The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission accepted the Rural Highways Safety Plan to improve safety along the county’s more remote highways. The commission is also seeking input on a name for a proposed nonprofit subsidiary that would operate the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line.
Carmageddon
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Carmageddon: RTC turns to state, feds for next step in passenger rail project — environmental work
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission needs to cover a $15 million funding gap to pay for the passenger rail project’s environmental work. It will turn to state and federal officials to find funding for the next step.
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Carmageddon: Highway 17 corridor plan prioritizes congestion relief, safety and climate resiliency
Caltrans and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission are planning for the future of Highway 17. Officials discussed their priorities for the corridor — safety, congestion relief and climate resiliency — during a recent presentation, including expanding the 17 Express bus route to Highway 85 in Santa Clara County.
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Carmageddon: First of several closures of McGregor Drive in Mid-County taking place this week; upcoming Highway 17 workshops
Mid-County residents will encounter the first of a number of multiday closures of McGregor Drive between Park Avenue and State Park Drive on Wednesday and Thursday. The closures will be scattered across a period of about eight months. Meanwhile, Caltrans is hosting the first of two upcoming public workshops on a long-range corridor plan for Highway 17 on Thursday.
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Carmageddon: As RTC officially votes to terminate contract with Progressive Rail, planners hope to have interim trail design by early summer
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission officially voted to terminate its contract with Progressive Rail at its Thursday meeting, which begins the process of taking over operations on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. As that happens, planners are working on the new trail-over-rail design.
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Carmageddon: City hopes to make decision on Murray Street two-way traffic within weeks; RTC’s early steps toward interim trail construction
After the Murray Street Bridge reopened last week for the first time since last June, the City of Santa Cruz is continuing to gauge the feasibility of allowing two-way vehicle and bicycle traffic along the one opened lane, and hopes to make a decision within weeks.
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Carmageddon: Progressive Rail rejects RTC’s move to take over rail operations and threatens litigation
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.
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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.
Posted inLatest News
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.