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You are here: Home / Archives for rail corridor

rail corridor

Initiative Requiring Voter Approval for Santa Cruz Passenger Rail

November 18, 2019 by Seb Frey

Ballot Initiative to give the people the power to best spend transportation dollars

Ever since the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC, or just RTC) acquired the Santa Cruz Branch Line Rail Corridor, there’s been a lot of debate surrounding just what the future of the corridor would be.  The RTC is championing an extravagant vision of an active rail line built alongside a pedestrian and bicycle path, which a number of “feeder” trails leading into and out of different areas along the 32 mile length of the corridor.  This plan is known as the Monterey Bay Scenic Sanctuary Trail (MBSST), and it’s won accolades and plaudits from many corners.

As much as the MBSST plan has been praised, it has likewise been heavily criticized by a large contingent of the public who feels that passenger rail service is not economically viable for a relatively small population base.  There’s been a spirited debate online for a number of years between those seeking some kind of active rail transportation in the corridor, and those who prefer a “trail only” or “greenway”  – which would be essentially a linear park with a wide multi-modal trail that would accommodate walkers, runners, cyclists, skateboards, and other personal transportation devices which may not yet have been invented.

As the RTC continues to advocate and plan for a “rail and trail” dual use in the corridor, opponents of the rail are organizing an initiative to be put before Santa Cruz county voters on the November 2020 ballot.  The initiative will be titled “A MEASURE REQUIRING AN ELECTION TO APPROVE ANY CONTINUED OR FUTURE WORK FOR THE RAIL + TRAIL PROJECT.”  Notice of this initiative was recently published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, a formal requirement to begin the official process for getting the measure on the ballot.

If approved by voters, the initiative would:

  1. Require a majority of voters (at least 51%) to approve the continuation of any work related to a “Rail + Trail” Project in a regular election;
  2. Prohibit the RTC from taking any action that would authorize or permit the construction, studies, and/or continuation of a “Rail + Trail” project, or incurring any related debt or bonds, unless such election is held;
  3. Suspend any work currently in progress or associated with the “Rail and Trail” project until such election is held;
  4. Permit a “Trail Only” or “Greenway” project to proceed without any additional voter approval;
  5. Supersede and override any and all other requirements under which the RTC is governed; and
  6. Apply retroactively from the date the measure was found to have qualified for placement on the ballot.

A copy of the initiative can be downloaded using this link.

Those interested in helping gather signatures for the initiative are encouraged to contact Bill Smallman, who can be found hanging out on the Facebook group Rail AND/OR Trail Vote Group which he created for the purpose of facilitating this effort.

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Related Posts On AptosCommunityNews

  • Write to the RTC on the Rail Corridor (April 27, 2020)
  • Unified Corridor Investment Study Released, Workshops Planned (September 29, 2018)
  • Audio and Video from Aptos Greenway Presentation (February 24, 2018)
  • Santa Cruz Greenway Aptos Presentation (February 19, 2018)
  • TrailNow Presentation Video (March 5, 2016)
  • Rail Trail Debate Rages on (November 16, 2015)
  • Passenger Rail Opponents Meet on Thursday (September 15, 2015)
  • Ellen Pirie Talks Aptos Village, Rail Corridor (May 8, 2015)
  • Alternatives to Passenger Rail Service in Santa Cruz (July 24, 2014)
  • The Trouble with Santa Cruz Passenger Rail (July 19, 2014)
  • RTC Passenger Rail Study Workshop July 17 (July 15, 2014)
  • Rail Trail Faces June 4 Deadline (May 30, 2014)

Filed Under: Developments, News, Real Estate Tagged With: passenger rail, rail corridor, rail-trail, rtc

Unified Corridor Investment Study Released, Workshops Planned

September 29, 2018 by Seb Frey

Santa Cruz County RTC (Regional Transportation Commission)

The long-awaited Unified Corridor Investment Study (UCIS) “Draft Step 2 Scenario Analysis” was released on Friday, September 28th 2018. The document is available on the RTC web site but is also being made available for download here. The Santa Cruz RTC (Regional Transportation Commission) will be holding two public workshops so residents can join the discussion about transportation options for our Aptos community’s transportation needs now and into the future.

The UCIS is investigating what projects on Highway 1, Soquel Avenue/Soquel Drive/Freedom Boulevard, and the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line will provide the greatest benefit to the community. These workshops will feature an overview of the UCIS draft Step 2 scenario analysis and seek public input on a preferred scenario for Santa Cruz County’s transportation future.

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Public input is critical as we move forward with examining how well combinations of transportation investments – automobile, transit, bicycle and pedestrian – serve the community’s needs. The evaluation is based on a triple bottom line (environment, economic and equity) approach to sustainability and adopted UCS performance measures.

Input can also be emailed to ucs@sccrtc.org or mailed to the RTC at 1523 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 95062.

UCIS Public Workshop Dates and Locations

Monday, October 15
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Live Oak Elementary School
Multi-Purpose Room
1916 Capitola Road, Live Oak, CA

Tuesday, October 16
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Civic Plaza Community Rm A, 4th Fl
275 Main Street, Watsonville, CA
(Parking in garage on Level 6)

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Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: rail corridor, rtc, ucis

Santa Cruz Greenway Looking to Capitola

April 28, 2018 by Seb Frey

Greenway Looks at Capitola

An indication of its popularity and momentum, Santa Cruz County Greenway is looking to Capitola, which is a key section of the Santa Cruz County Branch Line Rail Corridor.  Greenway Capitola, a local transportation advocacy organization, is sponsoring a 2018 City of Capitola ballot initiative which aims to preserve and utilize the rail corridor and trestle for active transportation and recreation in the City of Capitola. The group is currently gathering paper signatures from Capitola registered voters.

To help educate the public about the ballot initiative and the rail corridor, Greenway is inviting the public for a short talk and question-and-answer session on Wednesday, May 2, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the Jade St. Community Center (4400 Jade Street, Capitola, California 95010).  Attendees are encouraged to come early to meet near the tracks behind the Jade Street Park baseball field at 6 pm for a brief rail walk prior to the Q&A session at 7.

Greenway would like your help to spread the word – check out and share the event on Facebook.

Not able to make it to the meeting and trail walk on May 72?  Then please join Greenway for a second walk at 10 am on Saturday, May 5th, meeting again behind the Jade Street Park baseball field.

Also, community members who are concerned with the future use of the rail corridor are also encouraged to attend the next SCCRTC (Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission) meeting at 9 AM Thursday, May 3 at Capitola City Hall to share your thoughts in an oral comment at the start of the meeting.  It’s important that everyone on the RTC understand how vital the future use of the rail corridor is to the community.

Related Posts On AptosCommunityNews

  • Initiative Requiring Voter Approval for Santa Cruz Passenger Rail (November 18, 2019)
  • Unified Corridor Investment Study Released, Workshops Planned (September 29, 2018)
  • Audio and Video from Aptos Greenway Presentation (February 24, 2018)
  • Santa Cruz Greenway Aptos Presentation (February 19, 2018)
  • The Trouble with Santa Cruz Passenger Rail (July 19, 2014)

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Filed Under: Events, Lifestyle, News, Parks and Recreation Tagged With: greenway, rail corridor

Santa Cruz Greenway Aptos Presentation

February 19, 2018 by Seb Frey

Santa Cruz County Grenway

By now, you’ve probably heard about the great controversy surrounding the future of the Santa Cruz Branch Line Rail Corridor. There are competing visions for the future use of the corridor, with a number of ideas being debated in the public space. One leading vision for the rail corridor is being championed by Santa Cruz Greenway: a “trail only” use, where the existing tracks are removed and replaced with a wide trail designed primarily for pedestrian and bicycle use.

Santa Cruz County Greenway has been making presentations around the county for some time, and now they’re doing a presentation in Aptos. Greenway is hosting a meeting to help the Aptos Community learn why a train won’t help Aptos, but a trail will. Their goal is to fill the room with newcomers to the conversation and people who want to better understand our options for the corridor.

A recent meeting in the Capitola City Council Chambers on the future of the rail corridor was standing room only, which shows the intense interest the community has in the future of this priceless asset. Please plan to attend if you want to learn more and/or help spread the word to friends and neighbors who are new to the conversation or undecided on the issue:

7-8 PM, Thursday, February 22nd 2018
at Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
7807 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003

Santa Cruz County Greenway will also be holding a short informational track walk!

10 AM, Saturday, February 24th 2018
meet at the railroad tracks by 790 Estates Dr. (off McGregor Dr.)

Both of these events are sure to be informative and enjoyable and it’s a great way to get out, meet some of your neighbors, and become more engaged in the future of our community. We hope to see you there!

Related Posts On AptosCommunityNews

  • Write to the RTC on the Rail Corridor (April 27, 2020)
  • Initiative Requiring Voter Approval for Santa Cruz Passenger Rail (November 18, 2019)
  • Audio and Video from Aptos Greenway Presentation (February 24, 2018)
  • Capitola City Council Considers Rail, Trail Options (January 14, 2018)
  • Zach Friend Interview: Passenger Train and Rail Trail (March 31, 2016)
  • TrailNow Presentation Video (March 5, 2016)
  • Rail Trail Debate Rages on (November 16, 2015)
  • Passenger Rail Opponents Meet on Thursday (September 15, 2015)
  • Ellen Pirie Talks Aptos Village, Rail Corridor (May 8, 2015)
  • Alternatives to Passenger Rail Service in Santa Cruz (July 24, 2014)
  • RTC Passenger Rail Study Workshop July 17 (July 15, 2014)
  • Rail Trail Faces June 4 Deadline (May 30, 2014)
  • Sanctuary Trail Plan (November 17, 2013)

Read a good book lately?

The Sold Book
Get My Book Today!

If you have some room on your reading list, I invite you to read my book Get It Sold! Now in its Second Edition! It's an easy read (just 145 pages!) and it tells you everything you need to know about selling your home quickly, easily, and at absolute peak pricing. I'll send it to you for free - no shipping charge either!

OK Send me a Copy!

Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: greenway, rail corridor, Rail Trail

The Trouble with Santa Cruz Passenger Rail

July 19, 2014 by Seb Frey

I wanted to share with you all what I feel is the trouble with Santa Cruz Passenger Rail.

When Santa Cruz county was able to purchase the Santa Cruz Branch rail line back in 2012, I was all for it. Finally something would be done with the rail line, which had lain dormant for years, and for many decades before that had been little used except to ship freight from the Davenport cement plant. But now the question lies before us: is passenger rail service really the best use of that corridor?

Iowa Pacific Train in Aptos
Iowa Pacific Train in Aptos

The Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is currently doing a rail service passenger feasibility study, to see what kind of passenger rail service might work in Santa Cruz county. They are looking at a number of options, and are working with a several local, regional, and statewide government entities and an outside consulting firm on the study. They are also soliciting input from the community, and have planned a number of workshops throughout the county during the study process. The study is to be completed in late 2015.

The RTC has a lot of work on its plate. Obviously, the traffic in Santa Cruz is shockingly bad given our relatively small population. The RTC is tasked with reducing green house gasses and vehicle miles traveled, and bringing passenger rail to Santa Cruz county is envisioned to be a part of the solution to those goals.

Let me say clearly that don’t pretend to be an expert in public policy, transportation, or rail lines. I am however on the Local Government Relations committee at the board of Realtors, and last year I sat in on a briefing on this and other projects. I have also attended a couple of RTC meetings, and recently went to the first of the feasibility study workshops. I’m trying to be as informed as I can about the project, and to keep an open mind.

Although the passenger rail study won’t be completed for more than a year, I already have strong doubts that any kind of rail service is going to significantly reduce greenhouse gasses and get people out of their cars and onto public transportation. There are a number of reasons I think this:

  1. Metro buses are almost completely empty today
  2. Train service will be slow
  3. Train service will be expensive
  4. Public transportation options around train stations will be weak
Distressed Metro Bus
Distressed Santa Cruz Metro Bus

Judging from how little used the metro buses are, I have little reason to believe that people would opt for a train service that is even slower, more expensive, and offers less flexible routes. If the train ever is built, it seems to me it will end up being more of a novelty for tourists rather than a practical means of moving residents around the county.

And then there’s the cost. What’s this train system going to cost to build out? Nobody knows, because the system hasn’t been designed yet. There are many variables, but at the workshop held this week, I talked to a number of RTC staffers and a consultant, and it turns out that the train is going to cost between $10 million and $25 million per mile. They are using a figure of $250 million for total project cost as a number to plan around, but it could be much more, and probably not a penny less.

And where’s that money going to come from? The RTC is not sure where exactly this money is going to come from, but they point to two sources: grants, and an increase in sales tax. The grants aren’t something which can be counted on, however, so it really comes down to a sales tax increase to pay for the train.

That’s a lot of cheddar to collect from sales tax. I imagine there’ll be a bond measure, which residents will be asked to vote on, with an increase in sales tax for decades to pay for the bond. It will amount to a permanent, and probably significant, hike in sales taxes. Yay!

Santa Clara VTA Light Rail
VTA Light Rail

And that’s just to build the system out. As I understand it, most (if not all) rail systems around here rely on public subsidies to keep them running. I understand that Santa Clara County’s VTA light rail is a huge money drain with low ridership and slow service – and each rider receives a $10 per-round-trip subsidy. Sweet!

My last quibble with the idea of passenger rail service in Santa Cruz is that we need a solution to get cars off the road today. The RTC is expecting it will take 5-10 years to build the system out. Is it just me, or does that seem overly optimistic? It seems like the environmental impact reports alone could take that long. And don’t forget the lawsuits which will undoubtedly snarl up the process for years as well. I know in my gut that if the RTC is saying it’ll take 5-10 years, we’re really looking at 10-20. That’s a long time to wait, with traffic problems growing that whole time.

Santa Cruz can’t afford to wait to build out a rail system it really can’t afford to build or operate. So what are the alternatives? Like I said, I’m no expert in transportation or public policy, but I have some ideas I’ll share with you in my next blog post on the subject. Stay tuned!

Filed Under: Developments, Lifestyle Tagged With: iowa pacific, passenger rail, rail corridor, rtc

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