Santa Cruz County Transportation Digest

A deadline for resolution of the issue of mobile homes encroaching on the path of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line is approaching. Read on the get the details about what's being done to solve the issue and determine who's responsible for next steps.

Read on to learn about the latest update to upcoming changes Santa Cruz Metro service.

In a striking setback to reduce California’s air pollution but a win for trucking companies, state regulators have walked away from their ambitious plan to phase out diesel trucks less than a week before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Learn about how the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission plans to utilize the $19.5 million in federal funds to continue work on the rail trail.

While cities in California continue to pass ordinances to combat illegal sideshows, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several laws that go into effect this year statewide to give municipalities more legal tools to address them. 

A CalTrans funded study of climate risk to the 586 miles of county-maintained roads and the 32 miles of rail was released. Read on to learn more of its findings.

Now that a contract has been awarded for the Murray Street Bridge earthquake retrofit in Santa Cruz, a spring 2025 groundbreaking is expected for the $45 million project. Read on to learn more.

Read on to learn how you can give your feedback on the City of Santa Cruz 5-year West Cliff Roadmap.

Two-way traffic is set to resume on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. Read on for more information about the 2-year effort to repair the storm-damaged road and beloved seaside walkway.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decree that by 2035 all new cars sold in California must be powered by batteries or other zero-emission systems has received a double dose of legal and political support.

The US EPA granted California’s waiver, which the incoming Trump administration is likely to try to overturn in the courts. The state’s zero-emission vehicle mandates have been the driving force behind California’s progress in cleaning up dangerous air pollutants.

Encroachments on rail trail segments 10 and 11 in Live Oak and Capitola by two mobile home parks have led to a requirement to move over 40 mobile homes by June 2025. Read on to learn more.

The Biden administration is awarding Inflation Reduction Act money to help clean the air before President-elect Trump takes over.

California has an aggressive mandate for zero-emission trucks, which are powered by electricity or hydrogen. But trucking companies face big obstacles — and people are still breathing dangerous diesel exhaust.

Find out what steps the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is taking to receive long delayed state and federal reimbursements for storm and disaster repairs from previous years.

Most ships discharging ballast water into California waters are inspected, but state officials have tested the water of only 16 ships. Experts say invaders like mussels are inevitable under current rules and enforcement.

Read this explainer about how road repair in Santa Cruz County is funded, and why repairs from the 2017 and 2023 winter storms are taking so long.

Read on for updated information about the Santa Cruz County effort to repair roads damaged in the atmospheric rivers of 2023, and how a lack of federal funds is slowing down progress.

Experts don’t know how much gas prices may rise from the revised California climate program, which tightens standards and gives incentives for low-carbon fuels. The board ordered an annual review of the cost impacts.

Learn more about the work being done on the Highway 1 Fishhook which will require an overnight closure on November 14.

The public is invited to provide input on how the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission should allocate revenue from 2016's Measure D to local transportation programs. Click to learn how you can weigh in.

Learn more about how the tree removal work between November 4 and 11 will affect your commute over the hill.

California motorists buy and consume a billion gallons of gasoline each month and are very sensitive about pump prices, which are markedly higher than those in other states. Naturally, they are a political football.

The state air board will vote on changes to its landmark clean fuel program that would cut more greenhouse gases but could raise the cost of gas and diesel.

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is hosting two upcoming meetings to discuss zero emission passenger rail proposals for the rail trail.

Tens of thousands of California ride-hailing drivers, and possibly more, could eventually get back pay after a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that clears the way for the state and some cities to proceed with their lawsuits against Uber and Lyft.

The state Senate signs off on Gov. Newsom’s bill to stop spikes in California gas prices. A final vote is scheduled on Monday.

Information about two upcoming Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission informational meetings on October 23 and 28.

A look at the progress in repairs to West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz.

On Aug. 31, when Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special session on gas prices, California motorists were paying $4.61 per gallon on average, $1.27 more than the national average.
On October 7, when the state Senate finally convened, prices were $4.68 in California, or $1.51 above the national average.

Santa Cruz mountains residents are able to more easily come and go thanks to a temporary road built over the slow moving Mountain Charlie Road landslide.

Santa Cruz County has launched an online dashboard with which residents can track the progress of work on damaged roads in the county.