Coastal Rail Trail Segments 13-20

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is advancing the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail (MBSST) Coastal Rail Trail Southern Segments Project. This project will implement a multi-use paved bicycle and pedestrian trail within Segments 13-20 (as defined in the MBSST Network Master Plan) of the Coastal Rail Trail, adding approximately 12 new miles of trail in and around the City of Watsonville. The project will provide key connections to the northern portions of the Coastal Rail Trail. The goals of this project are to increase the number of people biking and walking, improve safety and mobility of non- motorized users, and provide high-quality connections to schools, parks, and community facilities. When constructed, this project will be part of the planned 32-mile rail trail network that parallels the entire coastline of the Santa Cruz County along the publicly-owned railroad right-of-way.

The RTC is leading project delivery for the Coastal Rail Trail Southern Segments Project (Segments 13-20). The project is fully funded through Measure D Active Transportation funds. Segment 18, Phase I was completed and opened in summer 2021.

The Project Approval and Environmental Clearance (PA/ED) phase will begin in approximately fall 2026. During this phase, the RTC will complete essential planning and environmental review, informed by the MBSST Master Plan, the Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail Project (ZEPRT) Project Concept Report, and the community needs and priorities. The project team will conduct a project-level environmental review in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for Segments 13-20.