Santa Cruz study estimates $4.3B in costs for zero-emissions passenger rail line

Train service between Santa Cruz, California, and Pajaro could cost up to $4.3 billion to build, according to an executive summary of an upcoming report from the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC).

Potential benefits of creating a rail line with nine stations between the two cities include providing a better connection point to broader rail networks on California’s Central Coast corridor, relieving traffic on the Pacific Coast Highway and local roadways, and increasing access to job opportunities for people living in the underserved community of Pajaro.

The regional transportation commission is set to hold a public hearing in August when it unveils its completed Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Train report. If commissioners approve, next steps include starting an environmental review for rail service.

Projected capital costs include:

• $740 million for sitework and special conditions.
• $729.3 million for guideway and track elements.
• $648.6 million for professional services.
• $253.6 million for support facilities.
• $215.7 million for rights of way, land and other improvements.
• $152.5 million for systems.
• $144.3 million for vehicles.
• $80.3 million for stations.

Additional summary highlights include:

• Rail service would cost up to $41 million to operate annually.
• The train would make an estimated 3,500 to 6,000 trips by the year 2045.
• The ride between Santa Cruz and Pajaro would take an estimated 45 minutes.
• The “Stadler FLIRT train set” used by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority to Redlands “has been selected for preliminary study purposes,” according to the summary. It has room for about 116 seated and 118 standing passengers. The train set is relatively quiet and can be operated by battery, hydrogen, diesel or hybrid, the report stated.
• Twenty-eight of 33 bridges on the track are recommended for replacement. Costs for bridge repair and replacement could reach nearly $1 billion, transportation staff said in May. Though, RTC’s summary did not detail potential costs for bridge repair and replacement.

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