The current proposal has the County purchasing the so-called Santa Cruz branch, which runs from Watsonville (and a connection with the former SP< now UP) through the city of Santa Cruz then north to Davenport, home of a large cement plant, and major freight shipper. This line connects in Santa Cruz with the Santa Cruz and Big Trees, a former SP branch, once the mainline of the narrow gauge South Pacific Coast.

The county plans to use railroad transportation bond funds to purchase the line, and those bonds require some rail service. They are proposing a shuttle using a RDC or similar self-propelled car over a short portion of the line (called a trolley), in a tourist/beach area. Other proposed (concurrent) uses include continued freight service, a possible tourist train or dinner train, and maybe (but not likely) a commuter rail connection to the Caltrain system which serves the San Francisco Peninsula.

The line runs though an area along the California coast, known for its scenic beauty, and for its expensive homes, some of which abut the track. The locals are also known for their political activism, usually towards the liberal end of the spectrum. These people are very good at establishing political committees to advocate for their interests.

There is both support for the purchase and the trolley, as well as groups which want to convert the right of way to a bike path (the same anti trolley folks are anti bike path) and transit advocates who don't care about the trolley, but just want commuter rail. Of course there is the very organized opposition as well. They are more than a few, but less than a mob, but they have significant influence due to their well-organized nature.

Randy Hees


http://www.spcrr.org
hees@ix.netcom.com