Santa Cruz public works projects haven’t been affected so far by FEMA’s temporary pause on nonemergency disaster relief funding. However, some of the projects dealing with damage leftover from the 2023 winter storms are in limbo — including coastal armoring and a short segment of the Coastal Rail Trail.
Carmageddon
Posted inHousing & Development
Highway 9 traffic delays expected due to work starting Monday
A 2.7-mile paving project that starts Monday and won’t be complete until Oct. 30 is expected to cause traffic delays for periods of time during the day and overnight on Highway 9. Crews from Granite Construction, which was awarded the $2.4 million contract for the project, will be grinding off the top layer of asphalt […]
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: Santa Cruz Metro hits hiring goal; changes aimed at doubling ridership will be complete by end of year
Santa Cruz Metro’s sweeping system changes are heading toward completion, with final pieces coming in September and December. The agency has now reached a goal to increase its total number of drivers from 150 to 235.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: West Cliff Drive could reopen to two-way traffic by the end of the year; other major work pushing forward
City of Santa Cruz Public Works Director Nathan Nguyen gave an update on the many road and transportation projects in progress throughout the city at Thursday’s Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission meeting. Some, including West Cliff Drive repairs, could be done by the end of the year. Others, including a major Murray Street Bridge retrofit, are aiming for a fall groundbreaking.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: Take some time to submit project ideas for 2050 regional transportation plan this week
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is taking input for its long-term regional transportation plan, which lists and prioritizes transportation projects through the year 2050. There are still many months between now and its final approval, and project inclusions draw from both the needs of local jurisdictions and public input.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: A well-traveled — but historically unsafe — Watsonville road joins multimodal push
About 2 miles of Green Valley Road in Watsonville will be getting a bicycle/pedestrian trail of its own, perhaps as early as the end of February 2025. The goal is to reduce bicycle and pedestrian accidents on a well-traveled road with a history of safety concerns.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: As West Cliff Drive repairs continue, some could be delayed until spring
Repairs continue to move forward along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz, with a hopeful October completion time – but utility relocations could stall the construction and force the city to pause the Bethany Curve culvert repair for the winter months and complete the work in the spring.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: Smarter traffic signals and new pedestrian ramps coming to Soquel Drive this year
The Soquel Drive improvements continue moving forward with adaptive traffic signal installation and the construction of new sidewalks and pedestrian ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Officials expect minor traffic impacts through the summer, including short lane closures at areas of sidewalk and ramp construction.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: Public gets a look at potential passenger rail vehicle types
Two public input sessions last week saw Santa Cruzans overwhelmingly favor light rail and multiple-unit vehicles for a planned future passenger rail project. However, the agencies executing the project have to also study factors like capacity, speed and type of power source before making a decision.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: Sewer rehabilitation project happening just blocks from Main Beach this summer
Beachgoers should keep a summer project in mind on their way to Santa Cruz’s Main Beach, Beach Boardwalk and wharf this summer — but there shouldn’t be too much of an impact. Starting in early July, a few sites along Front Street, Chestnut Street and Pacific Avenue will see work crews installing a new sewer […]
