Greenway Announces Support From Over 100 In Surf Community

Santa Cruz, CA, May 19, 2021 – Santa Cruz County Greenway, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising broad-based support for transforming the unused Santa Cruz County rail corridor into a positive community asset, announced today the support of members of the local surf community. Santa Cruz County surfers and ocean enthusiasts have come together to endorse the Greenway vision of a multi-use trail on the corridor, creating a wide enough path to accommodate bike and pedestrian use, as well as new e-mobility forms of active transportation.

“It’s time for the community to come together around Greenway. The Regional Transportation Commission’s studies have made it clear that a train is not financially feasible,” said Kyle Thierman, big wave surfer, writer and local podcaster. “The community would benefit so much from taking up the tracks and building a wide multi-use trail for safe routes to schools, biking to work, and recreational use of all kinds.”

The Greenway plan involves railbanking (preserving the corridor for a possible future rail option), removing the existing and unused tracks, and building a world class trail down the center of the rail corridor using existing bridges and trestles, to optimize safety and ease of travel. Imagine being in a park-like setting and having the ability to bike to the beach, safely use your wheelchair, take a stroll with your family, walk your pet, or cruise to work on an e-powered mode of personal transit, all on a grade of less than 3%. Greenway envisions the coastal corridor being the backbone of a network of pathways connected to trails like the Pajaro River Levee, Slough Trails, and enhanced protected bike lanes on city streets. South county residents will have access to the magnificent sloughs and beaches as well as a safe transportation alternative.

The Santa Cruz surf community realizes the importance of creating recreational opportunities for all residents of the county, as well as providing alternative forms of non-polluting green transit. The Greenway vision promotes a healthy lifestyle, something our local surfers have embraced since the first waves were ridden at the San Lorenzo River mouth by three Hawaiian princes in 1885. “By building Greenway, our community will be setting a positive course for future generations, one that is in keeping with the character, ideals and environmental ethos of the people that live and work here,” said Tyler Fox, Publisher of Santa Cruz Waves magazine and big wave surfer. He added, “The best form of public transit going forward is an improved METRO bus system and Greenway.”

Justine Willeford, water woman and sustainable swim wear brand owner, commented, “The rail proposal is insanely expensive, forever in the future, and won’t benefit the populations that need affordable public transit the most. A new bike and walking path would cost very little by comparison, be completed quickly, and be heavily utilized by the community.”

Blake Anderson, surfer, waterman and Santa Cruz Harbormaster would like to see the corridor near the Harbor be used for bike commuters and recreational travel. “The benefits of having bicyclists cross the Harbor via the trestle and not the Eaton Street bridge will result in fewer accidents and alleviate bike versus pedestrian pinch points at the upper harbor.”

Big wave surfer Shawn Dollar agrees with the safety factor the multi-use trail will provide to users. “Building Greenway would be a huge benefit for alternative, safe transportation in our county. You could quickly and safely get across town—choosing a bike would far outweigh sitting in traffic. Currently, cutting through town is a zig-zag of roads and mixed bike lanes. It’s dangerous and not friendly for kids. I really hope one day I’m able to hop on a bike with my family and use this path.”

The following list of surfers and ocean-minded watermen and waterwomen are the vanguard of rising support for Santa Cruz County Greenway. Unite with them in their support for the creation of an environmentally friendly, affordable and safe Greenway, which will be used for transportation and recreational purposes for generations to come. Interested community members are encouraged to learn more at sccgreenway.org, where they can and add their name to the Greenway petition that has already gathered over 10,000 signatures.

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Santa Cruz County Greenway is a 501(c)4 non-profit advocacy organization whose mission is “to transform Santa Cruz County into a safe, affordable and equitable transportation community.” Please visit our website at sccgreenway.org for more information.