To conclude my essays, let’s look at what happens if we do not question the current plan and let everything proceed . Let’s imagine that the stars align and we get the go ahead and $5 billion magically appears to proceed with a train from Watsonville to Santa Cruz. This is not an overnight implementation. Some say it will take over four decades to complete, but let’s be optimistic, let's say we roll up our sleeves and get it done in just under 30 years.
What would a day look like for a Watsonville commuter to get to work in Santa Cruz by 8 AM?
The morning alarm blares at 4:45 AM, signaling the start of another long day. For those reliant on public transportation to get to work in Santa Cruz, an early start is non-negotiable, especially for our commuter who lives in the Crissara neighborhood of Watsonville near Green Valley and Freedom Blvd where a majority of the Watsonville population is centered. Today’s journey will involve navigating the train system—a developing transit option touted as a sustainable alternative for car-free commuters.
Early Morning Preparation
Rising before dawn, the commuter prepares for the day ahead. Time is of the essence; missing the train could mean delays of an hour or more. It's the year 2056 and the train has finally been running for a year after finally completing the promised arrival and connection in Pajaro. After quickly getting dressed, eating a light breakfast, and double-checking that everything is packed for work, it’s time to leave the house by 5:30 AM. Walking or biking to the nearest train station is the first step, as connecting bus routes may not yet be running in the early hours.
Arriving at the Watsonville station with ten minutes to spare, the commuter notes that the train platform is sparsely populated as the crowds died down over initial curiosity from just a year prior of taking a train to work, the occasional glow of a smartphone lighting the faces of other early risers. The train arrives promptly at 6:00 AM, its sleek, zero-emission design a point of pride for the county’s transportation planners. Boarding is efficient, though finding a seat requires some maneuvering as the train has filled with others heading toward the city. People have learned if you don’t want to stand for the entire 75 minute journey, it’s best to hitch a ride to the route’s starting point or drive a car and pay to park at the Pajaro station. Unfortunately, our commuter does not have this luxury. She sarcastically smirks thinking about how her grandmother told her that the journey would only take 45 minutes when she voted for the train and 20% sales tax hike way back in 2030.
The Train Ride
The train begins its journey, gliding through the picturesque landscape of Santa Cruz County. Despite the early hour, the ride isn’t entirely peaceful. The train must sound its horn at each crossing, a jarring reminder of the compromises between infrastructure and community impact. While some passengers scroll through their phones or sip coffee from travel mugs, others try to catch a few more minutes of sleep before their day begins.
The commute is longer than expected due to a brief delay at a crossing where traffic is unusually heavy. Although the train was sold with the impression that it will alleviate traffic, it has only made matters worse. Traffic still backs up on the highway and commuters still cut through neighborhoods to try to find a shortcut. Today, the backup is not allowing the crossing gates to lower at one of the intersections. By the time the train arrives in downtown Santa Cruz, it’s 7:25 AM. The commuter’s destination is still several miles away, requiring an additional mode of transportation.
Last-Mile Challenges
Public transit options for completing the final stretch of the journey are limited and infrequent. The next bus isn’t due for another 20 minutes, so the commuter decides to rent an e-bike from a nearby docking station. This option is both faster and more flexible than waiting, but it adds to the overall cost of the commute.
Riding the e-bike through the early morning traffic, the commuter finally reaches work at 8:00 AM, just in time to clock in. While the journey was successful, it required careful planning and relied on multiple transit systems to bridge gaps in the county’s infrastructure.
The Return Trip
The workday concludes at 5:00 PM, and the commuter faces the same series of challenges in reverse. Timing the journey to align with train schedules means rushing to leave work promptly. Any delays in the transit network could result in a missed connection and a late arrival home. Finishing the day’s work is not possible on the train even though there is free WiFi as seats are harder to come by in the evening.
By the time the commuter steps through their front door at 7:30 PM, exhaustion has set in. The day was dominated by navigating a patchwork of public transportation systems, leaving little time or energy for other pursuits.
A Need for Improvement
This hypothetical day highlights the significant hurdles faced by those relying on public transportation in Santa Cruz County. This was actually a positive scenario where the commuter lived within proximity of a station. This did not go into the perils of someone living in Soquel trying to commute to Felton. Someone in Happy Valley trying to get to UCSC or someone in Bonny Doon trying to get …. well…. anywhere. While a train system is questionably touted at reducing environmental impact and an alternative to traffic, its effectiveness depends on seamless connections, reliable schedules, and affordable fares. Without addressing these challenges, the vision of a sustainable, accessible transit system remains out of reach for many residents.
The rail corridor could be simply, inexpensively and quickly converted to an active transportation corridor, Metro could be improved with better routes, more frequency, traffic signal priority and exclusive highway lanes. ParaCruz and Lift Ride could be made into a free on-demand service for our physically challenged and elderly residents, giving them transportation freedom most of us take for granted and all of this substantially faster and less expensive than a suburban commuter rail system.
We are nearing the point of no return, let’s not make a series of flawed mistakes based on RTC consultants focusing on the wrong aspects of the transit system. Let’s answer the basic questions first to scope what people are willing to pay for and put up with, then talk about what the impacts would be regarding how many stops and track alignments.
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