The Coastal Rail Trail is a planned 32-mile path mainly along the right-of-way of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. Find details about each segment below. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission also has a separate map.
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: September 2025
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 to connect the rail trail to Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument.
Trail construction status: Began in 2024. Construction on the trail, parking lots and restrooms is expected to finish in 2026. A Highway 1 overpass is expected to begin construction in 2027.
Trail funding status: Fully funded and estimated to cost $51.4 million. As of September 2025, legally-required efforts to offset the trail’s environmental impacts may require an extra cost of up to $3 million.
Lead agency: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission.
Passenger rail overview: A passenger rail project is not expected.
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: September 2025
Paving of Segment 7.2 continues on Jan. 16, 2025. (Stephen Baxter – Santa Cruz Local)
Trail overview: A paved path from California Street to Beach Street in Santa Cruz was completed in May 2025.
Trail construction status: Trail construction started in July 2022, and originally was expected to finish in December 2023. The projected end date was extended multiple times. Issues with rain and groundwater complicated the design and construction of the trail, city staff said.
Trail funding status: Fully funded. The city’s wastewater fund and Measure D revenue that had been set aside for other projects helped cover nearly $4 million in cost overruns.
Lead agency: City of Santa Cruz.
Passenger rail overview: The north end of passenger rail service could be Natural Bridges Drive.
Design options for train tracks near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk were presented in May 2025.
Last updated: September 2025
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 is 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. Final designs for the rest of Segments 8 and 9 are expected by fall 2026. Construction is set to begin in 2027, but could be delayed because of budget shortfalls.
Trail funding status: Estimated to cost $77.4 million as of September 2025, up from a $59 million estimate in April 2024. The estimated funding shortfall is $35 million.
The trail project has been awarded:
- $35.7 million from the California Transportation Commission in December 2022.
- $2.8 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation in January 2025. As of Jan. 31 2025, RTC staff said they were unsure whether the grant could be delayed or rescinded because of executive orders issued in January.
It has also received about $4.4 million of Measure D sales tax money towards design and construction.
City staff submitted a $20.5 million federal grant application, with awards to be announced December 2025.
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. Commissioners are set to vote on next steps for the passenger rail project by the end of 2025.
Last updated: September 2025
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: Construction is expected to start in 2027.
Trail funding status: In September 2025, trail construction was estimated to cost $137.6 million, up from $111.7 million in April 2024. The estimated funding shortfall is $37 million.
As part of cost-saving measures, county staff proposed building part of the trail outside the rail corridor along Park Avenue. In April, the Capitola City Council voted down those plans because of Measure L, a city law that prohibits detours of the rail trail onto city streets.
The trail project has been awarded:
- $67.6 million from the California Transportation Commission in 2022.
- $16.7 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation in January 2025.
It has also received $17.38 million of Measure D sales tax money:
- $4.5 million received for pre-construction, including design.
- $122.8 million for construction as a required match for the 2022 grant.
Lead agency: County of Santa Cruz.
Passenger rail overview: Commissioners are set to vote on next steps for the passenger rail project by the end of 2025.
Last updated: June 2025
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 2026.
Trail funding status: The project, including the highway expansion, is expected to cost $231.8 million.
- The project was awarded $8.3 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation in January 2025. As of Jan. 31 2025, RTC staff said they were unsure whether the grant could be delayed or rescinded because of executive orders issued in January.
- The RTC has submitted a grant request for SB 1 gas tax money, and is expecting to hear back in May 2025.
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. In May 2025, transportation commission staff presented possible designs for train tracks and a train depot in Watsonville.
Last updated: September 2025
Trail overview: Segment 18 Phase I, from Ohlone Parkway to a Watsonville Slough Trail Network trailhead, was completed in 2021. Preliminary designs for segments 13-17, 18.2, 18.3, 19 and 20 were included in a conceptual report for passenger rail released August 2025.
Trail Funding Status: The transportation commission has allocated $4.8 for Segments 17-18, from Buena Vista Road to Walker Street in Watsonville. The money is set to pay for environmental review and preconstruction work, to go to bid in Fall 2025.
Trail construction status: Led by the City of Watsonville, Segment 18 Phase 1 finished in 2021. The rest of the trail could be advanced alongside or separately from plans for passenger rail.
Lead agency: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission.
Passenger rail overview: A conceptual report for the Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail was released in August 2025. Commissioners are set to vote on next steps for the passenger rail project by the end of 2025. 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.
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 and input: Passenger rail service alongside the trail is being planned separately through the transportation commission’s Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail. June 6, transportation commission staff released a draft concept report for a rail line. Commissioners are set to vote on next steps for the passenger rail project by the end of 2025.
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 funding could come from the Federal Rail Administration, transportation commission staff have said, though federal funding changes in 2025 have thrown that into question. A conceptual report released in August 2025 estimated a $4.3 billion cost to build the proposed rail line.
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.
Read the latest on the rail trail:
Passenger rail could require sales tax hike to 12% in Santa Cruz County
Transportation commission to discuss report Thursday
Report describes $5 fares, potential train frequency in Santa Cruz County
Future of rail project to be discussed at Thursday meeting
Passenger rail input wanted in Santa Cruz, Watsonville
Feedback wanted by Aug. 15
Transportation commissioners ask for tax hike info in train proposal
Passenger rail could cost $4.3 billion, sap money for roads
Report projects $4.3 billion price tag for Santa Cruz County passenger rail
40-minute train from Santa Cruz to Pajaro envisioned
Passenger rail costs, rider estimates on tap for Santa Cruz County
Meeting set for June 9
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