Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Bicycling

Eyes on the Street: New Coastal Rail Trail Segment in Santa Cruz

The new stretch of Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail opened last December. Photos by Joe Linton/Streetsblog

In December 2020, the city of Santa Cruz opened a new segment of rail trail. It's not news today to Santa Cruz residents, but Streetsblog recently visited the new bike/walk path and offers this short piece celebrating the bikeway, and exploring a few features that may be applicable to facilities everywhere.

Santa Cruz Rail Trail map
Santa Cruz Rail Trail map - via city of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Rail Trail map

The new 1.2-mile stretch of Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail walk/bike path extends 1.2-mile - from Natural Bridges Drive to Bay Street. It is located just west of downtown Santa Cruz, extending through a residential neighborhood and a commercial/industrial one.

Trail project design and construction cost $9 million.

Concept map of xxx
Concept map of Monterey Bay Sanctuary Trail Network
Concept map of xxx

The new path is a small portion (officially phase 1 of segment 7) of a larger proposed Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network.

The recently-opened walk/bike path runs along rail tracks
The recently-opened walk/bike path runs along existing rail tracks
The recently-opened walk/bike path runs along rail tracks

The newly opened section runs alongside part of a 32-mile stretch of train track which extends from Watsonville to Davenport. The right-of-way had been under consideration for possible passenger rail; the bikeway does not preclude future rail in the corridor.

The new path has all at-grade crossings - ten in just over a mile. Through the commercial area and at several residential cross streets, the Rail Trail features "crossbikes" - essentially bright green-striped crosswalks that allow cyclists to continue riding without interruption. The ten at-grade crossings come fairly frequently, so cyclists need to negotiate with car traffic on perpendicular streets. For the most part, these are very low volume residential streets.

"Crossbike" at xxxx
Santa Cruz Rail Trail "Crossbike" at Younglove Avenue
"Crossbike" at xxxx

At one residential street that sees less car traffic and where the tracks cross at a narrow angle, there is one sharrow-ed crossing.

Green-backed sharrow where the Santa Cruz Rail Trail crosses Lennox Street
Green-backed sharrow where the Santa Cruz Rail Trail crosses Lennox Street
Green-backed sharrow where the Santa Cruz Rail Trail crosses Lennox Street

At Bay Street, the end of the facility near to downtown, the facility includes two blocks of two-way protected bike lane.

xxx
The Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail two-way protected bike lane at Bay Street
xxx
xxx
Another view of the Rail Trail at Bay Street.
xxx

The city has plans to extend the trail further into its beachfront area next to its downtown.

The western portion (left two circled areas) is open, with the remaining downtown connection (right) planned.
The Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail's western portion (left two circled areas) is open, with the remaining downtown connection (right) planned - via city of Santa Cruz
The western portion (left two circled areas) is open, with the remaining downtown connection (right) planned.

In the beachfront area, the trail will connect with existing protected bike lanes on Beach Street. From there, the bikeway extends over the existing San Lorenzo River rail bridge, which is already converted to a rail trail for walking and bicycling.

Santa Cruz Beach Street protected bike lane
Santa Cruz Beach Street protected bike lane
Santa Cruz Beach Street protected bike lane. More of this, sooner.

Via a block of bike lanes, the west end of the new Coastal Rail Trail connects to an additional mile and a half long bike path, parallel to Highway 1, into Wilder Ranch State Park.

Bike path in Wilder Ranch State Park
Bike path in Wilder Ranch State Park, just west of Santa Cruz
Bike path in Wilder Ranch State Park

Below is the video of the December 10, 2020, ribbon-cutting for the new portion of the Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Covina to Begin Construction on Recreation Village

The new facility will be next to the Metrolink station and include a variety of opportunities for fitness and amusement

July 26, 2024

Talking Headways Podcast: Have Cities Run Out of Land?

Chris Redfearn of USC and Anthony Orlando of Cal Poly Pomona on why "pro-business" Texas housing markets are catching up to "pro-regulation" California and what it might mean for future city growth.

July 26, 2024

Friday’s Headlines

Oakland identifies sites for speed camera pilot; E-bike tariffs conflict with US climate policy; Pollution spikes around warehouses, shipping hubs; More

July 26, 2024

What the Heck is Going on with the State E-bike Incentive Program?

The program's launch has been delayed for two years, and currently "there is no specific timeline" for it. Plus the administrator, Pedal Ahead, is getting dragged, but details are vague

July 26, 2024

The Paris Plan for Olympic Traffic? Build More Bike Lanes

A push to make Paris fully bikable for the Olympics is already paying dividends long before the opening ceremonies.

July 25, 2024
See all posts