Capitola City Council to Vote on Controversial Rail Trail Proposal

CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION-TV) -- After a heated town hall meeting in Capitola, City Council members are preparing for an important vote on the controversial Coastal Rail Trail proposal.

The discussion centers on Segments 10 and 11 of the project, with particular attention on a 0.7-mile stretch near Park Avenue that has sparked divided opinions among residents.

The Coastal Rail Trail is designed to connect 17th Avenue to State Park Drive, but the proposed route through Capitola has raised concerns, especially around the stretch of trail near Park Avenue.

While the overall project aims to improve biking and pedestrian access, the specific stretch near Park Avenue has become a focal point for debates on safety, environmental impacts, and costs.

At the heart of the debate are concerns about the project’s significant cost. In 2023, estimates revealed that the project requires a total of $111 million in funding, with an $18 million gap still remaining to meet the necessary amount for completion.

"My concerns are just about the financial costs. We're so behind on so many infrastructure things in this town, like our roads and everything. And I just wonder, like, I've read that a lot of the crossings and trestles and bridges are not up to par for that," Emily Somick, a resident from Santa Cruz said.

Planners are aware of the financial burden and have proposed solutions to reduce costs.

Rob Tidmore, a county planner, explained that modifying certain aspects of the plan, such as wall types and routing the trail adjacent to Park Avenue instead of through the rail corridor, could save money.

Despite these adjustments, safety remains a major concern for some residents. The trail would be separated from the roadway by a vertical curb and a minimum three-foot horizontal buffer, which planners say will ensure a safer experience for bikers and pedestrians.

"I think that biking in town is dangerous. And I've known, you know, people who have gotten in accidents personally. And I think it'd be great to have a trail and get them off the road so that they're not in traffic," Somick said.

Another significant hurdle is the legal restrictions surrounding Capitola's historic trestle bridge. The trail cannot pass over the bridge due to legal reasons, forcing planners to reroute the trail through the village streets.

"The trail ends really on either side of the village. And because of the existing condition of the Capitola trestle, the fact that we can't, the RTC can't legally remove the rails on the Capitola trestle and replace it with a trail," Tidmore said. "The county's project does not include putting a trail across it. So because of that, we have to route trail users through the existing streets in the village."

This rerouting has raised additional concerns, particularly about pedestrian safety.

In response, planners have proposed enhancements to the bike lanes, including the addition of green paint to improve visibility and the re-striping of roads to create a separated pedestrian walkway on Cliff Drive.

The Capitola City Council is set to vote on the Park Avenue segment of the Rail Trail proposal at a special meeting on April 17th.