Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2004-2005

Transportation Problems in the City of Santa Cruz

10 pages

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⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings 16 findings

The Master Transportation Study cost a total of $632,000: • $250,000 from UCSC. • $250,000 from City of Santa Cruz general fund. • $32,000 grant from Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control Board for general use. • $50,000 grant from Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control Board for pedestrian study. • $50,000 grant from Transportation Development Authority for Soquel Avenue bike lane study project.

The Master Transportation Study took over two years to develop.

The MTS was accepted as a foundation for transportation to be incorporated in the policies, programs and projects in the 2020 General Plan process for the City of Santa Cruz.

A recurring theme in the MTS suggests three basic requirements for reducing the impact of growing traffic: a. Use of carpools and ride sharing. b. Increase walking and bicycling. c. Significantly increase ridership on the SC Metro. Santa Cruz Sentinel, 10 April 2004. Transportation Report - 43

The automobile is the predominant method of travel in Santa Cruz.

If the traffic management measures suggested in the MTS prove successful, Vehicle Hours of Delay in 2020 will be approximately 15% worse than today. If they are not, VHD is projected to increase 92%.

One and one half pages of the MTS’s 284 pages look at traffic considerations generated by UCSC.

UCSC growth is seen as an issue for future consideration with respect to traffic congestion.

UCSC’s Long Range Development Plan includes 6,000 additional students that will further affect traffic congestion and parking in Santa Cruz.

F10

The MTS refers to a “high-occupancy passenger connection from UCSC to regional transit via a new access method needs to be evaluated as a potentially more efficient and effective route to reduce Westside traffic impact and serve local and regional UCSC travel markets.”11

F11

The MTS was precluded from any consideration of an eastern access to UCSC as a stipulation in the agreement setting up the MTS.

F12

City Council, by motion and acceptance, will not entertain the idea of any road through Pogonip.

F13

The MTS is seen by the City Council as a framework. Its recommendations are non-binding.

F14

City Transportation Commission is charged to develop specific plans to implement the MTS.

F15

Santa Cruz City Council approved of 19 prioritized projects for roadway modification and signal projects.

F16

Santa Cruz Metro ridership should increase 125% by 2020, according to MTS. Conclusions

Recommendations 3

R1

The City of Santa Cruz should develop a plan to solve the UCSC traffic impact problems for now as well as in the future.
R2

A park-and-ride facility should be developed at or near the intersection of Highways 1 and 9, with express bus service to major destinations within the city.
R3

The City of Santa Cruz should develop a short-range plan to mitigate existing, escalating traffic flow and parking problems beyond those offered in the 19 prioritized projects passed on January 20, 2004.