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.
Coastal Rail Trail
Posted inLatest News
RTC narrowly approves Keeley-Koenig ‘peace deal’ proposal to build trail segments over railroad tracks
In a 7-5 vote, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission approved a proposal by Commissioners Manu Koenig and Fred Keeley to build three segments of the Coastal Rail Trail over the railroad tracks in a change of plans for the major project.
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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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Initial reactions to Koenig-Keeley rail trail ‘peace deal’ are divided
Manu Koenig and Fred Keeley’s proposal to build Segments 8 through 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail over the tracks without railbanking was met with diverging reactions. One rail advocate would rather lose some of a state grant and build less of the trail but keep the design the same, while an outspoken 2022 Measure D supporter believes the community will back the proposal if it’s the fastest way to get a 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.
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Four takeaways from the RTC’s new passenger rail report
After years of studies, the RTC published its final report on a proposed passenger train this month ahead of a December meeting for the rail project. The plans largely stay the course, though some call for routing the train through the Beach Flats area to avoid the Boardwalk, with longer travel times and possibly higher costs.
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Carmageddon: Final train report, Capitola Ave. bridge nears reopening, next steps for Grand Ave. pathway
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission published its final passenger rail concept report, setting up a crucial December discussion; meanwhile, the Capitola Avenue bridge is set to reopen by year’s end, and an update on the crumbling Grand Avenue pathway on Depot Hill.
Posted inWestside / Downtown
Section of Coastal Rail Trail in Santa Cruz to be closed starting next week
The City of Santa Cruz plans to temporarily close part of the trail from the California/Bay entrance to the Depot Park trestle from Oct. 13 to Oct. 20 for vegetation control.
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Carmageddon: RTC commissioners push back on rail trail cost-cutting proposals, as some look to revive railbanking debate
Santa Cruz County transit officials clashed over how to fund cost overruns on a section of the Coastal Rail Trail, with some pushing to build the trail directly over existing tracks, a move voters rejected in 2022.
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RTC risks losing up to $80 million in grants in bid to tame rail trail costs, report says
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is set to hear a report that outlines ways to reduce costs and modify the project delivery of Coastal Rail Trail Segments 8 through 11 at its Thursday meeting.