RTC Report 6, April 3, 2008:
Three items were of particular interest at the RTC meeting of April 3, 2008:
The Commission voted unanimously to approve additional allocations needed to continue the process leading to the acquisition of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line.
The continuing rail corridor acquisition process (Item 29) was described by staff member Luis Mendez. Here is his report, which recommends these additional funding allocations:
- To amend the budget to allow up to $80,000 in additional expenditures to extend the contract with Miller, Owens and Trost. This is the firm that is negotiating the purchase of the rail right-of-way from Union Pacific.
- To authorize an additional expenditure of $27,500 to amend the contract with Colliers Pinkard in order to “update the Land and Overall appraisal work of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line right-of-way with the most current real estate sales information”.
- To authorize an additional expenditure of $91,000 to “extend the term of agreement with Geomatrix Consultants to complete the Phase II Environmental Site Assessment work”.
Here is the draft timeline for Acquisition of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. It shows that the close of escrow is predicted to occur in October of this year. Of course we'll have a party when that happens.
The Commission reviewed and approved—again unanimously—the proposed annual budgets and work programs for Bicycle and Pedestrian programs.
Staff member Cory Caletti presented a report and recommendations for Transportation Development Act (TDA) funding (Item 23). Her staff report is here. Her report makes the following recommendations for funding during the Fiscal Year 2007-2008:
- For the Community Traffic and Safety Coalition (CTSC), whose mission is “to reduce traffic-related injuries, while promoting the use of alternative modes of transportation”, and has been “uniquely successful in developing creative partnerships to reduce injuries to bicyclists and pedestrians”: $51,163.
- For the Ride 'n Stride Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program (also administered by the CTSC), which is an educational program conducted at schools throughout the County: $48,837.
- For the Bike to Work Program, now administered by Ecology Action: $41,200.
The Commission also heard a presentation regarding County Public Works Department Transportation Projects.
John Presleigh of our county's Public Works Department made a presentation reviewing the status of numerous Public Works Transportation projects in the county. Of particular interest are the following:
- The San Lorenzo Valley Trail Feasibility Study has been completed. Although this study acknowledges the merit of a bicycle and pedestrian path along the Big Trees/Roaring Camp Rail right-of-way from Santa Cruz to Felton, it concludes that the estimated cost of $25.6 million (compared with the $20.5 million for the recommended route, partly on Graham Hill Road) would be too difficult to fund.
- Some scoping work is being done for Phase II of the Wilder Ranch Bike Path, which would extend the existing Santa Cruz-to-Wilder Ranch Bike Path to Davenport. Phase I has proved to be a big success. 2011 would be the earliest construction date for Phase II; it is contingent on first acquiring the rail right-of-way. An additional amount of $3.2 million is needed for this $4 million project.
- The $4.5 million reconstruction of El Rancho Road (damaged in 1998) was finally completed in January of this year—a boon to bicyclists wanting to ride from Santa Cruz to Scotts Valley. A new bridge over the slide was costly.
- Finally, in the County's unincorporated area, it is estimated that a roadways-deferred maintenance backlog of about $100 million exists. Due to lack of funds, the County is unable to do some relatively inexpensive road maintenance such as surface-sealing, with the result that more intensive and expensive levels of repair will become necessary.