where the trail could diverge from the rail corridor.

O’Gara also said that the agencies are looking at routing the train on rail bridges running over Highway 1 on each side of Aptos.

In the Beach Street area in Santa Cruz, O’Gara said the agencies are considering shifting the tracks about 20 feet east, away from the log ride at the Beach Boardwalk, onto Beach Street, and eventually meeting up with the existing rail corridor on its way toward Pacific Avenue.

RTC associate engineer Riley Gerbrandt said more input sessions on the rail alignments will be happening in the coming weeks, with the Beach Street location being one of those in focus.

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