Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis – Milestone 3 Emails received between 01/27/21 – 01/03/21 From: Jeremy Ertl <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 12:45 PM To: Regional Transportation Commission <[email protected]> Subject: Attention Ryan Coonerty: Please, Do NOT vote for Rail transit!!!! Dear RTC Commissioner Ryan Coonerty, My name is Jeremy Ertl. I would like you to know that I support the Greenway model for the rail corridor. Separating bikers and walkers on the rail corridor is the safest and most efficient use of the corridor, and offers the most benefit for our community. The newly finished Westside trail is already packed with bikes, skateboards, strollers, wheelchairs, hikers, and walkers. All these modes of transport have to share a one-way lane. Why? The tracks that are literally feet away could be used to separate bikes and skateboards. With the rise of electric-powered wheeled vehicles: bikes, skateboards, onewheels, etc. we could offer a safe, clean, and noise-free transportation option to everyone. In my opinion, the Greenway model is better in every way. Please, for the long-term benefit of our community, vote for this option. Best, Jeremy From: Danielle <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 12:51 PM To: Regional Transportation Commission <[email protected]> Subject: Attention Mulhearn and Friend: Vote for Rail Transit Dear RTC Commissioner Alternate Mulhearn and Supervisor Friend, My name is Danielle Dorrian and I live at 202 Santa Clara Ave in the Seacliff neighborhood of Aptos and you are my District 2 representatives on the Regional Transportation Commission. I am contacting you to ask you to vote for Rail at the RTC meeting on February 4th. I support rail because we need an alternate transportation system in this county. For years I was fortunate to have the reverse commute to Watsonville and witnessed first hand the back of traffic every week day during commute hours, going in the opposite direction. It is such a waste of time and is contributing to more air pollution. Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis – Milestone 3 Emails received between 01/27/21 – 01/03/21 In addition - I would like the opportunity to take the train to down town Santa Cruz (after Covid) to go to the movies or eat out at one or the restaurants and being a senior citizen, my husband and I do not drive after dark. A bike/pedestrian trail is also a good idea, and even though my husband and I are big bike riders, many people, esp. families and elderly would not be able to utilize the bike trail to get to work or school, especially if it's raining (like today!) and/or dark. I have seen many examples of successful rail systems in Europe and feel we need this for our county; for workers, tourists, and locals who would prefer not to drive every where. I realize this is a long term goal but we if keep on 'track' -the rail/trail will be an asset to the entire county. And there is federal and state money to support the train. Thank you for your time and attention. Danielle Dorrian From: Mike <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 1:05 PM To: Regional Transportation Commission <[email protected]> Subject: Attention Mulhearn and Friend: Vote for Rail Transit Dear RTC Commissioner Alternate Mulhearn and Supervisor Friend, My name is Michael McGehee I live at 2767 Borregas Dr. and you are my District 2 representatives on the Regional Transportation Commission. I am contacting you to ask you to vote for Rail at the RTC meeting on February 4th. I support rail because we need a mass transit system to eliminate the use of single occupant cars. Most people will make the change to mass transit if it’s offered, easily accessible, clean, safe and efficient. Respectfully, Mike McGehee From: Tina Andreatta <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 1:56 PM To: Regional Transportation Commission <[email protected]> Subject: Attention Mulhearn and Friend: Vote for Rail Transit Dear RTC Commissioner Alternate Mulhearn and Supervisor Friend, My name is Tina Andreatta. Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis – Milestone 3 Emails received between 01/27/21 – 01/03/21 I live in Aptos, CA and you are my District 2 representatives on the Regional Transportation Commission. I am contacting you to ask you to vote for Rail at the RTC meeting on February 4th. I support rail because a small but influential minority -- reasonably described as "privileged" -- want to convince you that government is untrustworthy, that experts should be ignored, that public good is an infringement of liberties. I'm of course talking about local opponents to mass transit. The TCAA has confirmed that rail is the only option that preserves Santa Cruz County’s rail corridor so trail construction can can continue without any further delay. Please unite the supervisors, commissioners, city council members throughout our entire county and continue building the pedestrian trail and implementing light, safe, clean and quiet passenger rail on the rail corridor. Caltrans concludes that rail and trail is a good use of an existing railway. And that this is inline with California's transportation strategy. Respectfully, Tina Andreatta Aptos, CA 95003 From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 2:55 PM To: Regional Transportation Commission <[email protected]> Subject: Public Hearing: I Support Electric Rail for the Locally Preferred Alternative Dear RTC Commissioners, My name is Sue Ginsburg Kaufmann and I'm writing today to urge you to choose rail transit as the Locally Preferred Alternative. Every study has found passenger rail service to be the best for our community and the environment. Please choose rail transit as the Locally Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis – Milestone 3 Emails received between 01/27/21 – 01/03/21 Preferred Alternative. I also ask you to authorize the RTC staff to develop a passenger rail business plan without any further delay. To reiterate, please consider me, Sue Ginsburg Kaufmann, a supporter of rail transit in Santa Cruz. Thank you. Sincerely, Sue Ginsburg Kaufmann 404 El Salto Dr Capitola, CA 95010-3413 [email protected] From: Sue Kaufmann <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 4:03 PM To: Regional Transportation Commission <[email protected]> Subject: TCAA - Support Electric Rail for the Locally Preferred Alternative Dear Commissioners, I have lived in Capitola for the past 25 years and within Santa Cruz County 38 years Please support the Electric Passenger Rail as the Locally Preferred Alternative. Our county has spent many years and millions of dollars exploring what is the best use of the rail corridor and more specifically, what is the best high-capacity public transit to implement alongside the Rail Trail now under construction. For many reasons, the Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis study has concluded that passenger rail is the best high-capacity public transit for our rail corridor. Again I will state that I fully support passenger rail and the locally preferred alternative. Sincerely, Sue Ginsburg Kaufmann From: Vicki Miller <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 8:32 PM To: Regional Transportation Commission <[email protected]> Subject: Attention Manu Koenig: Vote for Rail Transit Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis – Milestone 3 Emails received between 01/27/21 – 01/03/21 Dear RTC Commissioner Koenig, I understand that the RTC will be voting on the Rail Transit option February 4th. I urge you to vote yes on the rail option. I support the rail along with the trail component. I have reviewed the options and firmly believe that rail is the direction that Santa Cruz County should move towards. Rail is the only option that will allow us to connect to the larger transportation corridor in the greater bay area. Rail will allow older, less mobile citizens to move around the County and visit areas without the use of a car on a major highway. Rail also opens doors for folks that don't have vehicles or that do not have licenses. Having used rail in San Jose, Portland, Boston, Switzerland, France, Spain, Italy, and the UK, I can tell you that it is a relaxing, friendly mode of travel and I never saw a car empty. A new system may not immediately have the ridership desired but I have faith that ridership will grow as people realize the benefits of rail and the push to get out of private single person vehicles increases. Santa Cruz County is already looking to increase density, increase tourist lodging in what are currently private residences near the rail line and rail would be a benefit for both of these. Please vote yes on rail and trail. Thank you, Vicki Miller From: David Chestlutz Received: Thursday, January 28, 2021 To: Regional Transportation Commission • There is no budget to fund a rail trail option. • A rail & trail option will cost $2 Billion. • Measure D only provides $4M per year for Coastal Corridor Improvements and maintenance • Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) & Trail option costs less than $500 Million • Taxes and funding o A rail & trail option would only require a new tax approved by 2/3 of the voters. However, the county’s sales taxes cannot be increased because two major cities in the county are at their state-mandated sales tax cap. • Safety Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis – Milestone 3 Emails received between 01/27/21 – 01/03/21 o The Coastal Corridor is too narrow in many parts for a trail and a bus or train.