Santa Cruz County Transportation Digest

The California Coastal Commission is set to consider an appeal of the City of Santa Cruz ban on overnight parking mandated by the Oversized Vehicle Ordinance.

Central Coast Representatives Lofgren and Pannetta jointly announced $1 million in federal funding for studies about expansion of rail service in the region.

In a unanimous vote, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved the plan to proceed with segments 10 and 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail.

Repairs to roads damaged in recent storms, including the slow-moving slide on Mountain Charlie Road, depend on state and federal funding and could take years to complete.

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will reconsider their vote against approving segments 10 and 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail in their April 30 meeting.

Following his recent vote against approval of two segments of the Rail Trail, Supervisor Manu Koenig explains his decision.

The City of Santa Cruz is set to begin a pilot program of neighborhood street sweeping, including a provision to tow vehicles not complying with posted parking limits.

All fixed-route rides on Santa Cruz METRO are free on Earth Day, April 22.

The next phase of the $94.2M project to add lanes and bike/pedestrian overpasses on the three mile span of Highway 1 between the three mile Bay Avenue/Porter Street has commenced.

The Downtown Streets Program is growing to 8 teams in the County with the start of a new 6 month pilot program in Boulder Creek on the Highway 9 commercial corridor.

Witnesses allege Santa Cruz police used excessive force arresting a Black man for a bike infraction on April 10 at the intersection of Bay Street and West Cliff.

Initiated in March 2023, the Santa Cruz METRO Youth Cruz Free program providing free rides to K-12 youth has resulted in a 536% increase of youth riding the bus.

A proposed ordinance limiting use of e-bikes on sidewalks and walkways in unincorporated parts of the county was delayed by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors until its May 14 meeting following feedback from residents.

A program that allows solo drivers of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to use carpool lanes on freeways and bridges in California may be removed for good next year.

Supporters of the rail trail rallied in front of the Santa Cruz County building on April 3 to advocate for approval of segments 10 and 11.

A recent split vote by Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors stalling approval of two rail trail segments is jeopardizing future state funding for the project.

Highway 1 is closed indefinitely from Palo Colorado Road to Rocky Creek Bridge, the California Department of Transportation said on social media after a new landslide eroded part of the roadway.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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 announced that Corey Aldridge has been named as new CEO.

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.

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.

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.

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.