To celebrate the new bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing over Highway 1 at Chanticleer Avenue now open to the public, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) invites the community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the West Marine Center, 2450 17th Ave. in Live Oak. The event, with e-bike demos, refreshments, giveaways and more, will take place in the upper parking lot next to the overcrossing. Parking is available nearby at the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, 5200 Soquel Ave. Free bike valet will also be available.
Marking the completion of Phase 1 of the Highway 1 Auxiliary Lane and Bus-on-Shoulder Project, from 41st Avenue to Soquel Drive, the 14-foot-wide overcrossing gives bicyclists and pedestrians a safe and convenient alternative to using the Soquel or 41st interchanges to cross over Highway 1 while also linking neighborhoods, schools, parks and community destinations for active transportation users. The auxiliary lanes connect the on-ramps with the next off-ramp, thereby extending the merging distance between the ramps, improving traffic operations and reducing cut-through traffic diverting to local streets and neighborhoods. The auxiliary lanes opened to vehicle traffic in April.
The bus-on-shoulder lanes, the first to be constructed in California, aim to increase transit frequency and on-time performance and on-time performance, encouraging county residents to use mass transit and reduce overall vehicle miles traveled. Santa Cruz Metro will start using the new facilities when Phase 2 of the project, between Bay Avenue/Porter Street in Capitola/Soquel and State Park Drive in Aptos, is completed, scheduled for 2026.
In a news release, the RTC said these improvements will work together to lower congestion, lessen travel times, improve air quality and support the mobility needs of low-income communities.
To follow the updates of the project, click here.
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