|
|
|
Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission
|
|
| The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission funds and supports planning efforts for a variety of transit projects. These include providing funding for expansion and improvements to local bus service, accessible transportation services, and planning studies and possible future uses of the Santa Cruz branch rail line. | ||
What's on this Page? |
||
Transit Services |
Rail Projects |
Planning Studies |
Transit Services |
|
Local Bus Service |
The only public transit operator in Santa Cruz is the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit
District also known as Santa Cruz Metro or SCMTD.
Through their website called "Metro Online", SCMTD provides transit information and opportunities
for citizen participation in the transit system. Some of the available features include:
|
Metrobase Planning |
The SCMTD is currently planning and constructing a centralized operations depot in Santa Cruz. For more information about the Metrobase project, please look at SCMTD's project page. |
Accessible Transportation |
The Regional Transportation Commission provides partial funding for the Consolidated
Transportation Services Agency (Community Bridges) and the Volunteer Center, which provide
transportation services to the elderly and the disabled. The Elderly and Disabled Transportation
Advisory Committee (E&D TAC) is a citizen's advisory
committee which advises the Regional Transportation Commission on matters related to accessible
transportation and sponsors events and activities that promote
accessible transportation.
A Public Hearing was held February 5, 2004, on Paratransit and Other Specialized Transportation Services. As a follow-up to this hearing, the Commission is conducting a Specialized Transportation Stakeholder Survey to better understand specialized transportation issues facing seniors and people with disabilities. The results of this survey were used to formulate a workplan for a task force convened to address these issues. A Paratransit Coordination Task Force convened in May 2004 and will meet through the end of the year to address accessible transportation issue
|
Rail Projects |
||
Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line Acquisition |
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is pursuing acquisition of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line right-of-way from Union Pacific for future transportation uses. If acquired, the 32 mile rail corridor between Watsonville and Davenport would be in public ownership and would thus be available as a transportation resource for the community. Future transportation uses could include freight rail service, recreational rail service, transit, and pedestrian/bicycle trails.
|
|
Recreational Rail |
The Commission considered four recreational rail service options and selected service between Capitola and Aptos with an extension to Seascape as the preferred alternative. An environmental impact report (EIR) will be completed before establishing recreational rail service. The Commission released an initial study, notice of preparation and a draft EIR. The comment period for the draft EIR ended on July 21, 2004. A REVISED Draft EIR was released on February 4, 2005. The review period on the revised draft closes on April 5, 2005. Details about providing input during this new comment period can be found in this notice
| |
Trail Project - Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network |
Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail Project – Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network
The RTC committed significant funding towards the development of a multi-use recreational, interpretive, and transportation trail spanning the entire County over many years. Previously known as the Rail Trail, the Coastal Trail Network and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail, these projects and funding sources were consolidated for improved planning and administration into the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network since they all shared the goal of developing accessible bicycle and pedestrian trail facilities on or near the coast. Congressman Sam Farr, a champion of this project, and acquired millions of dollars in federal appropriations and earmarks. If the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is successful in its rail line acquisition efforts, part of the network may be built within the rail line right-of-way. The Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line right-of-way extends 31.8 miles from Davenport to Watsonville Junction. A Master Plan and Environmental Review process will seek out considerable public participation to identify and prioritize preferred alignments, name the most appropriate construction and maintenance agencies and consider trail design features. A consultant team will begin the Master Planning work in early 2010. For more information, you may contact RTC staff at (831) 460-3200.
| |
Demonstration Trains |
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission hosted or co-hosted three different rail demonstration programs in 1996: the Return of the Sun Tan Special; the Coastal Cruzer/Flexliner; and, the First Night Trolley/RegioSprinter. The purpose of these events was to showcase various kinds of modern rail vehicles and explore their suitability for Santa Cruz County. In addition, these events have provided residents with a chance to experience not only different types of trains, but also transportation on the railway corridor. These first-hand experiences helped residents understand more about future mobility options in Santa Cruz County. At this time, no new demonstration train events are planned. | |
 |
||
Planning Studies |
|
| The Commission from time to time undertakes studies which examine the value of improving transit services in various locations throughout the county. The Commission has an interest in pursuing options which will reduce transit travel time and provide safe, convenient, efficient and reliable transit alternatives to the citizens of Santa Cruz County. | |
Highway 17 Transportation Improvement Study |
The Highway 17 Transportation Improvement Study was initiated to address transportation demand and transportation system constraints and opportunities in the Highway 17 corridor between Santa Cruz and San Jose. The goal of the study was to develop a program of transit and operational improvements balanced with available funds. Study recommendations include transit service improvements and relatively low cost highway capital and operations improvements.
The recommended transit improvements center on maintaining the existing Highway 17 Express transit service currently operated by the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District. The study also identified a number of improvement and expansion opportunities including:
The Executive Summary is available on-line |
Major Transportation Investment Study(MTIS) |
The Major Transportation Investment Study of the Watsonville to Santa Cruz to UCSC corridor examined a variety of transportation options for the future of Santa Cruz county mobility, including three options for light rail type transit in the corridor. The study is complete and the Regional Transportation Commission has selected a program of projects for the Watsonville - Santa Cruz - Highway 1 corridor. |
"Around the Bay" Rail Study |
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and the Transportation Agency of Monterey County jointly conducted an analysis of 'around the bay' or 'wharf to wharf' rail service between the two counties. The study also analyzed the feasibility of linking this service with the San Francisco Bay Area and the Salinas Valley. In addition, state-of-the-art train technology, Diesel Multiple Units, are included in the evaluation to determine if using this type of new train would yield more efficient service with fewer environmental impacts. |
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission periodically publishes and distributes up-to-date information on regional transportation planning and projects via mailings to the public. If you would like to be on our mailing list, please e-mail your name and mailing address to us or call 460-3200. In addition, if you would like to receive e-mail updates when they beome available, please include your e-mail address in the body of your note. Thank you for your interest in transportation for Santa Cruz County.