RTC to Host Second Round of Community Open Houses for Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail Project  

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is hosting two community open houses to solicit the public’s feedback on the next phase of development for the Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail Project. The project proposes new high-capacity passenger rail service and stations on approximately 22 miles of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line from the City of Santa Cruz to Pajaro, as well as 12 miles of Coastal Rail Trail from Rio Del Mar Boulevard through the community of La Selva Beach and the City of Watsonville, and the Capitola Trestle reach.

In February 2024, the RTC hosted a virtual open house and two community open houses in Watsonville and Santa Cruz to gather community input on the project’s preliminary Purpose and Need. The Purpose and Need Statement identifies and documents the needs and constraints that drive the development of transportation improvements in the Project study area and further outlines opportunities to address these needs. The feedback gathered during the initial workshops in February has been incorporated and used to guide the development of the project concept.

Community members are invited to attend the upcoming in-person and virtual open houses to learn about proposed rail transit vehicle types and the initial conceptual alignment and share their input.

In-Person:
Monday, June 24, 2024
6:00 to 7:30 PM
Civic Plaza
Community Room
275 Main St., Watsonville

Tuesday, June 25, 2024
6:00 to 7:30 PM
Live Oak Grange
1900 17th Ave., Santa Cruz

Virtual:
Available at http://www.zeprt.com from June 6 through July 18, 2024.

For more information on the Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail Project, visit www.sccrtc.org/zeprt.