top of page


Latest Updates from RTC Meetings
Update from December 4th RTC Meeting. What decisions were made and what's next.
Dec 10, 20254 min read


Rail is Moving Forward with State and Federal backing
The Santa Cruz–Watsonville rail segment is part of the Central Coast Corridor, which was selected for Federal Corridor ID status in 2023. This program gives our Rail project state and federal sponsorship and access to non-competitive grant funding.
Nov 24, 20252 min read


Sally Arnold on Santa Cruz Voice's Community Matters podcast
Sally Arnold describes Friends of Rail & Trail, recent opening of new trail serving the Westside, actions yet to come on Santa Cruz Voice's Community Matters podcast.
May 29, 20251 min read


Coastal Rail Trail’s latest Santa Cruz segment opens to fanfare
Community members, local leaders, and hundreds of Bay View Elementary students packed into La Barranca Park on Bay Street in Santa Cruz Wednesday morning for the official opening ceremony for the Segment 7, Phase II portion of the Coastal Rail Trail.
May 21, 20254 min read


Rail Trail Construction Progress Tracking
Stay updated with the latest Rail Trail construction updates. More than 14 additional miles of the rail trail are expected to be...
May 20, 20255 min read


Rail and Trail: a Commitment Worth the Cost
Much is being made of the recent estimate that bridge replacements along the community-owned Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line could cost $980,000 each, or close to $1 billion. In the context of our daily lives, $1 billion certainly does sound like a lot. But in terms of transportation projects, it’s not an unusual amount.
Apr 9, 20253 min read


The Capitola Park Avenue Rail Trail Saga
Both Options A & B propose that the Rail Trail be a separated path between the railroad tracks and Park Ave, similar to the path...
Apr 8, 20254 min read


Capitola: Build rail-trail along Park Avenue
By Michael Guth | Published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel The Sierra Club is a steadfast advocate of active transportation that fosters...
Apr 7, 20253 min read


How Transportation Investments Shape Santa Cruz’s Economy
Santa Cruz County is undergoing a wave of major transportation improvements aimed at creating a more connected, efficient, and resilient network. The Murray Street Bridge seismic retrofit is underway, the Highway One multimodal project continues, the Regional Transportation Commission is considering intercity passenger rail, and the METRO Transit District continues to develop long-term countywide transit solutions.
Apr 1, 20253 min read


Park Avenue Rail Trail Options
Two new design options for the Rail Trail have been presented, decisions to move forward are being delayed in Capitola.
Mar 10, 20252 min read


Big News: Santa Cruz Wharf to Aptos Rail Trail is Fully Funded!
The Rail Trail from the Boardwalk to south of Aptos is now fully funded and will break ground for construction over the next two years.
Jan 23, 20254 min read


Comment Now! Milestone 3 Rail Design
Make sure to get your comments in for the design of Santa Cruz County's new passenger Rail Service. Comments are due December 20th 2024.
Dec 18, 20244 min read


Rail Service Design Workshops
November 12th and 13th, 2024.
Click here for the details about the upcoming in-person workshops in Watsonville and Live Oak.
Oct 29, 20241 min read


Just the Facts - FAQ's about the Rail Trail and Rail Service
We did the research so you don't have to. Fact checking claims made by Greenway and Trail Now about the Rail & Trail.
Oct 29, 20245 min read


Harvest Tour on the Rail Trail
Join us on October 19th for a scavenger hunt! Walk, roll or ride to over 20 different stops and activities along the Westside Rail Trail.
Oct 4, 20241 min read


Does your Candidate Support The Rail & Trail?
Santa Cruz County Rail & Trail Election Guide - Candidate Survey
Oct 4, 20241 min read


Best Practices in Designing a Rail System
We’ve been going over design best practices, grant requirements, and demographic and transportation data to make sure the new rail service w
Aug 14, 20243 min read


Guide to Funding our Rail Project
California and the Federal Govenment have recently increased the amount of funding available for rail projects. Let's take a look.
Aug 13, 20244 min read


Let’s Get Started Designing the Rail Service We Want to See!
Over the next four weeks, the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is taking public comment on the first draft of rail...
Jun 24, 20245 min read


First-ever Rail & Trailblazer Awards Announced at Groundbreaking for North Coast Segment
Santa Cruz Friends of the Rail & Trail presenting the first-ever Rail & Trailblazer awards to Grace Blakeslee and Andy Schiffrin.
Jun 19, 20242 min read
bottom of page
