What Three Independent Reviews of the ZEPRT Study Found Friends of the Rail & Trail reviewed the RTC's Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail study carefully. Then, to make sure we were reading it correctly, we reviewed the analysis of two independent expert teams as well. All three reviews reached the same conclusion: the ZEPRT cost estimates are not a reflection of what passenger rail in Santa Cruz County actually costs. They are a reflection of what the RTC leadership dire

by Friends of the Rail and Trail Local Transportation Agency Putting Both Rail and Trail at Risk After years of advancing a Rail & Trail project that would preserve the rail corridor while building a continuous trail, in December of 2026 the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) shifted toward pursuing a trail-only approach for the Mid-County corridor. That change has created new legal and regulatory questions that could ultimately delay the trail and jeo

The Grand Jury asked the right questions, but not all of them The 2026 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury report on the Rail & Trail project raises important concerns about how the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) has managed the project over the years. Its focus on accountability, project management, and financial transparency is welcome. Residents deserve confidence that major public investments are being planned responsibly. But while the report a

While construction continues on the North Coast Trail, the future of the Mid-County Trail has become far less certain.