Coastal Rail Trail
About
The Coastal Rail Trail is part of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network Master Plan, envisioned 20 years ago by then-U.S. Senator Sam Farr, and provides a continuous, separated bicycle/pedestrian path spanning the entire 32-mile length of the Santa Cruz County coast. There are 20 Coastal Rail Trail segments planned and managed by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission. Coastal Rail Trail Segments 7 and 8, and part of Segment 9, run through the City of Santa Cruz.
Upcoming Construction
Segments 8 & 9: Pacific Avenue to 17th Avenue
Construction Est.: End of 2027
Matthew Starkey, Project Manager (831) 420-5182
Coastal Rail Trail Segments 8 and 9 Project is a 2.2-mile bicycle and pedestrian system that extends along the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line corridor, from the Beach Street/Pacific Avenue Roundabout on the west to the eastern side of 17th Avenue. The goals of this project are to increase the number of people biking and walking, improve the safety and mobility of non-motorized users, and provide high-quality connections to schools, parks, and community facilities.
When completed, this project will be part of the planned 32-mile Coastal Rail Trail, which traverses the entire coastline of Santa Cruz County. Segment 8 (0.6 mile) comprises improvements to the existing separated bike lane (Class IV) and pedestrian sidewalk improvements along Beach Street. Segment 9 (1.6 miles) is comprised of a multi-use bicycle and pedestrian trail from the San Lorenzo River to 17th Avenue in the County.
In December 2022, this project was awarded $35.7 million in Active Transportation Program grant funding through the California Transportation Commission. Grant deadlines require that the design and property acquisition (right-of-way) phases of the project be completed by the end of 2028 and that construction funding be requested from the California Transportation Commission by March 2029. Segment 8 Design is nearing completion, while Segment 9 is between concept and 60% drawings. The City, County, and SCCRTC are working on identifying additional funding for construction.
Completed Construction
Segment 7 Phase II: Bay/California to Pacific Avenue
Completed in 2025
Ricardo Valdes, Senior Professional Engineer (831) 420-5198
The City of Santa Cruz began construction of the Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7 Phase II in the summer of 2022. The estimated construction cost is $11.4 million, funded by a $9 million Caltrans Active Transportation Program Cycle 5 grant. The project grant is matched with Measure D tax funds, passed by over two-thirds of Santa Cruz County voters in 2016.
The project is a 0.8-mile-long paved bicycle/pedestrian path between Bay/California Street and Pacific Avenue/Beach Street. It will be 12-16 feet wide and run along the coastal side of the existing rail line. It is designed for walkers and bikers of all age groups and abilities. Running slopes and curb ramps are designed to be ADA-compliant, making it easier for public access and use. It will provide a safer active transportation alternative to the high-traffic Mission Street/Highway 1 corridor with a connection to the popular Beach Street bikeway and favorite public destinations like the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Municipal Wharf on the east end.
The project connects to the recently completed Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7 Phase I, which serves over 800 active transportation users per day. Together, Phase I and Phase II create 2.1 miles of the Coastal Rail Trail spine between Natural Bridges Drive and Pacific Avenue at the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. The two-phase trail connects over 30,000 residents who live within one mile of the project to schools, work, beaches, shopping and other activity centers. This furthers implementation of the largest active transportation project in Santa Cruz County, offering an important path towards long-term mode shift and significant reduction of carbon emissions.
Additionally, Segment 7 Phase II is entirely located within a disadvantaged community (DAC) area, which is the lowest income census tract in the City of Santa Cruz. It includes an innovative “vertical” non-infrastructure program at Bay View Elementary School, providing active transportation education and encouragement at every grade level for the first time in Santa Cruz City Schools.
Segment 7 Phase I: Natural Bridges Drive to Bay/California
Completed in 2020
Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7 Phase I is a paved multi-use trail that runs 1.2 miles from Natural Bridges Drive to Bay/California streets and is 12 to 16 feet wide. It includes 10 green crossbikes from Natural Bridges Drive to Bay/California streets — these are roadway crossings that allow cyclists to remain mounted and ride through the intersections with high visibility. The trail includes a bridge over Arroyo Seco channel, a retaining wall west of Almar Avenue and additional vehicle and bike parking at and around New Leaf Market.
Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7/Phase I is dedicated to walkers and bikers of all age groups and abilities. The running slopes on the trail and curb ramps were designed and graded to be ADA compliant, making it easier for public access and use of the trail. For a short section on Bay Street where a sidewalk exists, a Class IV Cycletrack was installed with green striping to separate bikes from pedestrians.
Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7 Phase I is currently serving over 800 active transportation users daily—thus significantly reducing carbon emissions with an increase in active transportation. On the west end of the project, the trail connects to Natural Bridges State Park, Wilder Ranch State Park and the UCSC Institute of Marine Sciences and Long Marine Lab. Between the Boardwalk and State parks, the trail provides access to two popular shopping centers on Almar Avenue and Fair Avenue.
The total cost of Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7 Phase I was $6.4 million funded through City, County and State agencies. The voter-approved Measure D sales tax has provided $3.1 million for all of Segment 7.
The City of Santa Cruz virtually celebrated the ribbon-cutting of Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7 Phase I on Dec. 10, 2020.
Segment 8: San Lorenzo River Trestle Trail
Completed in 2019
The historic first part of Segment 8 of the Coastal Rail Trail to be completed— the San Lorenzo River Parkway Phase III/Trestle Trail Project—opened to the public on May 17, 2019.
The “Trestle Trail” project removed the existing 4-foot-wide wooden pedestrian walkway on the San Lorenzo River Trestle Bridge and replaced it with a 10-foot-wide elevated bike/pedestrian path featuring new steel supports, bike-friendly railing, a slip-resistant surface, and low-level lighting. The ADA-compliant new pathway is about 340 feet long.
The project has improved direct bike/pedestrian access between the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the Seabright neighborhood, the Santa Cruz Riverwalk levee path, and downtown Santa Cruz. It has improved safety and convenience for walking and biking, thereby increasing active transportation and supporting climate action to reduce carbon emissions. The project is helping to increase walking, biking and safety in Santa Cruz while serving a
wide spectrum of users.
The $2.03 million construction project was funded with a California Natural Resources Agency grant, Transportation Development Act funds, and City of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Measure D allocations.