Highway 1 Soquel Avenue/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project

GENERAL INFORMATION

Background

Beginning in 1986 the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), working with Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration, conducted a series of studies to identify an affordable and appropriate response to the growing congestion problem on Highway 1.  These studies included the following: 

• Regional Transportation Plan – 1986
• Feasibility Study for Highway Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (HOV) on Highway 1 -- 1988
• Draft Project Study Report for Widening Highway  1 -- 1992
• Major Transportation Investment Study (MTIS) – 1999
• Toll Lane Feasibility Study --  2002
• Project Study Report -- to analyze the effect of adding one high occupancy vehicle (HOV i.e. carpool, vanpool, bus, and emergency vehicles) lane to Highway 1 -- 2002
• Project Study Report -- examining operational improvements including ramp meters and auxiliary lanes* at specific locations along the Highway 1 corridor   - 2002

The 2002 Project Study Report examining operational improvements to Highway 1 concluded that northbound and southbound auxiliary lanes between Soquel Avenue and Morrissey Boulevard would be very beneficial in reducing congestion and improving safety on the busiest section of the highway in Santa Cruz County - carrying 115,000 vehicles per day in 2006.   

*An auxiliary lane connects an adjacent highway on-ramp with the next highway off-ramp thereby extending the weaving and merging distance between the ramps and improving traffic flow and safety on the highway. An auxiliary lane is not designed for use by through traffic, but to provide greater separation between vehicles entering and exiting the freeway from mainline traffic.

Funding Secured

In 2003, the preliminary design/environmental review phase of this project was allowed to begin, thanks to a $2.9 million federal grant secured by the RTC.  In March 2007, the RTC received a state grant of over $16 million, which, together with regional sources, provides all the necessary funds to construct the project. 

Project Description

The Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes project proposes to add 12–foot wide auxiliary lanes northbound and southbound between Soquel Avenue and Morrissey Boulevard, respectively -- a distance of less than one mile in each direction.  As part of this project, the La Fonda Avenue overcrossing must be replaced to accommodate the auxiliary lanes under the bridge.  The new La Fonda Avenue bridge will be wider to provide bike lanes and wider sidewalks for pedestrians.  

This project is designed to complement the work currently under construction at the Highway 1/17 Interchange, by eliminating the proposed lane drop north of the La Fonda Avenue resulting from the Highway 1/Highway 17 Merge Lanes Project (see Graphic Representation).

Project Schedule

The Draft Environmental Document for the Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project is scheduled for public review in Summer 2008.  Construction could begin as early as Summer 2010 and the project is scheduled to complete construction in 2012. 

The Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project is independent of the Highway 1/17 Interchange Merge Lanes Project (currently under construction) and the Highway 1 HOV Lane Project, both of which are described elsewhere on this website.

Public Outreach/Information

In November 2005, the SCCRTC and Caltrans held an Open House for the Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project.  The comments received will be considered in the environmental and design work on the project.  A Summary Report of the comments received is available to the public.