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RTC Rejects SC Train Plan 04-02-21 06:30 DC

This story is provided by a news source and has NOT been fully edited.

 

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) rejected the proposal to develop plans for 60 trains a day travelling along the Santa Cruz Coastal Corridor. It was a 6-6 vote, meaning the proposed train plan did not get approved.

Support Train Plan Oppose Train Plan
Andy Schiffrin Manu Koenig
Aurelio Gonzalez Bruce McPherson
Eduardo Montesino Randy Johnson
Greg Caput Patrick Mulhearn
Mike Rotkin Kristen Petersen
Sandy Brown Jacques Bertrand


At the next RTC meeting on May 6th, the RTC Commission will need to vote to “accept” the train business plan to fulfill the requirements of the Caltrans grant that funded the development of the train proposal. Accepting the train business plan does not mean the train plan is approved.

WHEN WILL THE COASTAL TRAIL BE BUILT?

OK, now that the RTC has voted not to move forward with more investments in a train, what are the next steps to opening the Coastal Trail, when will it start and when will we have a trail from Watsonville to Davenport?

There are three key issues the RTC must address:

Progressive Rail (PGR), who is registered as the common carrier to the Santa Cruz Branchline, does not want to continue to operate freight in Watsonville. To keep freight operations in Watsonville, RTC must sign an agreement with a new common carrier. Trail Now has provided a recommendation to help ensure freight continues in Watsonville.

California Transportation Commission (CTC) requires the RTC to return the Proposition 116 funds ($11M) if there are no rail operations on the Santa Cruz Coastal Corridor. It is not clear exactly how much needs to be returned to the CTC because the Proposition 116 funding agreement stated that the “appraised value” of the property needs to be returned to CTC. Trail Now has provided recommendations on how to minimize the amount of funds returned to CTC.

Railbanking is the next step to ensure the Coastal Corridor remains continuous and owned by Santa Cruz taxpayers. Railbanking is a federal process that allows a community to reserve railroad right-of-way for future transportation. Railroad tracks can be pulled six (6) months after submittal of railbanking application to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and all legal issues that may occur with adjacent property own ers is paid with federal funds.

Trail Now has provided a proposed plan to complete an “interim” Coastal Trail (Stone Dust) from Watsonville to Davenport by 2023, with long-term plans for the world-class Santa Cruz Coastal Trail (asphalt). Trail Now has received bids from contractors who build Stone Dust trails with removal of tracks. The estimated cost to build an interim trail is less than $200K per mile and one mile of trail can be built per month. Construction of the interim Coastal Trail is the most expeditious and cost-effective approach to building the world-class Santa Cruz Coastal Trail. Stay tune…

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Hundreds flock to Santa Cruz Boardwalk as rides reopen 04-02-21 05:20 DC

Most rides and attractions at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk have reopened this week for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Yester day, most were open with limited people on every other seat or in every other car, depending on the type of ride. Boardwalk Park capacity is limited to 25 percent and rides are periodically closed during the day for cleaning.

 

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SC Beach Boardwalk Reopens 04-01-21 16:00 DC

Hundreds of adults and kids were lined up as early as 10 this morning (Thu) at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk as rides reopened for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials said some attractions and rides are now open at a limited capacity.

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WPD Chief to Retire 7/1 04-01-21 14:36 DC

After five years as chief of the Watsonville Police Department, David Honda says he will retire July 1st. Assistant Chief Thoma s Sims will step into the chief’s role on an interim basis while the search for Honda’s permanent replacement is underway.

In an open letter to the community on Thursday, five years to the month since he became chief, Honda said would leave the 86-member department “with mixed emotions.”

 

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SCMTD Goes Electric 4.15.2021 1015 6 JS

Santa Cruz Metro recently announced a new addition to their growing bus fleet.

Alex Clifford, CEO of Santa Cruz Metro has the details.

“Our first 100-percent electric zero-emission bus has arrived and over the next couple of months we will be testing that vehicle. We have not fully accepted it. Our residents of Santa Cruz County will see that bus roaming around in different areas through the month of April, maybe a little into May we’ll receive our other three electric buses. They’ll be put through the same regimen, and those buses—all four of those busses—will go into full revenue service in the Fall. It’s in September of this year.”, Clifford said in an interview with KSCO.

As part of these new additions to the Santa Cruz Metro fleet, a new route for downtown Watsonville will include stops at the Watsonville Transit Center, Lincoln at Freedom , Freedom at Airport and Green Valley Road which will launch when all four electric buses are shipped.

Two of the four electric buses have arrived in Santa Cruz County.

 

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