Just a reminder of why we’re pursuing the Interim Trail

Since the RTC purchased the corridor, four separate studies have analyzed the cost of building a passenger rail system. The most accurate of those pegs the price at $4.283 billion (and that doesn’t include the additional expense of elevating the tracks near the Boardwalk or on Walker Street in Watsonville, nor the $34–$41 million in annual operating costs.)

Opposing that level of spending isn’t anti-rail, it’s pro-responsibility. It’s hard to justify billions for a system that would primarily serve train enthusiasts and at best 2,000 unique riders a day, while more than 150,000 people are stuck on Highway 1.

If our goal is to reduce car trips, we need solutions that actually move people cost-effectively. The first step is building a safe, protected corridor for biking and walking that spans the entire county, something we can afford, something we can build now, and something that will help thousands of people immediately.