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Santa Cruz County Transportation Articles



The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Paving Project to Close Lanes in Hwy 152

Starting Monday, Aug. 15, motorists will encounter multiple lane closures in Watsonville on Main Street and East Lake Avenue (Highway 152). The work is a multi-tiered project.

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Solo-Vehicle Crash Into Power Pole on Highway 9 Causes Outage and Closure

Traffic on state Highway 9, north of Boulder Creek, in Santa Cruz County, was reopened to one-way traffic on July 4 after the highway was briefly closed because of a traffic collision that set a power pole ablaze, causing a …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Explainer: Santa Cruz County’s Road Problems

Swanton Road at Mill Creek on the North Coast was damaged during the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in 2020. (Cal Fire)
Key takeaways

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Raises Concerns on Deferred Road Repairs

The deteriorating state of road conditions in Santa Cruz County’s unincorporated areas is cited as being one of the “five most significant problems facing the County,” according to a Grand Jury Road Report published on June 5.

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Roads, Power, Disaster Prep Are Top Priorities for San Lorenzo Valley Voters

From left, Nancy Macey, Sandy Rintoul, Peter Gelblum and Evan Morrison share priorities for the November election at a Santa Cruz Local listening session on June 12 in Boulder Creek. (Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo — Santa Cruz Local)
BOULDER CREEK >> San …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Proposed Rail-Trail Route Could Divert Onto Streets Across Live Oak-Capitola Border

A draft route of the rail trail would divert onto streets between Live Oak and Capitola because of a narrow stretch of the rail corridor. The rail line is pictured here at 41st Avenue. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local) …

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
One Decade of Onewheel

The magic moment for one of Santa Cruz’s most innovative companies came when its founder rolled the dice and bet big at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics trade show.

Hilltromper Santa Cruz logo LOCAL NEWS
Breaking Ground on the North Coast Rail Trail

Segment 5 of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network (aka Coastal Rail Trail) will connect Wilder Ranch to the town of Davenport.

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Less Money for Road Maintenance in Approved Santa Cruz County Budget

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig said more of the county budget should be spent on road repairs, but other supervisors did not join him. Koenig speaks during a May 14 supervisors meeting. (Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo — Santa Cruz Local file) …

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Big Basin Redwoods State Park Launches Summer Shuttle Service for Weekends, Holidays

Just in time for the busy Memorial Day holiday weekend, California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks have announced that access to Big Basin Redwoods State Park will increase this summer with the addition of a free …

Hilltromper Santa Cruz logo LOCAL NEWS
Wildlife Crossing to Safety

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County helps mountain lions, badgers and other critters who risk death on highways that bisect their habitats.

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
The Future of the Rail-Trail: Montesino and McPherson Share Their Thoughts

As long-time elected representatives for the northernmost and southernmost reaches of Santa Cruz County, we believe the community conversation over the Rail Trail should be thoughtful, respectful, and inclusive. We have sought to model those ideals both through our respective …

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Female Lowriders Celebrated in Watsonville

Filmmaker Gloria Morán discusses her film, Unique Ladies about an all-female lowrider club in San Diego. Her screening is part of a five-day Cinco de Mayo celebration in Watsonville of lowrider culture.

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Transportation Commission Reaffirms Support for Rail Trail

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission on Thursday reaffirmed its support for a paved path parallel to the train tracks through Capitola and Seacliff. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> The Santa Cruz County Regional …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
State Money for Rail Trail Could Transfer to Regional Transportation Commission

Segment 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail runs near New Brighton State Beach in 2021. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> At a special meeting Thursday, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission could step toward …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
‘Bleak’ Outlook for Santa Cruz County Budget

A proposed budget for 2025 cuts money for road repairs. Storms in 2023 caused about $140 million in damage to county-maintained roads, county staff said. (Jesse Kathan — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> The financial toll of natural …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
One-Way Traffic on West Cliff Quashed by Santa Cruz City Council

Storm damage prompts authorities to close West Cliff Drive near Woodrow Avenue in January 2023. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> The Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday unanimously rejected a pilot program for one-way traffic …

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Carmageddon: Highway 1 Closed for 24 Hours

The California Highway Patrol closed north and southbound lanes of Highway 1 in Soquel Saturday at 7pm to make way for Granite Construction crews to demolish the 1948 Capitola Avenue bridge above the highway.

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Protesters Demand Rail-Trail Project Move Forward

Several dozen protesters descended on the Santa Cruz County Government Center on Wednesday to speak out against a decision by the Board of Supervisors a week earlier not to move forward on a key portion of the Coastal Rail Trail …

Featured

A map of the Santa Cruz County stretch of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail, known commonly as the Coastal Rail Trail, or the Santa Cruz Rail Trail.
The Santa Cruz Rail Trail
Information about the Santa Cruz Rail Trail project, including updated news and Explainers.
Over two weekends last October, residents of Santa Cruz and Watsonville  participated in demonstration rides aboard an electric streetcar on rails.
The ‘Rail Trail’ Movement, Explained
The heated controversy over what to do with abandoned railroad tracks
California transportation history runs from railroads to today’s car culture.
California’s History of Transportation: From Railroads to Highways
The history of transportation in California has shaped the state, from the earliest stagecoach to today’s car culture.
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