In Santa Cruz, the Murray Street Bridge closure has cut off a critical cross-harbor route—leaving residents, cyclists, and small businesses without safe, direct access.

This petition is to the Mayor, City Council, and City Manager of the City of Santa Cruz; the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors; and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC):

We, the undersigned, respectfully request pedestrian and cyclist access across the Santa Cruz Harbor via the Murray Street Rail Bridge for the duration of the three-year Murray Street Bridge closure due to earthquake retrofitting. This temporary access is crucial for the survival of small businesses and the well-being of the two neighborhoods that have been severely impacted by the closure.

Why This Petition Matters

A vital connection has been cut.

The closure of the Murray Street Bridge has severely restricted access across the upper Santa Cruz Harbor, dividing neighborhoods and cutting off direct routes to Twin Lakes Park, Twin Lakes Beach, East Cliff Drive, Simpkins Swim Center, and more.

Locals often refer to the bridge as “Highway 3” because of its importance to daily life. Many people live on one side of the harbor and work on the other. With little more than 30 days’ notice, this key corridor was shut down, effectively isolating the small businesses in the harbor and Lower Seabright from the community they serve.

Businesses are suffering.

Small businesses in Seabright and the harbor are already reporting dramatic declines in foot traffic and revenue. Layoffs and temporary closures have begun. The last time Murray Street was closed, two Seabright businesses never reopened.

The current solution is not a solution.

The pedestrian detour is a narrow, uneven path around the upper harbor, taking roughly 10 times longer to traverse than the direct bridge route—and it’s not safely accessible after dark. Cyclists are told to use the Arana Gulch trail, a lengthy and inconvenient detour. Currently (July 2025), even access to the pedestrian detour is closed.

Using the rail bridge today is technically illegal.

Although it sits unused, the Murray Street Rail Bridge is still designated as an active rail line, and trespassing on it—even on foot or by bike—is prohibited by law. Many residents are unaware of this, assuming the bridge is available for public use during the closure. But until the City or RTC authorizes access, the community is left with no safe, legal way to cross the harbor.

A temporary train is not realistic.

Some have suggested running temporary train service as an alternative, but this idea is impractical. Even if the rail bridge were structurally sound, implementing train service would require vehicles, operators, schedules, fueling or power infrastructure, and safety systems. It would also exclude pedestrian and cyclist access, and do nothing to help those making longer trips by bike.

By contrast, opening the bridge for foot and bike access is a far more feasible and cost-effective way to restore connectivity during the closure.

A practical alternative exists.

Despite the claim from the City’s Director of Public Works that the bridge is “technically, an active rail line,” there has been no regular freight or passenger activity on it for decades. In other cities, inactive rail lines have been repurposed for public use during construction and emergencies. In fact, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has previously approved temporary suspensions of rail service to accommodate large infrastructure projects (see STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 183), Gateway Project, 3/8/2022). Similarly, other communities have used dormant rail corridors for temporary public pathways (STB Docket No. AB-1242, 1/31/2018).

Call to Action

We urge the City of Santa Cruz and its regional partners to prioritize the needs of residents and businesses by allowing temporary pedestrian and cyclist access over the Murray Street Rail Bridge. Our community cannot afford to wait three years for basic connectivity to return.

By signing this petition, you’re saying:

1. I live in Santa Cruz County.
2. I support our local businesses and want them to thrive.
3. I believe the Murray Street Bridge closure is hurting local businesses and our community.
4. I believe the City and County should explore using the unused Murray Street Rail Bridge as a temporary path for people walking and biking.
5. I’m okay with my name being included when this petition is shared with local officials.