Santa Cruz bridge widening leads into rail and trail vs greenway debate

Unlike as depicted in cult classic “The Lost Boys,” no one is hanging Tuesday from Santa Cruz’ San Lorenzo River trestle bridge. On a busy day like this one, for walkers and cyclists, there’s barely room for two people to pass each other on the attached pedestrian path.

The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to approve a project which should open things up. They approved to expand the width of the path from four to ten feet.

The active rail line is not in use at this location. The Friends of the Rail and Trail group wants trains to be a part of the future from Davenport through to Pajaro.

“This is probably one of the key pieces that will be constructed first,” said group Chair Mark Mesiti-Miller.

Mesiti-Miller says the cost of this segment, for the rail and trail proposal, could be about four million dollars under budget, making it more likely their full 32-mile vision goes through.

“The Rail and Trail has been in the works for about 20 years, and after all this effort, we finally have a fully permitted, ‘let’s build it,’ project,” he said.

They have been battling with Santa Cruz County Greenway, who wants the trail without the rail. They tell me it is good the path will be wider, but the decision should have waited until after the November elections, and Unified Corridor Study expected to be released in October.

“Give our community a chance to vote for new people. Let’s give those people a chance to take new seats. Let’s give the community a chance to truly understand the corridor study and truly weigh in,” said Gail McNulty, the Executive Director of the Santa Cruz County Greenway.

The Coastal Commission report acknowledges that what happens with the railway is still under consideration. Municipalities in the county can make their own decision.

“It is looking at various options for the rail corridor that includes Greenway’s vision, but also buses on the corridor,” McNulty said.