Project Description

The Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFL) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), proposes the development of the North Coast Rail Trail Project. The project consists of 7.5 miles of multi-use trail parallel to existing railroad tracks north of the City of Santa Cruz, California. The Project would provide an accessible bicycle/pedestrian path for active transportation, recreation, and environmental and cultural education along the existing rail corridor between Wilder Ranch State Park and Davenport, CA, consistent with the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail (MBSST) Network Master Plan. The limits of the Project are Wilder Ranch Parking Lot on the South (rail mile post 23.6) and a private drive railroad crossing access (rail mile post 28.6) on the north side. The Project would include a paved path with striping, parallel unpaved path and/or shoulder, and parking improvements with trail connections at three locations along the alignment.