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- The Committee to Raise Traffic Standards is a group of Capitola Citizens who are working to ensure that traffic improvements are coordinated and collectively address congestion issues.
- Committee members conducted a grassroots outreach campaign, knocking on doors, talking with citizens and gathering petition signatures to amend the traffic standard in the general plan from Level of Service "D" to Level of Service "C". Impressed by the initiative and efforts made by the Committee, the Capitola City Council overwhelmingly adopted the change.
- The Committee has also served as an inspiration
to numerous neighborhood groups that have become involved in
transportation issues, thus enhancing the momentum for local and
regional transportation improvements.
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Barry Dunlap, Caltrans Resident Engineer, Mission Street Widening
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- Barry Dunlap is the onsite project manager for the Mission Street Widening Project. His attention to residents, university and business interest on the Westside has won him the support, admiration and gratitude of citizens, city/county officials and staff.
- During the two years he has been on the project, Mr. Dunlap has gone to great lengths to minimize the traffic impacts of this extensive construction project. He has taken care to schedule the more disruptive activities when UCSC students are on breaks, and has been responsive to the needs of bicyclists.
- In addition to his excellent communication which provided the basis for a good working relationship with staff and the community, Mr. Dunlap has taken great pains to incorporate requested design changes, such as a redesign of the cable crossing at Laurel creek and his willingness to work with the community to save some of the older trees which were programmed for removal.
- His efforts to work with the community and be
responsive to a variety of requests, has done much to enhance the
goodwill between Caltrans and the Santa Cruz community.
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Wes Scott, UCSC Bicycle Trailer Program
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- Through his initiative in conceiving of and developing a "bike shuttle" to UCSC, Wes Scott has singlehandedly solved one of the most daunting challenges to UCSC bicycle Commuters. He eliminated the hill climb that has dissuaded many would-be riders.
- Mr. Scott began his Bike Shuttle program in the spring of 2000 and the shuttle now carries upwards of 100 bikes and their riders per day.
- His work has enabled UCSC students, staff and
faculty to get out of their cars or to shift from transit to bike riding
thus freeing up some space on already overcrowded transit lines.
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- Texas Instruments has operated an employee rideshare/alternative transportation incentive program for the last nine years. Providing up to $3/day for alternative mode users and carpoolers. Employees can also get an additional bonus for regular (70-100%) participation in the program.
- In addition to financial incentives, T.I. offers the TMA bike loan program, compressed work schedules to avoid peak traffic, company bikes, cafeteria, lockers, showers and secure bicycle parking, thus encouraging widespread participation.
- In the year 2000, 18% of the workforce at the Delaware site participates in the program. Texas Instruments employees made over 16,000 alternative mode commute trips in 2000 and Texas Instruments paid $38,000 in employee rideshare incentives.
- Texas Instruments originally began this program
during the time of the mandatory Travel Reduction Ordinance. They chose
to continue the program after the TRO was repealed because they
recognize the valuable contribution it makes to reducing congestion and
improving quality of life in the community.
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Life Time Achievement Award |
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- Kevin Karplus has made numerous contributions to improving bicycling for Santa Cruz county residents and has a lifelong personal commitment to alternative transportation.
- Kevin Karplus has recently retired from the SCCRTC Bicycle Committee after serving for over 15 years. His contributions are quite extensive, and I have time only to list a few.
- Mr. Karplus has a life-long personal commitment to bicycling. He has never owned a motor vehicle and in fact, has never had a driver's license. He and his family use bicycles and public transit exclusively.
- Mr. Karplus has provided insightful and thorough technical review for innumerable bicycle projects and road projects that impact cyclists.
- He is a certified Effective Cycling instructor and has taught UCSC bicycle engineering classes.
- Mr. Karplus organized and manages the Santa Cruz
Bikes e-mail list serve which provides a forum for bicyclists and others
to participate in policy and technical discussion about projects that
impact cyclists in Santa Cruz.
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Certificates of Merit |
John Daugherty, Metro Accesible Services, MASTF
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- John Daugherty in his role at the Metro Accessible Services Department has provided assistance to countless transit users, enabling them greater mobility and increasing their transportation options.
- In addition he continues to work with the Metro
Accessible Services Transit Forum and the SCCRTC Elderly and Disabled
Transportation Advisory Committee.
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Desiree Douville, Soquel/La Fonda Signalization Project
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- Desiree Douville, an Engineering Technician with Santa Cruz City Public Works Department, designed the new signalization system for the Soquel/La Fonda intersection.
- This project incorporated multi-modal elements, including bicycle lanes connecting to the county system, pedestrian safety improvements, relocation and design of transit stops.
- In addition, landscaping and public art were
included in the design of this project.
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Barbara Graves, Community Involvement in Transportation Issues
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- Barbara Graves, a citizen of Capitola and hybrid-electric vehicle owner, has served transportation interest in the county in several ways:
- Ms. Graves has served as Dennis Norton's alternate on the regional transportation commission for the past 2 years
- Ms. Graves spent a year working with the Committee to Raise Traffic standards, compiling a comprehensive listing of citizen concerns about transportation
- Ms. Graves is a member of the Capitola Village Master Plan Committee and the coordinator foe WAVE (Working to Advance the Village Environment
- Finally, Ms. Graves attends transportation
related conferences at her own expense, regularly participates in
transportation planning processes and reads extensively on
transportation, sharing her research with the community and county and
city officials.
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Phil Kaplan, Adopt a Highway Program
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- Phil Kaplan has been an exemplary participant in the Adopt-a-Highway program, maintaining a particular challenging stretch of highway 9 for the past three years.
- Since he began his volunteer work, Mr. Kaplan has never missed a monthly cleanup and always takes care of his area promptly.
- Mr. Kaplan's dedication and hard work serve as a
model for other citizens who wish to enhance the quality of life in our
community.
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Joan Peterson, Promotion of Electric Vehicles
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- Joan Peterson is receiving this certificate to recognize her work as a one-woman ambassador for electric vehicles.
- Ms. Peterson has two electric vehicles, a 1956 VW bug and a 1962 MG Midget that were converted to run on electric power. At last year's Clean Air Vehicle Fair, she showcased the VW Bug and a 1970s converted pickup truck, which she owned at that time. Ms. Peterson is always willing to spend time talking about electric transportation when someone shows an interest.
- Recognizing that electric vehicles will require
infrastructure to succeed, Ms. Peterson convinced her employer, SCO to
add a charging station to their employee parking garage.
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Special Recognition
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- Senator Bruce McPherson has served Santa Cruz County transportation interests for a number of years. His work has helped to improve transit, air quality and safety for the citizens of Santa Cruz County.
- Over the last year, Senator McPherson's efforts have resulted in the passage of two important bills: AB1218 which requires drivers to yield to buses and SB2178 which enables disabled passengers to use Amtrak buses for the ride over Highway 17 to Diridon station. In addition, Senator McPherson is the sponsor of legislation requested by the Commission, SB465.
- He has also secured $4.75 million dedicated
towards the purchase of 10 low-emission buses and the downtown Metro
Center Rehabilitation.
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- Commission Staff Member of the Year for
excellent staff work.
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