YES Greenway

Longtime environmentalist Gillian Greensite explains why she is voting YES on D.

"Thus, after careful consideration of the facts and the reality on the ground I changed my mind from a rail trail to a trail with enhanced Metro and in support of Measure D to let the voters have the final say."

Vote YES on Measure D the Greenway Initiative — Gillian Greensite Endorsement WHY I’M VOTING YES ON MEASURE Dby Gillian GreensiteReprinted from Bratton OnlineI hadn’t planned to write on Measure D until a reader questioned the sincerity of my passion for trees. He assumed I was an opponent of D by association. The BrattonOnline blog is relentless in its attacks on Greenwa...

Great piece from Santa Cruz Works highlighting the unfortunate way that the discourse around this issue has devolved.

Our message has been clear and resolute from day one: use the whole corridor to build a wide multi-use trail, while still maintaining future options for passenger rail service. That's it. No deception, despite what the opposition is doing everything in their power to get you to think.

It has become clear that the status quo is not working. Let's truly move Santa Cruz County forward with YES vote on Measure D!

Measure D: Santa Cruz, Paradise Lost? — Santa Cruz Works Fake news and loss of civility is polarizing our community. How will it impact the value of truth and democracy.

Another great article directly addressing some of the more confusing aspects of the Measure D debate.

To put it simply: "We all want the same things: actions to address climate change, reduced traffic and greenhouse gas emissions, better community health and safety and more effective transportation solutions. A no vote effectively says, even if these are our objectives, don’t change anything to achieve them. A YES vote on Measure D points the way toward actually achieving these goals in the near future in an affordable and feasible way."

From Bud Colligan: ‘Clearing Up Misconceptions About Measure D’ Measure D, the Greenway Initiative, has generated more dialog than any measure in the history of Santa Cruz County. Why all the attention and unfortunate vitriol? Both sides of the issue believe strongly that their approach to dealing with our unused rail corridor is the correct one. In this climate...

Check out this great interview with RTC Executive Director Guy Preston to help you sift through the misinformation on Measure D, note Preston's clarification on the necessity and benefit of railbanking.

Preston: " Railbanking preserves railroad corridors that would be otherwise subject to abandonment for future potential reactivation of rail service. Preserving the corridor means that all property rights as a continuous railroad corridor will remain completely intact and protected for future potential rail service. [...Railbanking] does not require that the tracks be removed or that even a trail be built. Railbanking would be beneficial to a passenger rail and trail project in that it would allow a trail to be constructed in any configuration, without the threat of a lawsuit or the need to acquire additional rights from property owners where RTC only owns an easement for rail purposes. Any claims by property owners, including those for expanding easements for rail with trail, would be directed to the federal government, which has a process for dealing with such claims."

Read the full interview below, and vote YES on Measure D!

The Measure D middle man: RTC lead Guy Preston must drive down two sets of tracks, neither without its perils The Regional Transportation Commission is the entity tasked with letting us move about Santa Cruz County in smarter and more efficient ways. The man leading the exploratory charge as the nonpartisan director of RTC staff has had the most difficult task of his professional life with both sides of…

Get caught up with the facts on Measure D with a roundup of information from County experts, leaders, journalists, and community members.

Check it out in Lookout Santa Cruz

Measure D roundup: everything you need to know to vote "YES" ADVERTISEMENT County experts, leaders, journalists, and community members have all weighed in on Measure D.