Caltrans will use the money to create development of service plans for two rail corridors in the Santa Cruz County and Central Coast area, which will then later facilitate prioritization of funding for projects within the corridors.
–What could the future of rail transportation look like on the Central Coast? Over the last year, the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) and Coast Rail Coordinating Council (CRCC) have engaged and sought input from various partner agencies, community representatives, and the general public to identify viable options for future rail travel on the Central Coast. The Coast Rail Corridor Study examined opportunities for expanding intercity rail and bus service and connectivity between Goleta and Salinas as well as the feasibility of implementing regional-commuter rail service between Paso Robles and Santa Maria.
As a result of valuable stakeholder input and technical analysis, SLOCOG has developed draft plans for the two analyses, which look at planned growth and land use, ridership modeling, service operations, and equipment needs, potential governance, and funding options.