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Santa Cruz County Transportation Digest



Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors Deadlock Over Rail Trail

03/26/2024

Supervisor Zach Friend recuses, and Supervisors McPherson and Koenig voted against moving forward with segments 10 and 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail between 17th Avenue in Live Oak and State Park Drive in Aptos.

Mudslide Closes Highway 9 Near Saratoga

03/26/2024

CalTrans reports two miles of Highway 9 outside of Saratoga is closed because of debris from a mudslide.

CEQA Lawsuit Targets Caltrans Highway 1 Project

03/20/2024

Suit claims deficiencies in Environmental Impact Report for Highway 1 widening and Coastal Rail Trail Segment 12 construction.

Joby Delivers on U.S. Air Force Contract

03/19/2024

Joby Aviation announced it will be delivering the second and third of three aircraft produced at its Pilot Production Line in Marina as part of a contract with the U.S. Air Force.

Highway 1 Capitola Avenue Overpass Closes

03/15/2024

The $79 million Highway 1 widening project will demolish and rebuild the Capitola Avenue overpass and is projected to take 14 months.

Santa Cruz County Supervisors to Consider Rail Trail EIR

03/15/2024

The over 2,000 page final environmental impact report for the Coastal Rail Trail Segments 10 and 11 is on the agenda for the March 26 County Supervisor meeting.

Discussion on Watsonville Airport Master Plan Update Continues

03/14/2024

As the Watsonville City Council updates the Watsonville Municipal Airport Master Plan for the first time in 20 years, questions remain over the crosswind runway.

BCycle E-Bike Coming to Capitola Soon

03/12/2024

After the City Council approves a map of docking locations, 50 BCycles served by 100 docking stations will become active in Capitola.

Gary Griggs Recounts Building of Harbor

03/09/2024

In this regular Our Ocean Backyard column, UCSC Professor Gary Griggs tells the story of the building of the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor.

Groups Oppose Santa Cruz Oversized Vehicle Parking Ban

03/08/2024

Santa Cruz Cares and American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California are among those seeking to overturn Santa Cruz Planning Commission approval in February of the Oversized Vehicle Ordinance.

Santa Cruz Metro Appoints New CEO

03/08/2024

Santa Cruz Metro announced that Corey Aldridge has been named as new CEO.

Draft 50-year West Cliff Vision Released

03/05/2024

After several public engagement workshops over the last year, the City of Santa Cruz has released the community vision for the 50-year future of its beloved West Cliff Drive.

Waymo Approved to Start Robotaxi Service in Los Angeles and San Mateo Counties.

03/01/2024

On March 1, the California Public Utilities Commission gave approval for driverless taxi company Waymo to expand service into Los Angeles and San Mateo counties.

Capitola Intersection Approved for Upgrades

02/26/2024

At its meeting Thursday, the Capitola City Council unanimously approved a "quick build" project at the Bay Avenue and Hill Street intersection consisting of reversible, adjustable bicycle and pedestrian safety enhancements.

Short-Term Capitola Intersection Improvement Plan Unveiled

02/20/2024

A notorious intersection will get a close look from city leaders this week, after Capitola city staff and transportation planners unveiled a quick-build project encompassing changes at Bay Avenue and Hill Street.

Students Voice Safety Concerns at Second TAPS Town Hall

02/16/2024

Following December’s fatal loop bus crash that killed bus driver Dan Stevenson, students were finally able to address administrators.

California EV Sales Are Falling. Is It Just Temporary, or a Threat to State Climate Goals?

02/14/2024

California electric vehicle sales dropped significantly in the last half of 2023, raising questions about the state’s ability to phase out gas-powered cars.

Cargo Traffic Jumped at L.A. and Long Beach Ports in January

02/14/2024

The San Pedro ports had a busy January as they rebounded from last year’s labor troubles and picked up cargo redirected because of Suez and Panama canal troubles.

E-bike Program readies for Midcounty Expansion

02/13/2024

The next phase of an electric bicycle program is preparing for launch next month and community members may see supporting infrastructure begin to pop up in the coming weeks.

With State Mandating Zero Emissions; Transit Agencies Split on Hydrogen vs. Electric

02/12/2024

In September, Santa Cruz Metro made a big bet on the future of green public transit when it approved the purchase of 57 buses fueled by hydrogen—the largest order of hydrogen-fueled buses made so far in the U.S.

Planners Extend Santa Cruz RV Overnight Parking Ban

02/03/2024

The Santa Cruz Planning Commission voted unanimously to renew a controversial RV overnight street-parking ban for at least the coming five years, several months ahead of its expiration.

Santa Cruz Metro Pacific Station Set to Close for Redevelopment

02/01/2024

Big changes are coming to Santa Cruz Metro's downtown transit hub as officials push forward into the next phase of a major, multi-agency redevelopment project.

Californians Bought Record Numbers of Electric Cars as Industry Eyes Slowdown

02/01/2024

Some automakers are reducing production of electric cars and Tesla sales have dropped. Can California sustain its record pace and meet the state mandate?

Santa Cruz County RTC to Assess Purpose, Needs of Passenger Rail Project

01/30/2024

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will kick off its first meeting of 2024 by delving into one of its most high-profile projects.

Controversial California Bill Would Physically Stop New Cars From Speeding

01/25/2024

The proposed bill would require new California cars to have a speed limiter.

Electric Rail to Las Vegas Keeps Rolling with New Federal Funding Approved

01/24/2024

A project to connect Los Angeles and Las Vegas via electric high speed rail could break ground in early 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced.

A Guide to License Plates

01/23/2024

The numbers and letters on your car can reveal more than you think.

Santa Cruz Metro CEO Michael Tree to Depart Agency

01/19/2024

CEO/General Manager Michael Tree will retire from local transit agency Santa Cruz Metro on Feb. 16, less than two years into his tenure, due to “unexpected personal reasons.”

Santa Cruz County RTC Seeks Oversight Applicants

01/17/2024

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission seeks applicants to serve on a committee that keeps tabs on one of the county’s most important transportation funding sources.

State Trying to Use Generative AI to Reduce Traffic

01/08/2024

Caltrans has set a Jan. 25 deadline for tech companies to show how generative artificial intelligence might reduce traffic congestion in the state. This follows an executive order that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September related to this type of AI.

Snow Shortage Followed by Potential Whiteout in Sierras

01/05/2024

Heavy snow is projected in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Previously, warmer storms had been bringing precipitation mainly to higher elevations in the Sierras.

Driverless Cars Can’t Be Ticketed in SF for Speeding or Running Red Lights

01/03/2024

San Francisco police officers have been operating for more than a year with guidance from their chief that California’s vehicle code doesn’t provide authority for them to ticket driverless cars for infractions like speeding or running red lights. Officers are still encouraged to report relevant information about incidents.

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
Updated information and discussions about the fate of the Santa Cruz Branch Line, including news and Explainers about the rail-and-trail plan, and the Greenway proposal to eliminate the rail element.
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