Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2003-2004

Review of Options to Improve Transportation in Santa Cruz County

Published: January 29, 2004 52 pages
Ver PDF original

Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F18

Findings and Recommendations 22 findings

F1
Widening of Hwy 1 has been a topic of discussion before the Transportation Commission since 1986. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission AGREES
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Hwy 1 Widening Projects should continue to be the Transportation Commission’s highest priority project. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission This recommendation continues to be the policy of the RTC.
F2
In a 1999 Transportation Commission survey of county residents, 72 percent of those surveyed supported widening Hwy 1. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission GENERALLY AGREES The SCCRTC administered public opinion polls of likely voters in 1999 and 2002. Both polls asked how much need likely voters felt there was for widening and improving Highway 1. The 1999 poll found that those expressing a “great need” and “some need” combined equaled 76%. Those categories for the 2002 poll equaled 79%.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The City of Santa Cruz and the County of Santa Cruz should improve Water Street/Soquel Avenue/Soquel Drive. The improvements should include expanding the streets to be two lanes in each direction with left hand turn lanes where possible, no stops signs, limited stop lights and eliminate right lanes that force the driver to make a right turn. The improvements on Water Street/Soquel Avenue/Soquel Drive should be from the intersection of Mission Street/Chestnut Street to Aptos Village. The improvements to this corridor should be started as soon as possible to help alleviate additional congestion during the Hwy 1 Widening Project. The City of Santa Cruz should approve and fund the project to improve the “Weave” intersection on Soquel/Water Street before construction begins on Hwy 1. The City should promote Soquel Avenue as an alternative to Hwy 1. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission -8 Review of Options to Improve Transportation 2002-2003 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report and Responses The SCCRTC supports operational improvements to major arterials to improve mobility for all modes of transportation, including completion of the bicycle lane network along Soquel Avenue/Soquel Drive. It is the purview of the City and County of Santa Cruz, and other cities for their areas, to propose improvements on local streets and roads for funding, consistent with the Regional Transportation Plan. At this time, due to state and federal budget constraints and the RTC’s policy of Highway 1 Widening priority, few funds are available for programming to new projects. Response: Santa Cruz City Council The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted. The existing traffic pattern was implemented approximately 15 years ago and improved the operation and safety of that intersection four-fold. A master plan for the eastside has been completed and addresses further improvements in the future as funding becomes available. Soquel Avenue does act as an alternative to Highway 1 as congestion increases on Highway 1. Response: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors This recommendation is being implemented. See attached memo dated August 1, 2003, from the Department of Public Works.
F3
In the 2002 United Way Community Assessment Project, Santa Cruz County residents ranked traffic as the number one issue that takes away from the quality of life in this county. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission AGREES
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The ballot measure sponsored by the Transportation Commission should keep the half cent sales tax increase for the full 30 years and use all of the funds for transportation projects in the county. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission This recommendation will be considered by the RTC during its deliberations on the proposed tax measure, Expenditure Plan, and Financial Plan. The RTC will make a determination on the final Financial Plan for the proposed measure in
F4
The Transportation Commission has ranked the Hwy 1 Widening Project as the number one priority for the commission. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission AGREES Review of Options to Improve -3 Transportation in Santa Cruz County 2002-2003 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report and Responses
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Transportation Commission should form a Commuter Committee, similar to the Bicycle and the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Advisory Committees, to focus on improving commuting to Santa Clara Valley and within the county, and to improve local road conditions. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission This recommendation is not warranted and will not be implemented. An evaluation of the SCCRTC committees in 2001 considered and rejected this suggestion. The majority of Regional Transportation Improvement Program funds, which includes all funding sources allocated by the SCCRTC, are designated for state highway projects and projects on local streets and roads Review of Options to Improve -17 Transportation in Santa Cruz County 2002-2003 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report and Responses (65%). Street and road advocates include most local residents, businesses, city and county public works departments, and Caltrans. These latter public entities and others form the Interagency Technical Advisory Committee which advises the SCCRTC on funding allocations.
F5
Construction on the current Hwy 1 was started in the 1950s and was completed in the early 1960s. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission PARTIALLY AGREES The section from Freedom Blvd. to Airport Blvd. was improved to state highway standards and widened to add climbing lanes in 1972.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
This service should have a limited number of stations and the proposed stations should be Santa Cruz (Harvey West), Mid-County Area and South County Area. The stations should also serve as Park and Ride facilities. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Review of Options to Improve Transportation -25 This recommendation requires further analysis and is not within the scope of the currently proposed recreational service. As noted in the response to Finding C-11, the number of stations depends on the type of rail service, technology used and purpose of the service (commuter/transit, recreational, etc.). In general, more stations make rail service accessible to more users; fewer stations allows for more express service between fewer destinations.
F6
The population of Santa Cruz County in 1950 was 66,534 and by 2000, increased by 284% to 255,602, almost 4 times the number of people. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission AGREES The population in 1960 was 84,209.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The Transportation Commission should work with the TAMC, CalTrain, and ACE to determine which passenger train services could be implemented based on rider interest, economics, availability of trains and existing projects currently underway. Priority should be given to working with TAMC and CalTrain to bring CalTrain service to Santa Cruz on a daily basis. This project could piggyback on the work of TAMC and CalTrain to bring CalTrain service to Pajaro. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission This recommendation will not be implemented at this time. Santa Cruz county residents will have adequate access to the proposed CalTrain service at Pajaro.
F7
Hwy 1 and Hwy 17 experience average daily traffic volumes of 110,000 and 66,000 vehicles respectively. This traffic includes trips originating or ending in the county, not just trips within the county. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission GENERALLY AGREES These figures represent Caltrans 2001 average annual daily traffic (AADT) counts at the most heavily traveled section of the highways: for Highway 1 this section is between Soquel Avenue and Morrissey Boulevard and for Highway 17 between Highway 1 and Pasatiempo. Average annual daily traffic is the total volume for the year divided by 365 days. The traffic count year is from October 1st through September 30th. Very few locations in California are actually counted continuously. Traffic counting is generally performed by electronic counting instruments moved from location throughout the State in a program of continuous traffic count sampling. The resulting counts are adjusted to an estimate of annual average daily traffic by compensating for seasonal influence, weekly variation and other variables that may be present.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The Transportation Commission should create a rail set-aside fund dedicated to rail projects in the county. A portion of the revenue from the half cent increase sales tax increase should be put into the rail set-aside fund. This portion should be at least 5% or $50 million over the 30 year life-time of the sales tax increase. The rail set-aside fund, combined with matching Federal and State grants, could generate $100 million for rail projects in Santa Cruz County. The rail set-aside fund should be included in the 2004 ballot measure for the half sales tax increase. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission The SCCRTC will consider this recommendation as it develops the Expenditure Plan for the proposed transportation sales tax measure.
F8
Under the current proposals construction on the first phase of widening Hwy 1 (aka Hwy 1/17 Merge Lanes) will start in 2004, 50 years after the start of construction on the current Hwy 1. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission GENERALLY AGREES -4 Review of Options to Improve Transportation 2002-2003 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report and Responses Current State fiscal constraints may affect funding availability for many transportation projects statewide, including the Highway 1/17 Interchange Merge Lanes project.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Transportation Commission should conduct additional train service demonstrations within the next 12 months. The demonstrations could be conducted using equipment borrowed from existing commuter train services like CalTrain or ACE. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission This recommendation cannot be implemented without the consent of Union Pacific, current owners of the rail property. Recent efforts to bring the Colorado Railcar’s new Diesel Multiple Unit to Santa Cruz County were not successful due to Union Pacific policies.
F9
Elected officials in the City of Santa Cruz consider the Mission Street Widening Project a success. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission The City of Santa Cruz can confirm this finding. Response: Santa Cruz City Council AGREES Additional landscaping, street lighting, and utility undergrounding are underway to improve the aesthetics and safety.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
The Transportation Commission should create a Passenger Rail committee similar to the Bicycle and Elderly and Disabled Transportation Advisory Committees. This committee should examine how Santa Cruz County can support CalTrain service to Pajaro and how to extend passenger train service to Santa Cruz County. -26 Review of Options to Improve Transportation Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission This recommendation will not be implemented at this time. See response to Recommendation B-4. In the past, the RTC had a Rail Oversight Committee, which later became the MTIS Oversight Committee, and which then became the current Transportation Policy Workshop of the RTC. This monthly RTC Workshop reviews a range of issues pertinent to major projects such as Highway 1, rail planning and related tasks. If consistent with its planning programs, the RTC may consider such a committee in the future.
F10
The Water Street/Soquel Avenue/Soquel Drive corridor extends from Mission Street in Santa Cruz to Aptos Village and parallels Hwy 1. The lane configuration varies from 2 to 4 lanes in numerous places along the route, has numerous stop lights and stop signs, has right lanes that force the driver to make a right turn, and a confusing intersection at Morrissey Boulevard, Soquel Avenue, and Water Street which is called the “Weave.” The City of Santa Cruz and the County of Santa Cruz have made improvements in numerous sections on this corridor in the last few years. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission AGREES Response: Santa Cruz City Council AGREES Response: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors AGREES The County agrees with this finding as it pertains to its own jurisdiction, but cannot comment on those portions that pertain to other jurisdictions.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
Interviewed members of the Campaign for Sensible Transportation
F11
Santa Cruz County and the cities in the county have a backlog of hundreds of unfunded transportation projects. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission AGREES The 2001 Regional Transportation Plan includes over 225 projects identified by local jurisdictions and agencies which could be constructed only if new funding sources become available. Review of Options to Improve -5 Transportation in Santa Cruz County 2002-2003 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report and Responses
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
Surveyed Soquel Avenue and Water Street.
F12
The Transportation Commission currently plans to put a measure on the November 2004 ballot to approve a 30-year, half cent sales tax increase to support transportation projects in Santa Cruz County. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission GENERALLY AGREES It is not yet determined which agency will actually sponsor the ballot measure, the SCCRTC or the County Board of Supervisors.
Related Recommendations (1)
R12
Reviewed articles in the Santa Cruz Sentinel and Good Times.
F13
The half cent sales tax increase is expected to generate over $1 billion in revenue over 30 years, $506 million for the Hwy 1 Widening Project debt service and $580 million for other transportation projects. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission AGREES The Preliminary Financial Plan assumes an accelerated schedule for the Highway 1 Widening/HOV project and passage of the November 2004 ½ cent sales tax measure.
Related Recommendations (1)
R13
Interviewed the Executive Director and staff of the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE).
F14
For the first 12 to 15 years of the sales tax increase, the current proposal is to apply 90% of the sales tax increase to pay the debt for the Hwy 1 Widening Projects. The remaining funds will be used for other transportation projects in the County. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission AGREES
Related Recommendations (1)
R14
Reviewed budget and background information on the Altamont Commuter Express train.
F15
The Transportation Commission is debating an alternative proposal to end the half cent sales tax increase after 15 years when the debt for the Hwy 1 Widening Project will be paid, instead of the proposed 30 years. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission PARTIALLY DISAGREES The County Administrative Office has determined that 15 years would not be enough time to generate sufficient funds for the Highway 1 project and pay off the bond debt. An alternative Financial Plan scenario under earlier consideration was to reduce the sales tax rate from 0.5 cents to 0.375 cents in 2017 and to 0.25 cents in 2025; this scenario would leave few if any funds for other projects. The full term of the declining tax would still be 30 years. The Preliminary Financial Plan for the proposed tax measure will be finalized in 2004. -6 Review of Options to Improve Transportation 2002-2003 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report and Responses
Related Recommendations (1)
R15
Reviewed the Transportation Commission 1998 Around the Bay Rail Study.
F16
The current schedule and cost estimates for the Hwy 1 Widening Projects using the Accelerated Schedule from the Transportation Commission are: Hwy 1 Widening Hwy 1/17 Hwy 1 Widening Extension to Larkin Merge Lanes HOV Lanes Valley/San Andreas Roads $52 M $263 M $89 M Cost Estimate Fully Funded Not Funded Not Funded Construction Spring 2004 2007 TBD Begins Construction 2006 2010-11 2015-16 Complete Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission GENERALLY AGREES The beginning construction date for the Hwy 1/17 Interchange Merge Lanes project is currently scheduled for Fall 2004, although as mentioned earlier, this date may be affected by California’s fiscal crisis; construction is estimated to take three years. Costs for all projects are in 2002-03 dollars, not escalated costs based on the year of construction. One of the first tasks for the Highway 1 Widening/HOV project environmental review consultants will be to develop information regarding the cost and timing for improvements beyond State Park Drive.
Related Recommendations (1)
R16
Attended the May 1, 2003, Transportation Commission Public Hearing on Santa Cruz Branch Line Acquisition
F17
Successful ballot initiatives to raise taxes for transportation projects, like Measure K in San Joaquin County, Measure B in Alameda County and Measure A in Santa Clara County required extensive voter education campaigns. Currently, there is confusion among residents of this county concerning the Hwy 1 Widening Projects and organizations opposing the project have begun campaigning against it. Response: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission PARTIALLY AGREES The RTC oversees an ongoing broad public information program for its major projects and programs, including Highway 1 projects. Transportation planning and programming processes and decision-making are complex. Public agencies, by state law, are prohibited from participating in ballot measure campaigns, or from expending public resources for campaign purposes. The SCCRTC intends to provide informational material on the proposed ballot measure consistent with state and federal law, including the RTC’s position on the measure and factual information. Review of Options to Improve -7 Transportation in Santa Cruz County 2002-2003 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report and Responses Conclusions
Related Recommendations (1)
R17
Attended the March 30, 2003, TAMC Public meeting on the Pajaro Train Station. Review of Options to Improve Transportation -45
F19 Page 46
Surveyed the Park and Ride lots in Santa Cruz County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R19
Surveyed the Park and Ride lots in Santa Cruz County.
F20 Page 46
Interviewed the Mayor of Scotts Valley.
Related Recommendations (1)
R20
Interviewed the Mayor of Scotts Valley.
F21 Page 46
Interviewed the Director of Public Works and Traffic Engineer for the City of Santa Cruz.
Related Recommendations (1)
R21
Interviewed the Director of Public Works and Traffic Engineer for the City of Santa Cruz.
F22 Page 46
Interviewed the Director and Staff of the UCSC Planning Dept.
Related Recommendations (1)
R22
Interviewed the Director and Staff of the UCSC Planning Dept.
F23 Page 46
Interviewed the Director of the Capitola Public Works Dept. -46 Review of Options to Improve Transportation Appendix B: County Board of Supervisors Response COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE DATE: August 1, 2003 TO: Susan Mauriello, County Administrative Officer FROM: Department of Public Works SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO GRAND JURY INQUIRIES ON TRANSPORTATION The Department of Public Works has been asked to provide responses to two transportation related items associated with the County of Santa Cruz Grand Jury 2002-2003 report. The items include an update on proposed improvements to the Soquel Avenue/Soquel Drive corridor that parallels Highway 1, and potential improvements for the 41st Avenue and Highway 1 intersection. Highway 1 Corridor – Parallel Route The Grand Jury has identified the congestion on the Highway 1 corridor to be the most significant transportation issue in Santa Cruz County. Recent voter surveys undertaken by the Regional Transportation Commission had echoed that finding. The emphasis of the Grand Jury’s recommendation is that the City and the County of Santa Cruz should improve the Soquel Avenue/Soquel Drive corridor between the city of Santa Cruz and Aptos Village, since it serves as the parallel route to the Highway 1 corridor. These two street segments pass within the city of Santa Cruz and the unincorporated areas of Live Oak, Soquel, and Aptos. Because the widening of Highway 1 is anticipated to be several years away, the Grand Jury has determined that it would be beneficial to have this parallel route improved in order to provide some congestion relief from the Highway 1 corridor as soon as possible and for potential detours associated with the actual construction of the Highway 1 widening project. While the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) has not indicated that they expect to detour traffic onto local streets, it is likely that all of our local east/west arterials will be impacted. Accordingly, the Grand Jury has recommended several traffic operational improvements throughout this corridor with the main objective of having two travel lanes in each direction with left-turn lanes where possible, no stop signs, and a limited number of stop lights (traffic signals). Review of Options to Improve Transportation -47 SUSAN MAURIELLO Page –2- The Department of Public Works anticipates several projects to be constructed within the next calendar year along this corridor including two traffic signals on Soquel Drive at the Winkle Avenue and Dover Drive/Mattison Lane intersections. These improvements will eliminate two existing stop-sign controlled intersections from this corridor. In addition, another traffic signal is proposed at the intersection of Soquel Drive at Fairway Drive to provide pedestrian and vehicular operational improvements. Each new traffic signal will have exclusive left-turn lanes and protected phases for Soquel Drive traffic. These three traffic signals are currently in design and are expected to be under construction by spring 2004. Public Works will be coordinating traffic signal timing from the Highway 1/Soquel Drive interchange to 41st Avenue. Once the new traffic signals are constructed, the department will have a coordinated plan to accommodate morning, noon, and evening peak period traffic flows. The traffic signals in Soquel Village are already coordinated, as are the two traffic signals fronting Cabrillo College. The two intersections located at Soquel Drive/Rodeo Gulch Road and Soquel Drive/Main Street are the only traffic signals along this corridor that presently cannot accommodate left-turn lanes. Traffic signal operations at these two intersections will be evaluated to determine if these movements can be modified to accommodate protected left turns during the evening and morning peak periods. There are significant physical constraints (the bridge over Rodeo Gulch and buildings in Soquel Village) that will not allow the addition of left-turn lanes at either of these intersections. The Soquel Avenue/Soquel Drive corridor does have two lanes in each direction between the city of Santa Cruz and State Park Drive in Aptos, with the exception of westbound Soquel Drive in Soquel Village between Main Street and Daubenbiss Avenue. This segment of Soquel Drive only has one through lane westbound due to the physical constraints between Porter Street and Daubenbiss Avenue. It would be necessary to eliminate bike lanes and parking between Porter Street and Daubenbiss Avenue to provide the necessary width to accommodate an additional westbound through lane, but the overall performance of the intersection may not necessarily improve, and the Soquel Village community would not support such changes. The critical evening peak period direction of traffic flow is in the eastbound direction and Soquel Drive does have two through lanes in this direction. -48 Review of Options to Improve Transportation SUSAN MAURIELLO Page -3- The only stop-controlled intersection that will remain along the four-lane roadway segment between the city of Santa Cruz and State Park Drive is the Soquel Drive/Robertson Street intersection just east of 41st Avenue near Soquel Village. This intersection has been identified in previous studies as meeting warrants for a traffic signal, but it is not currently scheduled for improvements. A significant amount of right-of-way would be necessary to accommodate a new traffic signal. In addition, a circulation study would be required to determine the extent of the improvements for Robertson Street, since this roadway has severe topographical constraints. The right-of-way and financial constraints associated with this overall improvement project have delayed any action to this point. It is anticipated that the Department of Public Works will be proceeding with preliminary studies for this area in the near future. The roadway segment of Soquel Drive south of State Park Drive has only one lane in each direction. The historic bridge over Aptos Creek and the grade-separated train crossing at Spreckels Drive restrict the potential to increase the through lanes on Soquel Drive into Aptos Village. The Planning Department is currently in the community planning process to evaluate potential land uses in the Aptos Village core area. The Department of Public Works has hired a traffic engineering consultant to analyze the traffic impacts of alternative land uses. The conclusion of the traffic report recommended two additional traffic signals on Soquel Drive at Aptos Creek Road serving the County park and Nisene Marks State Park, as well as at Trout Gulch Road. The southbound Soquel Drive approach to Aptos Creek Road would also have to be widened to accommodate an exclusive left-turn lane. A left-turn lane on Soquel Drive at Trout Gulch Road already exists. In conclusion, the Department of Public Works expects three additional traffic signals to be constructed on Soquel Drive within the next calendar year with significant enhancements to the traffic signal coordination throughout this corridor. In addition, the intersections of Soquel Drive/Rodeo Gulch Road and Soquel Drive/Main Street will be evaluated for modifications to initiate protected left-turn phasing. The remaining stop sign controlled intersection of Soquel Drive/Robertson Street will be evaluated in conjunction with future improvements to Robertson Street. Review of Options to Improve Transportation -49 SUSAN MAURIELLO Page -4- 41st Avenue and Highway 1 Intersection The Grand Jury has made a finding that the above referenced intersection is often severely congested along 41st Avenue and it can take several minutes and multiple red lights for a motorist to drive south on 41st Avenue from Soquel Drive to the Capitola Mall. An additional finding indicates that the three traffic signals at this intersection are controlled by CALTRANS and are not well coordinated.
Related Recommendations (1)
R23
Interviewed the Director of the Capitola Public Works Dept. -46 Review of Options to Improve Transportation

Additional Recommendations 1

These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.

Conclusions 26

No Responses Found 2

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office
Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District Transit Authority