I recently posted 10 questions the RTC really needs to answer about the plans for a trail that prioritizes rail on the unusable train tracks that stretch through Santa Cruz County. I wanted to focus on the fourth and fifth question, How many people could fit on a train and how many people could a train serve?
Santa Cruz County is known for its innovative spirit and commitment to environmental sustainability. The Zero Emission Passenger Rail Transit project promises to align with these values, proposing clean and green public transportation along our scenic coastline. However, when we look beyond the glossy brochures, slick consultant presentations and idealistic visions, the realities of a single-track rail system make it a poor investment for our community.
Capacity Constraints
The fundamental flaw lies in capacity. A single-track rail inherently limits the number of trains that can operate simultaneously. The current plan calls for only 3 places for trains to pass in opposite directions called sidings. With only 3 sidings, this means only 4 trains could operate at any one time going both directions. The length of these sidings and station locations will limit the size of the rail vehicles that can operate as well. In an area with high commuter demand, especially during peak hours, this bottleneck drastically reduces the number of people the system can serve. Even if the rail vehicles are maximized in size, the physical constraints of a single track mean only a few trips per day in each direction. This is woefully inadequate for a county where over 220,000 trips happen daily on Highway 1, yet a train could only handle a couple of thousand trips at best. One of our closest examples of suburban commuter rail, SMART in Sonoma and Marin County have a population almost triple that of Santa Cruz County. Their highest month of total daily boardings was 3,300 (1,650 round trips) that equates 0.2% of their population using the train. Their Environmental Impact Report stated they would achieve an average of 5,500 daily boardings. If 0.2% of Santa Cruz County 261,000 residents rode the train, that would equate to 574 people a day (1,150 daily boardings). Yikes!
So What Can Scale?
Consider the alternative: robust bus rapid transit (BRT) systems or expanded electric shuttle services. These options provide more flexibility, greater coverage, and higher passenger capacity than a single-track rail ever could. Buses and shuttles can adapt to real-time demand, serve more neighborhoods, and run on schedules that match our community's needs. The E-bike revolution is also booming, from being practically non-existent less than a decade ago, they are one of the preferred modes of biking by our younger generations and the basis of bike share. A train stuck on a single track is limited in its reach and effectiveness.
Another glaring issue is cost. Rail projects are notoriously expensive to construct and maintain, particularly in a region with challenging geography like Santa Cruz County. Every dollar spent on a single-track rail system is a dollar not spent on more efficient, scalable, and adaptable transit solutions. And if the rail system underperforms—highly likely given its limited capacity—it risks becoming a taxpayer-funded boondoggle, a monument to poor planning rather than a practical transit solution.
Where is the County Wide Equity?
Finally, there’s the question of equity. Rail systems, especially those confined to single tracks, serve a narrow corridor. What about residents in Watsonville, Live Oak, or the Santa Cruz Mountains? A single-track rail system that is looking to cost taxpayers over $5 billion fails to connect the broader community, leaving many dependent on cars and private transport yet all will be required to subsidize it. A truly sustainable transit solution at this scale must meet the needs of the entire county, not just a privileged 574.
Taking Action
If you share these concerns, now is the time to speak up. Contact your local representatives from the links at linktr.ee/coastaltrail , attend public meetings, and demand a reevaluation of the Rail Trail project. Support grassroots organizations such as Santa Cruz County Greenway sccgreenway.org and the Santa Cruz County Coastal Trail Conservancy coastaltrail.org that are advocating for more fiscally and environmentally responsible solutions. Share your voice through letters to the editor, petitions, and social media campaigns.
Santa Cruz County deserves a transit system that is not only zero-emission but also accessible, efficient, and future-proof. A single-track rail system fails on all these fronts. We must demand better, rejecting shortsighted solutions in favor of a vision that truly serves everyone in our community.
Let’s invest in a transit future that moves us all forward.
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