January’s storms have delayed work on Highway 1 and the Coastal Rail Trail, while roads, walkways, bridges and more Santa Cruz County infrastructure got hit hard. It could cost nearly $60 million in total, the Regional Transportation Commission estimates.
Coastal Rail Trail
Posted inCoast Life
With $115 million in state funding secured, 7 miles of Coastal Rail Trail to break ground in 2025
A big $115 million grant from the California Transportation Commission’s Active Transportation Program covers the funding gap for nearly 7 miles of the Coastal Rail Trail across Santa Cruz County. Construction can begin as soon as 2025.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
To jump-start light rail future, Santa Cruz County commission readies to spend millions
An upcoming vote by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission would put millions toward planning light rail service between Santa Cruz and Watsonville.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Moving past Measure D: Santa Cruz’s light rail future will finally go beyond speculation
The rail-trail debate didn’t end up killing us, but did it make us stronger? That will probably depend on the results of a feasibility study local leadership hopes can be launched by November. Either way, having fact-based answers to these long-argued existential questions will be a good place to begin the real conversations about the rail corridor’s future.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Measure D is over. The RTC needs to go after federal and state money.
Santa Cruz voters have spoken. Now what? Mike Rotkin, former five-time Santa Cruz mayor and member of the Regional Transportation Commission, writes about next steps for the RTC and explains how we can get past the logjam and move toward action. That will take federal and/or state funds, some local funding commitment, patience, and a desire to work together.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
The ‘No’s had it on Measure D. Now the big question for RTC: What can it say yes to, and when?
Thursday’s first meeting of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission board after the drubbing of Measure D showed signs of reconciliation while the public commenters illustrated much of the same politically charged rhetoric. The rail and trail question remains: Where do we go from here?
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Will ‘D’ deliver voters? Turnout is light so far, but key issues could drive bigger Election Day balloting
By Friday afternoon, Santa Cruz County had received only 22,000 early ballots, “less than for a usual primary,” County Clerk Tricia Webber told Lookout. With no presidential decision on the ballot, will polarizing Measure D and key county supervisor and State Assembly races drive up the numbers?
Posted inPolitics & Policy
The Measure D middle man: RTC lead Guy Preston must drive down two sets of tracks, neither without its perils
The Regional Transportation Commission is the entity tasked with letting us move about Santa Cruz County in smarter and more efficient ways. The man leading the exploratory charge as the nonpartisan director of RTC staff has had the most difficult task of his professional life with both sides of the Measure D issue digging in deep with win-at-all-costs attitudes. But Guy Preston vows to block out the noise and keep plowing ahead with clear eyes, arming the RTC voting board with the best information he can provide. First he wants to arm voters.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
A cheat sheet for your Measure D migraine: We asked both sides to cut the rhetoric and explain the issues
Leaders of both Yes Greenway and No Way Greenway provided detailed answers to a range of questions. We asked for their best succinct closing arguments on time to build, cost, equity and environmental impact, among other core issues in the rail-trail debate. With voting set to close in Santa Cruz County on Tuesday, here is a side-by-side look at those arguments.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Meet the No Way Greenway leaders, Mark Mesiti-Miller and Melani Clark
Longtime civic leaders Mark Mesiti-Miller and Roaring Camp president Melani Clark have taken the lead in trying to defeat the controversial Measure D. Who are they, and what has led to their high-profile involvement? Just as the leaders of “Yes” say, they explain the fight has turned more vitriolic than expected.