After the Regional Transportation Commission’s recent move to take over rail operations on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, the current common carrier, Minnesota-based Progressive Rail, has sent a letter to the commission, saying that it intends to “vigorously protect” its current status.
Carmageddon
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Carmageddon: What is a common carrier and what changes for RTC if and when it takes on that role for rail line?
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission moved to boot the operator of part of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line and take on the “common carrier” role itself. This is mostly an administrative and bureaucratic change, but has to happen for the passenger rail or a trail over the tracks to happen.
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Carmageddon: Public works exploring options for latest West Cliff erosion; public hearing for 2050 regional transportation plan
While the latest erosion on West Cliff Drive isn’t endangering public access or infrastructure, the City of Santa Cruz is still looking at ways to handle the damage in both the short and long term. Meanwhile, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday for its 2050 regional transportation plan.
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Carmageddon: RTC seeking input on coastal resilience project; Watsonville police get grant for bike, pedestrian safety
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is seeking input on a coastal resiliency project along Highway 1 on the county’s north coast, with a workshop on the project set for the end of January. Meanwhile, the Watsonville Police Department received a state grant for bicycle and pedestrian safety efforts.
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Carmageddon: County moving forward with plan for second phase of Soquel Drive improvements
As the first part of Soquel Drive’s major makeover heads toward completion, Santa Cruz County is seeking a consultant to manage the next phase of the project and get pre-construction work sorted out so it can break ground on the improvements within two years.
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Carmageddon: RTC seeking public input on long-term regional plan
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is asking for public input on priorities for its draft 2050 regional transportation plan for the county before it heads to a public hearing at the commission’s January meeting. Meanwhile, county public health received state funding for a variety of traffic safety programs.
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Carmageddon: Capitola to consider next steps for Grand Avenue pathway in the spring
The Capitola City Council allocated $13,000 toward a concept plan for the Grand Avenue pathway, which is expected to inform the council’s next steps, including whether or not the city wants to commit to a project at all.
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Carmageddon: After major reversal on Coastal Rail Trail segments, what comes next?
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s decision to shift toward building three segments of the Coastal Rail Trail over the tracks means that the RTC and planners working on the project have their work cut out for them, both at the state level and with the other parties involved with the rail line.
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Carmageddon: This week’s RTC meeting will be packed with rail-trail business following ‘peace deal’ proposal
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission meeting this week could be pivotal for the passenger rail project. Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley and County Supervisor Manu Koenig plan to discuss their trail proposal, which is already running into opposition from Friends of the Rail and Trail.
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Carmageddon: Fred Keeley and Manu Koenig believe they’ve found a ‘peace deal’ on rail and trail
Facing major cost overruns on a stretch of the Coastal Rail Trail and the risk of losing millions in state funding for the project, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley and District 1 County Supervisor Manu Koenig believe they have found a way to move the trail along faster while continuing work on a passenger rail service.