Coastal Rail Trail Groundbreaking Ceremony Planned In Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, CA – Santa Cruz-area residents are invited to the groundbreaking for the first segment of the Coastal Rail Trail, city officials said.

The ceremony -- rain or shine -- will be Thursday, Jan. 10, from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the west base of the San Lorenzo River Railroad Trestle Bridge. It will be followed by a free community party from 12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., hosted by Friends of the Rail and Trail, that will include speakers, refreshments, giveaways and Coastal Rail Trail engineering displays.

“This groundbreaking is a historic start to what will be 32 miles of car-free coastal access. The Trestle Trail will make walking and biking safer and easier between the Boardwalk and our Seabright neighborhood and the Riverwalk and downtown,” Mayor Martine Watkins said. “It also supports our Go Santa Cruz initiative and Climate Action Plan to reduce carbon emissions.”

The Coastal Rail Trail includes many projects that, together, will provide a 32-mile long separated bicycle/pedestrian path along the coast and is a part of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network Master Plan, city officials said.

This first Coastal Rail Trail segment, the San Lorenzo River Parkway Phase III/Trestle Trail Project, will replace the existing 4-foot wide walkway on the San Lorenzo River Railroad Trestle Bridge with a new multi-use trail that is 10 feet wide, according to planners.

Speakers at the groundbreaking will include Watkins, Regional Transportation Commission Chair Ed Bottorff, Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County Executive Director Stephen Slade and Friends of the Rail and Trail Board Member/Bike Santa Cruz County Executive Director Janneke Strause. Also present will be Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency John Laird and former U.S. Congressman Sam Farr, who initially launched the trail system fundraising and planning.

Attendees may park for free at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk River Parking Lot. Free bicycle valet parking will be hosted by Bike Santa Cruz County.

For more information, visit www.cityofsantacruz.com.

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