Public Review Period on Coastal Rail Trail Segment 10 & 11 Project Draft Environmental Impact Report Now Open

The County of Santa Cruz, as Lead Agency, in coordination with the City of Capitola, and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, has released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Coastal Rail Trail Segments 10 and 11 Project. The 60-day public review and comment period is open through December 15, 2023.

The Project is an approximately 4.5-mile new multi-use bicycle and pedestrian trail proposed to extend along the Santa Cruz Branch Line rail corridor from the eastern side of 17th Avenue in the unincorporated Live Oak area on the west, to the western side of State Park Drive in the unincorporated Aptos area on the east, in Santa Cruz County, excluding a 0.5-mile section following surface streets through the incorporated City of Capitola from Opal Street/Cliff Drive Plaza to Monterey Avenue/Park Avenue. The EIR evaluates the Ultimate Trail Configuration (Trail Next to Rail), as well as an Optional Interim Trail (Trail on the Rail Line) whereby the railroad tracks would be removed and the trail would be located on the rail bed, at an equal level of detail.

The goals of this project are to increase the numbers 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 Coastal Rail Trail that traverses the entire coastline of Santa Cruz County.

The Draft EIR provides an evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project and recommends mitigation measures to reduce impacts to a less-than-significant level where possible.

The County is scheduled to receive public comments on the Draft EIR at a public meeting on Thursday, November 16, 2023, 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Information regarding participation will be available via the project website: https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/RailTrail

Written comments may also be submitted to the County by mail to Rob Tidmore, 979 17th Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062, or by email to RailTrail@santacruzcountyca.gov. All comments must be received by 5 p.m. on December 15, 2023.

The Draft EIR is available for review Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. except on specified holidays, at the County of Santa Cruz, Planning Department, General Information Desk, 701 Ocean St., 4^th Floor, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. The Draft EIR is also available at the Santa Cruz County Parks Department, 979 17^th Ave., 2^nd Floor, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, and online at https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/RailTrail.