(Contributed photo)
WATSONVILLE — If a group of rail supporters has its way, Watsonville residents will be able to commute to jobs in Santa Cruz, or through the Pajaro connection to San Jose and beyond on a train.
A group of city officials, including Watsonville City Council members, took a train ride on Thursday that could be a picture of future travel in Santa Cruz County.
The ride on the Daisy train went from Aptos to Wilder Ranch along the Santa Cruz Branch Line, which is included in the new Caltrans 2018 State Rail Plan.
The Daisy is normally used for short pleasure rides for tourists along the rail, but on Thursday it was a demonstration of what travel could look like.
Councilman Felipe Hernandez took the ride, along with Mayor Lowell Hurst and Councilwoman Trina Coffman-Gomez.
But commuters could eventually traverse the county on a train along a 22-mile route from North to South County that would include a bike and pedestrian path.
Hernandez said he looked at the traffic on Highway 1 when the train passed over.
“I’d hate to be sitting in traffic on Highway 1 years from now without the option of rail to Santa Cruz,” he said. “(The ride) gave me a glimpse of what we can have in the future.”
Hernandez said the train would be a boon for South County residents who make the bumper-to-bumper commute to Santa Cruz every day.
“If we can free them up on the train, that makes their quality of life better,” he said.
The Santa Cruz Branch is an active line purchased in 2012 by the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission using state Proposition 116 funds earmarked for passenger rail service.
Monterey County is currently building the Salinas to Gilroy Capitol Corridor Extension project, and the Santa Cruz line could someday connect to that service at Pajaro.
The State Rail Plan anticipates $51.8 billion in dedicated rail transit funding by 2027, and $132 billion through 2040.
According to the American Public Transportation Association’s September Transit Savings Report, commuters could save an average of $9,946 annually by taking public transportation.
“Today’s demonstration rail tour on the Daisy motorcar from Aptos to Natural Bridges clearly illustrates what is possible on the public rail corridor,” Hurst said. “This trip proves that rail and trail can coexist and be mutually compatible.”
The county’s passenger rail project includes the Coastal Rail Trail.
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The Daisy operates by appointment. For information, visit scrailtours.com.
