With a special Capitola City Council meeting set for Thursday, the city’s 2018 Measure L has become a major point of discussion about whether or not running a multi-use path alongside Park Avenue is allowed. Those who supported the measure say that the intent has always been public safety, while opponents said that it was mostly an attempt to end, or at least stall, passenger rail development.
Coastal Rail Trail
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Carmageddon: Special meeting could see Capitola City Council approve Park Avenue trail option
At a special meeting Thursday, the Capitola City Council will weigh a pair of options for the Coastal Rail Trail along Park Avenue between Capitola Village and the Cliffwood Heights neighborhood.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: As transit project costs soar, RTC mulls borrowing against Measure D tax revenue
Facing rising costs for projects like the Highway 1 expansion and the Coastal Rail Trail, transit officials in Santa Cruz County are eyeing bond financing against future Measure D transportation tax revenues. Some commissioners have raised concerns about the long-term cost to overall project budgets.
Posted inCapitola & Soquel
After town hall, Capitola councilmembers prepare to vote on contested Park Ave. trail proposal
A town hall meeting on Wednesday night brought more than 100 people to New Brighton Middle School to hear county and Regional Transportation Commission staff discuss Capitola-specific issues with the Coastal Rail Trail and passenger rail projects. The particularly contentious Park Avenue trail option was one of the main focuses, and city councilmembers are looking toward an April 17 vote on the project after delaying a decision in February.
Posted inLatest News
RTC offers peek at passenger rail vision for a 45-minute train ride from Natural Bridges to Pajaro
Santa Cruz regional transportation officials unveiled more details of a hydrogen-powered passenger rail service featuring up to 18 permanent and seasonal stations along the coastal corridor, promising 45-minute trips between Natural Bridges State Beach and Pajaro.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: Capitola rail trail issues, passenger rail plans back in focus at public meetings this week
Two more Coastal Rail Trail and passenger rail information sessions are coming up this week. The first focuses on the Santa Cruz County passenger rail project as a whole, while the second focuses on issues specific to Capitola, including a heavily debated section of trail that the Capitola City Council delayed a vote on in mid-February.
Posted inLatest News
RTC backs plan to explore intercity passenger train, seeks trims to $1 billion bridge work price tag
Members of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission voted 9-1 to pursue countywide intercity passenger rail service, despite facing nearly $1 billion in bridge repairs. RTC staff have said the intercity plan is the best shot at getting state and federal dollars for the rail project.
Posted inLatest News
Planned passenger rail faces nearly $1 billion price tag to replace or repair dozens of Santa Cruz County bridges
In an information session Wednesday evening, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and engineering consultant firm HDR, Inc. recommended replacing 28 of 33 rail bridges in Santa Cruz County — an effort they estimate could cost $980 million. The agencies will determine a more exact figure moving forward in preparation for the RTC’s passenger rail project concept report, expected in the fall.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Coastal Rail Trail vision delayed by local hurdles amid uncertainty over state, federal funding
A report detailing Santa Cruz County’s rail trail vision is delayed until at least the fall while officials tackle multiple challenges: mobile home disputes, possible bridge repairs and trail routing questions. The project faces additional uncertainty after the Trump administration paused federal infrastructure funding. Transit leaders are also considering a future ballot measure to help fund operational costs.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: RTC hosting two upcoming rail trail-related info sessions
Two upcoming information sessions on some of the major components of the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission’s Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail Project vision will give residents a chance to look at the latest on trail alignments, bridge replacements and preliminary cost figures as the agency moves closer to completion of its project concept report.