A demonstration of an electric streetcar in Watsonville on Saturday was decried by Supervisor Manu Koenig, who said the idea was not a viable transit option. Coast Futura representatives, who are running the multi-week event, said it is just a demonstration to gauge community interest, and not connected to proposals TIG/m, the manufacturer of the streetcar, has with the regional transit authority.
Coastal Rail Trail
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Future transit preview or limited engagement? Coast Futura will demo Santa Cruz rail option
The battery-powered, zero-emission Coast Futura is offering free rides along the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line on its clean-energy streetcar. The rides, which must be reserved, will be in Watsonville on Oct. 16-17 and between the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Capitola the following weekend.
Posted inCoast Life
Greenway announces plans to gather signatures, put interim trail-only game plan to vote on next June’s ballot
To be considered in the June 2022 election, the committee will have to receive at minimum 12,000 signatures. But the group has been touting support in recent months from a diverse group of environment- and health-conscious community members.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
RTC greenlights studying ‘interim trail’ options along 2 rail corridor segments
The 12-member Regional Transportation Commission board voted on two items that effectively will allow officials to study the new alternative along at least two stretches of the corridor, evaluating a potential interim trail that would create a path for bikers and pedestrians while more permanent options continue to be weighed.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘Interim’ rail trail? Commission could open saga’s next chapter Thursday
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is slated to vote Thursday on whether to study the option of creating a temporary path for bikers and pedestrians along the rail corridor, which could involve removing existing railroad tracks.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘This is a timeout’: Rail Trail stalls without $17 million needed for next steps
The train project is stuck in a bind: State and federal funding is unlikely to come down without local funding, and locals are unlikely to want to tax themselves without a clear plan or a financial commitment from the state or federal government.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Rail Trail to be discussed again Thursday. Here’s what might — or might not — happen
The controversial project is back on the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission agenda Thursday, and there could be fireworks — or crickets.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Watsonville votes to support Rail Trail business plan ahead of RTC meeting next week
In a special meeting Friday, Watsonville councilmembers backed the pro-rail plan for Santa Cruz County’s coastal corridor. Santa Cruz officials did the same earlier this week. Now, the issue is set to head back before the county’s Regional Transportation Commission on May 6.
Posted inUncategorized
Rail Trail coming to a head: Supporters make big push to keep rail on track heading into Thursday RTC meeting
In a last-ditch effort to get the rail momentum back on track, proponents of having rail and trail down the coast of Santa Cruz County rallied Wednesday in Aptos, forming a human train along the tracks to show public support for the project.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
DERAIL TRAIL: Biz plan for passenger train next to bike path falls short, putting project’s future in doubt
A tie vote Thursday means that Regional Transportation Commission staff — at least for now — won’t be directed to seek federal or state funding for electric passenger rail along the coastal corridor. But the issue is expected to resurface next month.