A new interactive map shows the status of the rail trail segments in Santa Cruz County.

SANTA CRUZ >> A new interactive map tracks the status of rail-trail work across Santa Cruz County.

The Coastal Rail Trail is a planned 32-mile path mainly along the right-of-way of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. The trail’s 20 segments are in different phases of design, engineering and construction. The map provides an overview of each trail segment’s status.

  • Some parts of the trail are complete on the Westside of Santa Cruz. Trail work started on the North Coast this year.
  • The trail from Live Oak to Rio Del Mar is the design and engineering phase.
  • The trail from Rio Del Mar to Watsonville is in a conceptual phase. 

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Trail planning process: Each of the trail segments must clear environmental review and design approval by the city, county or Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission before construction. Residents can give input on the trail design at city, county or commission public hearings. Many meeting details are on the transportation commission website. 

Rail planning process: Passenger rail service alongside the trail is being planned separately through the transportation commission’s Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail. Preliminary engineering and environmental analysis is expected through 2027. If approved, rail construction could begin in 2032. A public survey on rail station locations and other rail features closes Dec. 20, 2024.

Funding: Most trail segments are funded independently. Some funding sources include the state gasoline tax SB1, the 2017 Santa Cruz County sales tax Measure D, state and federal grants, earmarks and city and county money. Money for passenger rail could use some of these sources, and up to 80% of passenger rail construction funding could come from the Federal Rail Administration, transportation commission staff have said.

Last updated: November 2024

Status: Segments 1-4 are part of the transportation commission’s plan for the larger Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network but are not part of the Coastal Rail Trail. No funding has been secured for these segments.

Last updated: November 2024

Trail overview: From Davenport Main Beach to Yellowbank Beach, 7.5 miles of walking and bicycle path are planned next to the rail line. New parking lots are planned in Davenport and at Yellowbank Beach, as are improvements to the parking lot at Bonny Doon Beach, a pedestrian crossing in Davenport, and a highway overpass that connects the rail trail to Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument.

Trail construction status: Construction began in 2024 and a groundbreaking event took place June 20 at Wilder Ranch State Park. An overpass over Highway 1 to connect the rail trail to Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument is expected to begin construction in 2027.

Trail funding status: The Segment 5 trail is fully funded and estimated to cost $51.4 million.

Lead agency: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission.

Passenger rail overview: A passenger rail project is not expected on Segment 5, transportation commission staff said in November.

Last updated: November 2024

Trail overview: An existing 1-mile bicycle path bypasses the rail right-of-way and runs from Wilder Ranch State Park to Shaffer Road.

Trail construction status: There are no plans to make additions.

Passenger rail overview: A passenger rail project is not expected on Segment 6, transportation commission staff said in November.

Last updated: November 2024

Trail overview: A 2.1-mile path from Natural Bridges Drive to Bay and California streets is complete.

Trail construction status: Finished in 2020. 

Trail funding status: Fully funded.

Lead agency: City of Santa Cruz.

Passenger rail overview: The north end of passenger rail service could be near Natural Bridges Drive or near Depot Park in Santa Cruz, transportation commission staff said in November.

Last updated: November 2024

Trail overview: A paved path from California Street to Beach Street in Santa Cruz started work in early 2023.

Trail construction status: Trail construction started in July 2022, and originally was expected to finish in December 2023. The projected end date has since been extended multiple times. Construction is now expected to finish by the end of 2024, “weather permitting,” wrote Ricardo Valdes, a Santa Cruz senior engineer, in a Nov. 21 email. “The project has been delayed due to bad weather, utility relocations, unforeseen issues, and limited access to the site for construction activities,” Valdes wrote.

Trail funding status: Fully funded. Contracts with design and construction companies have been amended multiple times to reflect cost increases. The city’s wastewater fund and Measure D revenue that had been set aside for other projects helped cover its added costs in November 2023.

Lead agency: City of Santa Cruz.

Passenger rail overview: The north end of passenger rail service could be Natural Bridges Drive or near Depot Park in Santa Cruz, transportation commission staff said in November.

Last updated: November 2024

Trail overview: Segments 8 and 9 include a paved 2.2-mile bicycle and pedestrian path from the Beach Street roundabout in Santa Cruz to 17th Avenue in Live Oak. Segment 8 includes a 0.6-mile separated bike lane and widened sidewalk. Segment 9 is a 1.6-mile multi-use bicycle and pedestrian trail.

Trail construction status: A pedestrian and walking bridge cantilevered off the San Lorenzo River trestle finished in 2019. Permits for the rest of Segments 8 and 9 are expected in late 2024 or early 2025. Construction was slated to start in summer 2026 but is now expected later, wrote Santa Cruz Transportation Manager Matt Starkey, in an Nov. 21 email.

Trail funding status: The project was awarded $35.7 million in Active Transportation Program grant funding through the California Transportation Commission in December 2022. It is not fully funded. 

Lead agency: City of Santa Cruz.

Passenger rail overview: The north end of passenger rail service could be near Natural Bridges Drive or near Depot Park in Santa Cruz, transportation commission staff said in November. Preliminary engineering and environmental analysis are due to finish in 2027. Construction is expected no sooner than 2032.

Last updated: November 2024

Trail overview: A 4.5-mile trail from 17th Avenue in Live Oak would run through Capitola to State Park Drive in Aptos.The Capitola Trestle is not included in the current construction project.

Trail construction status: Design work could finish in 2025 or 2026, authorities said. Pending funding, construction could start in 2026.

Trail funding status: The state awarded $67.6 million for the project in 2022. The remainder of the project cost could come from the RTC’s Measure D sales tax revenue or other grants or earmarks.

Lead agency: County of Santa Cruz.

Passenger rail overview: Preliminary engineering and environmental analysis are due to finish in 2027. Construction is expected no sooner than 2032.

Last updated: November 2024

Trail overview: A 1.25-mile multi-use trail is planned along the rail right-of-way from State Park Drive in Seacliff to Rio Del Mar Boulevard in Rio Del Mar, with access to Aptos Village. This project is being completed as part of the Highway 1 expansion, transportation commission staff said. 

Trail construction status: Pending funding availability, construction could start in 2025.

Trail funding status: The project has $19.2 million in SB 1 state gas tax money, and $1.2 million from other sources. It has not been fully funded.

Lead agency: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission.

Passenger rail overview: Preliminary engineering and environmental analysis are due to finish in 2027. Construction is expected no sooner than 2032.

Last updated: November 2024

Trail overview: Segment 18 Phase I, from Ohlone Parkway to a Watsonville Slough Trail Network trailhead. Segments 13-17, 19 and 20 will be planned with the Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail. A conceptual report for the project is expected in early 2025. 

Trail construction status: Led by the City of Watsonville, Segment 18 Phase 1 finished in 2021.

Lead agency: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission.

Passenger rail overview: A conceptual report for the Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail is expected in early 2025. Preliminary engineering and environmental analysis are due to finish in 2027. Construction is expected no sooner than 2032. Separately, Monterey County transit authorities are planning a rail station and transit center at Railroad Avenue in Pajaro. The project proposes passenger rail from Salinas to Gilroy, connecting with Amtrak and CalTrain services.

Preliminary engineering and environmental work is ahead for potential passenger rail service on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. The line runs near Murray Street in Santa Cruz. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)

Preliminary engineering and environmental work is being done for Segment 9 of the rail trail along Murray Street in Santa Cruz. Construction is slated for summer 2026. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)

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Jesse Kathan

Reporter / California Local News Fellow | + posts

Jesse Kathan is a staff reporter for Santa Cruz Local through the California Local News Fellowship. They hold a master's degree in science communications from UC Santa Cruz.

Stephen Baxter

Website | + posts

Stephen Baxter is a co-founder and editor of Santa Cruz Local. He covers Santa Cruz County government.