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.
Carmageddon
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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.
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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 […]
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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.
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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.