Highway 1 Auxiliary Lanes and Bus-on-Shoulder Improvements —Freedom Boulevard to State Park Drive— and Coastal Rail Trail Segment 12 Project
Project Description
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in association with the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and the County of Santa Cruz (County), proposes improvements along State Route 1 and the Santa Cruz Branch Line railroad right-of-way, within an unincorporated area of the County. Improvements under consideration include the construction of auxiliary lanes, implementation of bus‐on‐shoulder operations, widening and replacement of bridges, construction of Segment 12 of the Coastal Rail Trail, and the installation of sound walls and retaining walls.
Project Benefits
Purpose
- Reduce delay and improve system reliability and safety along State Route 1
- Improve traffic operational movements, local circulation, and transit operations
- Enhance bicycle and pedestrian connectivity and safety, including access across State Route 1 within the project limits
- Promote the use of alternative transportation modes to increase transportation system capacity and reliability, improve health and reduce mortality, as well as to reduce vehicle miles of travel and vehicular emissions
Need
- Several bottlenecks along State Route 1 in the southbound and northbound directions cause delays during peak hours, significantly delaying drivers
- Cut-through traffic, or traffic on local streets, is increasing because drivers are seeking to avoid delays on State Route 1
- There are limited opportunities for pedestrians and bicyclists to safely cross State Route 1 and navigate the project corridor, even though portions of the project area are designated as regional bicycle routes
- There are insufficient incentives to increase transit service in the State Route 1 corridor because delay threatens reliability and cost‐effective transit service delivery
Estimated Funding Breakdown
Construction Cost: $79,000,000
Partnerships
- Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and the County of Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz County RTC Project website
Proposed Project Schedule
| Process | Date |
|---|---|
| Final environmental document to be completed | January 2024 |
| Right-of-way acquisition to be completed | Summer 2025 |
| Design to be completed | Summer 2025 |
| Advertise | Fall 2025 |
| Construction to begin | Winter 2026 |
| Construction to be completed | Spring 2028 |
Contact
Madilyn Jacobsen, Project Manager
Phone: (805) 835-6328
Email: madilyn.jacobsen@dot.ca.gov
Lara Bertaina, Senior Environmental Planner
Phone: (805) 779-0792
Email: lara.bertaina@dot.ca.gov
District 5 Public Information Office
Phone: (805) 549-3318
Email: info-d5@dot.ca.gov
Documents
- Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment - February 2024 (PDF 33.7 MB)
- Appendices - February 2024 (PDF 59.4 MB)
- Notice of Preparation
- Public Notice
Title VI Information
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) assures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations).
Caltrans will make every effort to ensure nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether they are federally funded or not, and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people, regardless of race, color, or national origin. In addition, Caltrans will facilitate meaningful participation in the transportation planning process in a nondiscriminatory manner.
Title VI Brochures
Title VI brochures in various languages