More than 50 residents gathered at London Nelson Community Center last Monday to review and provide feedback on potential projects for the next five years along Santa Cruz’s West Cliff Drive as well as the work that is currently underway. The potential efforts range from strengthening transportation and parking to monitoring and protecting the coastline and its ecosystems.
Carmageddon
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Carmageddon: Council moves bicycle, pedestrian improvements to Scotts Valley Drive forward
The Scotts Valley City Council gave initial direction to staff to pursue improvements along Scotts Valley Drive that include new bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, landscaping and other safety measures. Staff hopes to begin environmental and design work by spring 2025.
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Carmageddon: As West Cliff repairs continue, crews call scale of work ‘unprecedented’
A project area tour of West Cliff Drive showed the progress that crews are making on major storm repairs as winter draws closer yet again — and highlights the “unprecedented” amount of work happening on the scenic coastal road.
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Carmageddon: Public’s input sought on safety of Santa Cruz County’s rural highways
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will soon be going to the public for input on its Rural Highways Safety Action Plan in an effort to improve safety and mobility along the remote highways in the county, which officials say have seen 213 severe injuries and 43 deaths over the past nine years. Those interested can attend two virtual workshops in late October.
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Carmageddon: Little agreement from supes, LAFCO on civil grand jury’s evaluation of roads
Santa Cruz County supervisors are disagreeing with most of the findings of a civil grand jury report on the poor condition of county roads, but say they plan to implement some of the group’s recommendations for better transparency and more robust funding of road repairs.
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Carmageddon: RTC provides options for mobile homes in way of rail trail, but says it won’t pay for relocation
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission has completed a first draft of an analysis of mobile homes encroaching on the right of way for a new rail trail project along a section of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line in Live Oak. Residents have been told that their homes need to be shifted or relocated by June 2025. Officials with the commission said they’re not sure who will be responsible for paying, but it won’t be the RTC.
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Carmageddon: Portions of West Cliff Drive will remain closed through end of year as major repairs continue
Work is still underway to repair multiple sections of West Cliff Drive following 2023 and 2024 winter storms. While several are expected to be completed by the end of the year, other more complicated work — including a potential road relocation along Lighthouse Field — is likely to be a two-year process.
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Carmageddon: RTC hashes out Highway 1 cost overruns, discusses South County projects in latest meeting
Last week’s Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission meeting had a full agenda with topics ranging from a new executive director and Highway 1 cost overruns to a South County Coastal Rail Trail segment and other projects in the Watsonville area.
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Carmageddon: After repairing 17 miles of road in 2023, bike and pedestrian safety in focus again for 2024
Measure D funds helped push forward 17 miles of Santa Cruz County road repairs in 2023, which is an increase over previous years. Although this year will likely see only about 5 miles of county roads repaved, some will get improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure as well.
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Carmageddon: FEMA pause not affecting current Santa Cruz transportation projects, but some caught in funding ‘limbo’
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.