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Santa Cruz County Transportation Articles



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Transportation Commission Reaffirms Support for Rail Trail

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission on Thursday reaffirmed its support for a paved path parallel to the train tracks through Capitola and Seacliff. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> The Santa Cruz County Regional …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
State Money for Rail Trail Could Transfer to Regional Transportation Commission

Segment 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail runs near New Brighton State Beach in 2021. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> At a special meeting Thursday, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission could step toward …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
‘Bleak’ Outlook for Santa Cruz County Budget

A proposed budget for 2025 cuts money for road repairs. Storms in 2023 caused about $140 million in damage to county-maintained roads, county staff said. (Jesse Kathan — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> The financial toll of natural …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
One-Way Traffic on West Cliff Quashed by Santa Cruz City Council

Storm damage prompts authorities to close West Cliff Drive near Woodrow Avenue in January 2023. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> The Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday unanimously rejected a pilot program for one-way traffic …

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Carmageddon: Highway 1 Closed for 24 Hours

The California Highway Patrol closed north and southbound lanes of Highway 1 in Soquel Saturday at 7pm to make way for Granite Construction crews to demolish the 1948 Capitola Avenue bridge above the highway.

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Protesters Demand Rail-Trail Project Move Forward

Several dozen protesters descended on the Santa Cruz County Government Center on Wednesday to speak out against a decision by the Board of Supervisors a week earlier not to move forward on a key portion of the Coastal Rail Trail …

KSQD logo LOCAL NEWS
The TRUE Story of Santa Cruz Rail & Trail

For over 6 months, KSQD volunteer Christine Barrington worked on answering a simple question: What's the truth behind the story of rail and trail in Santa Cruz County?
After the first Measure D vote in 2016 confirming the citizen support …

Image caption: A map of the Santa Cruz County stretch of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail, known commonly as the Coastal Rail Trail, or the Santa Cruz Rail Trail.
The Santa Cruz Rail Trail

Updated information, including news and Explainers, about progress in building the 32-mile stretch of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail in Santa Cruz County.

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Rail-Trail Money Threatened After Santa Cruz County Supervisors Vote

A rendering shows a version of Segment 11 of the rail trail on Cliff Drive in Capitola. (Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission)
SANTA CRUZ >> A Santa Cruz County supervisors vote on Tuesday shocked county staff and left an …

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
County Supervisors Adopt E-Bike Rules

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a new ordinance that prohibits E-bikes from most places where pedestrians walk, with some exceptions.

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
County Supervisors Reject Rail-Trail Plan

A large portion of the Coastal Rail Trail project is at risk after the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday failed to approve staff recommendations to move forward with the work.

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Watsonville to Deactivate Crosswind Runway

The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday voted to close the crosswind runway at the airport, a move city officials say will open up more of the city for development of housing and commercial space.

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Watsonville City Council to Consider Options for Crosswind Runway

On both sides of Watsonville Municipal Airport’s two runways lay so-called airport safety zones, where development is either limited or restricted.

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Photo Story: Lowrider Show Rolls Through Town

Several customized lowriders cruised along Main Street Sunday during the the opening reception of the latest art exhibit, “More Than Cars: Celebrating Lowrider Culture,” at the Pajaro Valley Arts – Porter Building. The show, which runs through June 30 is …

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Highway 1 project continues, Soquel Ave. bridge demolition approaches

As he drove under the new pedestrian and bicycle bridge spanning Highway 1 Wednesday, CalTrans structural engineer Jorge Uberhuaga pointed to the wooden framework he described as a “bridge to build a bridge.”

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Rental e-bikes expected in Live Oak, Pleasure Point, Capitola in March

BCycle rental e-bike racks are installed Wednesday on East Cliff Drive at 32nd Avenue in Pleasure Point. (Tyler Maldonado — Santa Cruz Local)
LIVE OAK >> Thirteen new racks for BCycle electric bikes are expected to be installed in Live …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Passenger rail construction expected in 2032 in Santa Cruz County

Chatsworth-based Tig/M LLC demonstrates ‘Coast Futura,’ an electric, light-rail tram in Capitola in October 2021. The type of vehicle for Santa Cruz County’s passenger rail project has not been chosen. (Coast Futura — Contributed) 
SANTA CRUZ >> More than 11 …

KSQD logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Cruz Rail and Trail: Questions and Conundrums

It is said that there are more opinions than people in Santa Cruz county, and the Rail and Trail project has not only spanned decades, it swarms with opinions, ideas, and contradictions. As the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission takes …

Featured

A map of the Santa Cruz County stretch of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail, known commonly as the Coastal Rail Trail, or the Santa Cruz Rail Trail.
The Santa Cruz Rail Trail
Information about the Santa Cruz Rail Trail project, including updated news and Explainers.
Over two weekends last October, residents of Santa Cruz and Watsonville  participated in demonstration rides aboard an electric streetcar on rails.
The ‘Rail Trail’ Movement, Explained
The heated controversy over what to do with abandoned railroad tracks
California transportation history runs from railroads to today’s car culture.
California’s History of Transportation: From Railroads to Highways
The history of transportation in California has shaped the state, from the earliest stagecoach to today’s car culture.
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