Santa Cruz Local newsletter briefs for the week of April 1:

1. Rail bridge replacements to be discussed
2. Santa Cruz city staff seeks feedback on homeless services

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Rail bridge replacements to be discussed

The Capitola trestle bridge runs over Soquel Creek in 2023. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)

9 a.m. Thursday, April 4 / Online and at 701 Ocean St. Room 525, Santa Cruz 

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission on April 4 is expected to consider repairs or replacements for more than 30 bridges along the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. At least 23 bridges may need to be replaced.

In a staff report, commission staff recommended that any repaired or new bridges be designed to accommodate industry-standard freight trains. Repairing the bridges to bear only lighter trains could cut construction costs, but would reduce the likelihood of receiving state or federal grants, the report stated. 

—Jesse Kathan

To participate: Join on Zoom or call 312-626-6799 , meeting ID 895 9717 3447. To comment ahead of the meeting, email  [email protected] by 9 a.m. Wednesday. The meeting will be streamed on Community TV.

HOUSING

Feedback on homeless services

A tent camp is flooded in San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz in December 2021. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)

Santa Cruz city staff want residents’ feedback on the city’s efforts to address homelessness. An online survey is expected to close April 10.

City staff plan to update the city’s three-year Homelessness Response Action Plan. “The goal is to develop a plan that will guide our increased efforts in responding to homelessness,” Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker wrote in a statement. 

The survey asks what services are a good use of city money and which strategies should be prioritized to address problems. The survey is anonymous and takes about 10 minutes. 

—Stephen Baxter

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