After several delays, officials said they hope to open the rail trail from California to Beach streets in Santa Cruz by the end of December. The path had not been paved as of Nov. 21. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)
SANTA CRUZ >> The rail trail from California to Beach street in Santa Cruz, nearly a year behind schedule, is now slated to finish by the end of December, a city engineer said this week.
Crews started work on the 0.8-mile trail in July 2022 and originally anticipated it to finish by December 2023. It has stalled several times.
“The project has been delayed due to bad weather, utility relocations, unforeseen issues, and limited access to the site for construction activities,” wrote Santa Cruz Senior Professional Engineer Ricardo Valdes, in a Nov. 21 email. A Cooper’s hawk nest prevented work on a part of the segment, said Santa Cruz City spokesperson Erika Smart.
The stretch is Segment 7.2 of the Coastal Rail Trail, connecting Segment 7 that ends at Bay and California streets to Segment 8 at Beach Street.
The Segment 7.2 project is now at least $2.6 million over the initial estimated cost of $11.4 million, according to city documents and a spokesperson. To cover the overruns, the city council in October 2023 approved moving money from other funds, including the city’s wastewater fund and Measure D sales tax money that had been set aside for rail-trail Segments 8 and 9.
Rail trail Segments 8 and 9
On rail trail Segments 8 and 9 from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to 17th Avenue in Live Oak, Santa Cruz city and county staff are designing and engineering a path alongside the railroad tracks. Design and engineering work is expected to continue through 2024.
As anticipated construction costs have risen, city and county staff have looked for ways to change the trail design to cut costs, Smart said. They’ve also changed the trail design to accommodate future rail service.
- In Spring 2022, Segments 8 and 9 were expected to cost $39.8 million, to be largely funded by a state grant.
- Updated estimates in 2024 jumped to $55.9 million, leaving about $16 million unfunded.
Costs could be cut by narrowing the trail or temporarily routing parts of the trail along streets, according to an October report from the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission.
Work continues on Segment 7.2 of the rail trail near the wastewater treatment plant on Sept. 17, 2024. (Nik Altenberg – Santa Cruz Local file)
Segment 7.2 of the rail trail in March 2024. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
A paved path is expected near Neary Lagoon Park and the Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Facility in Santa Cruz. (RRM Design Group rendering)
A retaining wall is under construction between the Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Facility and Bay Street in Santa Cruz in November 2023. (Tyler Maldonado — Santa Cruz Local)
Rail-trail plans call for paved paths near Bay and California streets in Santa Cruz. (City of Santa Cruz rendering)
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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.
