It’s official. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is buying a railroad. In a meeting Thursday night, commissioners voted unanimously to spend a total of $19.2 million in state transportation money to buy the tracks from railroad giant Union Pacific and to repair and upgrade them for increased business.
Commissioner Neal Coonerty said: “This is acquiring a major asset for the good of our community.”
Plans for the line include expanding Sierra Northern’s freight train service to Watsonville as well as adding a “dinner train” that would take visitors northwest to Davenport. The popular “rail trail” multi-use cycling trail that alternative transportation advocates have long fought for is not in the RTC’s immediate plans – neither is passenger service. Many supporters of the cycling trail, however, are expecting to have an easier time convincing the county government to build it, now that the railroad is state owned.
The purchase still needs the blessing of the California Transportation Commission, which will hear the matter before the end of June.
