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Following careful analysis through internal and external discussion of the issues, the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce today announced its opposition to the Greenway Initiative, based on its core principle objective to eliminate a rail option on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Trail (SCBRT). The initiative, if passed, would have a devastating impact on our community’s ability to interconnect between Santa Cruz and Monterey County by freight and eventually rail passenger service. It would place Santa Cruz County in isolation to the State’s Rail Plan that connects Santa Cruz County to the greater Bay Area, the Central Coast, Southern California and beyond. The Chamber of Commerce has been following the debate and recent decisive public discussion regarding the future use of the SCBRT for the past two decades. The Chamber was a leading business advocate for the passage of the 2016 Measure D transportation sales tax that established local funding for our transportation needs in the County. It was very clear to Santa Cruz County voters that without a local funding match many of the transportation projects would not materialize and limit our ability to move people and goods around our county. According to the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) the SCBRT is part of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network that is a 50-mile network along the coast of Santa Cruz County at the San Mateo County line in the north to Monterey County at Pajaro. The Trail Network system’s “spine” is in construction phases on the Coastal Rail Trail to create a bicycle and pedestrian trail within the 32-mile Santa Cruz Branch Rail right-of-way, adjacent to the train tracks. The Coastal Rail Trail will serve transportation, recreation and interpretive uses for walkers, joggers, bicyclists, people with mobility impairments, and families. The rail right of way passes within 1 mile of half of the County’s population and will provide access to 44 schools and 92 parks (see map). The Coastal Rail Trail will coexist with existing and potential future train service and abide by conditions set forth as part of the rail purchase. However, the Greenway Initiative removes all references to “rail transit” options in Santa Cruz County’s General Plan and instead uses a regulatory term called “rail banking” that would remove the tracks to produce only a trail. The concept of rail banking has been around for forty years. During that time 23,000 miles of rail lines have been “rail-banked” across the country and turned into trails. To date, none that were converted to a paved trail have returned to rail service. We can’t afford to eliminate one of our three transit corridors in our county. The Measure D Expenditure Plan allocates 8% of revenues to the Rail Corridor investment category for infrastructure preservation and analysis of options, including environmental analysis of both transit and non-rail options for the corridor, and rail line maintenance and repairs. The SCCRTC as owner of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line and a short-line operator are responsible for maintaining railroad infrastructure. The RTC commission should not abandon or “rail bank” the corridor without fully understanding the economic and environmental consequences this would have on our county. The Chamber of Commerce recommends a No vote on the Greenway Initiative. About the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce Since 1889, the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce has been committed to promoting the economic vitality and prosperity of Santa Cruz County. The Chamber continues to be the driving force in the County’s economic environment, ensuring that opportunities can be realized, risks can be mitigated, and businesses can thrive. As both a visionary for and steward of the economic environment, the Chamber provides the nexus for business, government, and education and creates the collective awareness, understanding and voice for the local community. In service of its mission, the Santa Cruz County Chamber provides programs, resources, and momentum in 3 key areas: Advocacy, Resources, and Connections. Learn more at www.santacruzchamber.org. #30#
Following careful analysis through internal and external discussion of the issues, the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce today announced its opposition to the Greenway Initiative, based on its core principle objective to eliminate a rail option on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Trail (SCBRT). The initiative, if passed, would have a devastating impact on our community’s ability to interconnect between Santa Cruz and Monterey County by freight and eventually rail passenger service. It would place Santa Cruz County in isolation to the State’s Rail Plan that connects Santa Cruz County to the greater Bay Area, the Central Coast, Southern California and beyond.
The Chamber of Commerce has been following the debate and recent decisive public discussion regarding the future use of the SCBRT for the past two decades. The Chamber was a leading business advocate for the passage of the 2016 Measure D transportation sales tax that established local funding for our transportation needs in the County. It was very clear to Santa Cruz County voters that without a local funding match many of the transportation projects would not materialize and limit our ability to move people and goods around our county.
According to the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) the SCBRT is part of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network that is a 50-mile network along the coast of Santa Cruz County at the San Mateo County line in the north to Monterey County at Pajaro. The Trail Network system’s “spine” is in construction phases on the Coastal Rail Trail to create a bicycle and pedestrian trail within the 32-mile Santa Cruz Branch Rail right-of-way, adjacent to the train tracks. The Coastal Rail Trail will serve transportation, recreation and interpretive uses for walkers, joggers, bicyclists, people with mobility impairments, and families. The rail right of way passes within 1 mile of half of the County’s population and will provide access to 44 schools and 92 parks (see map). The Coastal Rail Trail will coexist with existing and potential future train service and abide by conditions set forth as part of the rail purchase.
However, the Greenway Initiative removes all references to “rail transit” options in Santa Cruz County’s General Plan and instead uses a regulatory term called “rail banking” that would remove the tracks to produce only a trail. The concept of rail banking has been around for forty years. During that time 23,000 miles of rail lines have been “rail-banked” across the country and turned into trails. To date, none that were converted to a paved trail have returned to rail service. We can’t afford to eliminate one of our three transit corridors in our county.
The Measure D Expenditure Plan allocates 8% of revenues to the Rail Corridor investment category for infrastructure preservation and analysis of options, including environmental analysis of both transit and non-rail options for the corridor, and rail line maintenance and repairs. The SCCRTC as owner of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line and a short-line operator are responsible for maintaining railroad infrastructure. The RTC commission should not abandon or “rail bank” the corridor without fully understanding the economic and environmental consequences this would have on our county.
The Chamber of Commerce recommends a No vote on the Greenway Initiative.
About the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce Since 1889, the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce has been committed to promoting the economic vitality and prosperity of Santa Cruz County. The Chamber continues to be the driving force in the County’s economic environment, ensuring that opportunities can be realized, risks can be mitigated, and businesses can thrive. As both a visionary for and steward of the economic environment, the Chamber provides the nexus for business, government, and education and creates the collective awareness, understanding and voice for the local community. In service of its mission, the Santa Cruz County Chamber provides programs, resources, and momentum in 3 key areas: Advocacy, Resources, and Connections. Learn more at www.santacruzchamber.org.
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