City of Capitola votes to uphold Measure L in coastal rail trail debate

CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION-TV) - The City of Capitola on Thursday night decided to do away with an option to divert the trail from the rail corridor and trestle.

The two main items during the special city council meeting were how to interpret Measure L and whether to move forward Park Avenue Alignment of the coastal rail trail.

City council unanimously decided to uphold the municipal code that came from Measure L, limiting the rail trail to the rail corridor.

Prior to the meeting, many people attending said they were hoping for that outcome.

“Do what your community voted for, stay with measure l and don't break the law," Capitola resident Mary Beth Cahalen said

“I just believe if we can keep them off the city streets and in the corridor, there is runway to get this plan done," Capitola resident Leslie Nielsen said.

A previous proposal looked divert portions of the rail trail off of the rail corridor, including a Park Avenue diversion. Some have argued that could be more beneficial.

“The county is able to bring the trail closer to neighborhoods and on a level, parallel with the with the streets with better views and at a lower cost," said Scott Barry with Santa Cruz County Friends of the Rail and Trail.

City council’s decision early in the meeting to uphold Measure L, was effectively the nail coffin on the Park Avenue diversion. They later rejected the Park Avenue idea, saying it goes against their decision on Measure L.

However, not all were happy with the decisions from Council.

“I feel like what we've done tonight is a stall, and it's going to hold us back and slow us down," said one person during public comment.

While people during the meeting were split, many agree this marked an important decision in this years-long project.