Friends of the Rail and Trail
  • The Project
  • Get Involved
  • News & Updates
  • Donate

RTC Approves Electric Rail Next Step!

12/1/2022

 
Picture

Moving Forward with Rail Planning

- Updated December 5th 2022
Thanks to community support for expanding our transportation system to include both a trail AND electric rail, the ‘Greenway’ trail-only idea was defeated by a landslide in June of 2022. In August of 2022 the RTC unanimously approved putting out a Request for Proposals for the preliminary Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Electric Passenger Rail. Click here to read about the elements included in the EIR.. 

On December 1st 2022, thanks to this overwhelming community support, the RTC voted to move forward with the next step to bringing rail service to Santa Cruz County! This is another historic moment! With an 11-1 vote, the Commissioners approved a contract with HDR Engineering, Inc. for professional engineering and environmental services for the electric passenger rail transit & trail project. The first phase will produce a Project Concept Report which will clearly define our Electric Rail Transit project for the next steps in the EIR.

​The RTC is pursuing grants to fund the full EIR. This final document will provide the Regional Transportation Commission with the engineering, design, and environmental review needed to apply for grants and build a passenger rail service on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. In addition to the rail service design, the rest of the Coastal Rail Trail planning will be completed in this step as well. This brings all 32 miles of the Coastal Rail Trail into design and construction mode. This is a clear win for both the Rail and the Trail projects!

In brief, up until now, the RTC has only studied whether or not to implement rail transit. Now the RTC is taking the first step in building our rail transit system.

What Can We Expect Next for Implementing Rail Service?
We took a deep dive into the Draft TCAA Business Plan and Proposed Scope of Work to see what's included in these next steps. These engineering and environmental services will need to be completed  in phases over the next couple of years. Like the blueprints for building a house, these important engineering documents will include the plans for implementing electric passenger rail transit between the Pajaro Junction and Santa Cruz along the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. This will involve community outreach and important decisions like where the rail stops be, how many passing sidings there will be, and how we will connect to the state rail network at Pajaro Junction. Click here to read our blog post with more details of what will be included.

Trail Planning Included in New Rail Project
The Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Documentation for the rail transit project will now also include designing Coastal Rail Trail segments 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 20, from Rio Del Mar Boulevard to Pajaro.  This means that the full 32-mile Coastal Rail Trail is now in progress. ​
    Sign Up
    for email updates

    Author

    Friends of the Rail & Trail is a grassroots transportation advocacy organization.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020

    Categories

    All
    Advocacy
    Rail
    Trail

FORT

About
Donate
Contact

Get Updates
 
​
Get updates and actions in your inbox.

​
© COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Friends of the Santa Cruz Rail and Trail is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Good,
 EIN 46-132-3531
  • The Project
  • Get Involved
  • News & Updates
  • Donate