While PV Water’s College Lake project will cause some traffic delays along Highway 129 until the early summer, officials say it has far-reaching benefits, including better water resiliency for farmers and residents in the face of drought and climate change.
Carmageddon
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Carmageddon: Soquel Drive to get bike, pedestrian and bus improvements
The Soquel Drive project involves 5.6 miles of Soquel Drive from La Fonda Avenue in Santa Cruz to State Park Drive in Aptos. Prep work is currently underway, and drivers can expect to run into the heaviest traffic delays in the summer and fall.
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Santa Cruz Metro CEO Michael Tree departs after less than 2 years
Santa Cruz Metro CEO Michael Tree said he is leaving the transit agency for personal reason to be closer to his aging parents in Southern California. He will join the Golden Empire Transit District in the Bakersfield area as its CEO when he officially departs. His last day will be Feb. 16.
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Carmageddon: Massive waves push back West Cliff Drive’s return to two-way traffic
The huge swells that hit Santa Cruz County in late December have delayed the reopening of a two-way West Cliff Drive until mid-February, assuming there are no further weather impacts.
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Carmageddon: Reimagine Metro Phase 2 comes with extended routes, more buses, and more drivers
Santa Cruz Metro is already working towards implementing Phase 2 of its Reimagine Metro initiative to upgrade the county’s transit system into a much more efficient, convenient service. In order to do that, the agency will incrementally add more buses to its fleet and hire 70 more drivers.
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Carmageddon: Watsonville Transit Center, Highway 9, and this week’s delays
Last week, Santa Cruz Metro received another round of funding, this time for its South County project aiming to revamp the Watsonville Transit Center, and build 65 units of affordable housing above it. Up in the mountains, Highway 9 repairs continue nearly a year after the storms at the beginning of 2023.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Carmageddon: Metro’s two-year relocation, and this week’s delays
Pacific Station North, slated to break ground in February, will bring much-needed affordable housing to downtown Santa Cruz along with an updated Metro depot. However, that will come with some traffic circulation changes and the loss of some street parking to make room for the buses that will need to operate off of the street while the new depot is under construction.
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Carmageddon: Santa Cruz Metro prepares for free rides, 15-minute wait times in bid to double ridership
Santa Cruz Metro is set to begin rolling out the first phase of its Reimagine Metro initiative aimed at more direct, frequent routes and 15-minute all-day service. The changes will begin as a three-year pilot program, and civic leaders will work towards transitioning the pilot into a permanent fixture.
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Carmageddon: Highway 1 expansion, rail trail and the latest roadwork
Both the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and CalTrans will conduct public meetings this week for Santa Cruzans to give their input on design and aesthetic choices for upcoming projects.
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Carmageddon: This week’s delays and Metro’s ramped-up UCSC campus service
In Metro’s big pursuit of doubling ridership, the transit agency is improving service to the UC Santa Cruz campus. Last week, Metro secured 12 extra-long buses to carry more passengers per ride as it looks to keep wait times no longer than 15 minutes.