Coastal Rail Trail

City of Santa Cruz Segments

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—providing a continuous and separated bicycle/pedestrian path spanning the entire 32-mile length of the Santa Cruz County coast.

There are 20 Coastal Rail Trail segments altogether that are 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.

Segment 7 Phase I: Natural Bridges Drive to Bay/California

Completed Construction 2020 Watch the RIbbon-Cutting Video

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. Over 200 stakeholders attended the Zoom event with some featured in this ribbon-cutting video. Their testimonials reflect enthusiastic community appreciation for Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7 Phase I.

Segment 7 Phase II: Bay/California to Pacific Avenue

Construction Est.: July 2022 - as of 2/29/24 rain has caused delays.. "to be completed soon!"
Ricardo Valdes, Senior Professional Engineer (831) 420-5198

The City of Santa Cruz began construction of Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7 Phase II in summer 2022 and expects completion in late February 2024. 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 miles long paved bicycle/pedestrian path between Bay/California streets 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 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 will connect 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 will connect 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.

City and County officials and at least 200 community members celebrated the project’s groundbreaking on Thursday, Aug. 11, at La Barranca Park, 700 Bay Street. Read more here.

Segment 8: San Lorenzo River Trestle Trail

Completed Construction 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 with 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 and the Santa Cruz Riverwalk levee path and downtown Santa Cruz. It has improved safety and convenience for people to walk and bike, thus 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.

Segments 8 & 9: Pacific Avenue to 17th Avenue

Construction Est.: Summer 2026
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 on the east.

Segment 8 (0.6 mile) is comprised of a Class IV on street bicycle system and pedestrian sidewalk improvements. Segment 9 (1.6 miles) is comprised of a multi-use bicycle and pedestrian trail.

The goals of this project are to increase the numbers of people biking and walking, improve safety and mobility of non-motorized users, and provide high-quality connections to schools, parks, and community facilities.

In December 2022 this project was awarded $35.7 million in Active Transportation Program grant funding through the California Transportation Commission.

When constructed, this project will be part of the planned 32-mile Coastal Rail Trail that traverses the entire coastline of Santa Cruz County. A part of the Segment 8 project, the San Lorenzo River Trestle Trail widening, was accelerated ahead of the rest of the segment and was completed in May 2019.

Coastal Rail Trail Segments 8 and 9 design completion is expected in the spring of 2024. Permits are expected in the winter months 2024-25 and construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2025.

City of Santa Cruz

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City of Santa Cruz Segments

Segment 7 Phase I: Natural Bridges Drive to Bay/California

Segment 7 Phase II: Bay/California to Pacific Avenue

Segment 8: San Lorenzo River Trestle Trail

Segments 8 & 9: Pacific Avenue to 17th Avenue