Completed Highway Projects, Programs, and Studies in Santa Cruz County

This page contains informational material on projects of continued interest to the Commission and to the public. The information on this page is provided for archival purposes only. For current project information, please visit the Highway page.

Overview of Completed Highway Projects

Highway 1 Corridor

• Major Transportation Investment Study MTIS
• Highway 1 Toll Lane Feasibility Study
• Caltrans Project Study Reports for Improvement of Highway 1
  1. Operational Improvements with Auxiliary Lanes & Ramp Metering
  2. Widening Highway 1 for Additional Travel Lanes

Highway 17 Corridor

• Highway 17 Transportation Improvement Study
• Highway 17 Truck Climbing Lane Study

Transportation Sales Tax Measure

• Ballot Measure J - Transportation Improvement Act

Highway 1 Corridor: Completed Studies and Reports

MAJOR TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT STUDY, OR MTIS

In an effort to evaluate a wide range of transportation options to meet the mobility needs of Santa Cruz County, the Commission conducted a federally funded Major Transportation Investment Study, or MTIS. This study, completed in 1999, looked at transportation alternatives in the Watsonville-Santa Cruz -UCSC corridor.

Eight different alternatives were examined to compare the transportation capacity, costs, benefits, environmental impacts, and transportation impacts. Numerous public meetings were held to ensure community participation in the development of the plan.

• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Executive Summary from the completed study
• A Locally Preferred Alternative was chose by the Commission in August, 1999

HIGHWAY 1 TOLL LANE FEASIBILITY STUDY

Following the MTIS (see above), the Commission directed planning to begin for widening Highway 1 to six lanes between Highway 17 and State Park Drive with carpool lanes and High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. HOT lanes can be used by carpools and buses free of charge, while single occupant vehicle drivers would pay a fee for use of the lane during peak congestion periods. The Commission examined the feasibility of the toll lanes in terms of people-moving potential, revenue-raising potential, carpool versus single occupancy vehicle use, and additional cost to construct and operate a toll facility. Upon review of the results of the Toll Lane Feasibility Study, the Commission decided in September 2002 not to pursue HOT lanes at this time, but instead focus on planning efforts for a carpool or High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction on Highway 1 between Morrissey Boulevard and San Andreas/Larkin Valley Road, based on the results of Caltrans' Project Study Report (see below).

• Overview of the Highway 1 Toll Lane Feasibility Study
• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Highway 1 HOT Lanes Feasibility Study Summary Report, Appendices A-F, Appendices G-L

CALTRANS PROJECT STUDY REPORTS FOR THE HIGHWAY 1 CORRIDOR

A Project Study Report (PSR) is the first step, referred to as the conceptual development phase, for the improvement of a State Highway. The PSR describes the transportation problem and identifies the project scope, schedule, and estimates costs so that the project can be programmed for preliminary design and environmental evaluation.

At the conclusion of the Major Transportation Study (MTIS) for the Highway 1 corridor, Caltrans began work on a PSR to evaluate operational improvements on Highway 1 between State Park Drive and Morrissey Boulevard in Santa Cruz. The Route 1 Congestion Management Study is a presentation by Caltrans summarizing the results of this analysis. This work ultimately lead to the completion of two PSRs described below.

1. Auxiliary Lanes & Ramp Meters PSR - Proposed operational improvements were analyzed, including widening the existing on-ramps from one to two lanes, metering all possible on-ramps within the project limits and constructing auxiliary lanes. Auxiliary lanes connect an on-ramp to an off-ramp without changes to an interchange or over/undercrossing structure.

One of the four segments considered for auxiliary lanes in this PSR was referenced in development of the Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lane Project. A Supplemental PSR was approved by Caltrans in April 2006, in preparation for work to begin on the preliminary design phase of the Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lane Project.

2. Highway 1 Widening PSR - This report proposed several alternatives to widen Highway 1 from four to six lanes, including the construction of three additional pedestrian/bicycle crossings of Highway 1, soundwalls, auxiliary lanes where needed, and ramp metering.

The traffic analysis for Highway 1 Widening PSR showed the need to extend the project limits southerly to San Andreas/Larkin Valley Road. Accordingly, the project limits for the current preliminary design phase of the Highway 1 HOV Lane Widening Project extend from San Andreas/Larkin Valley Road to Morrissey Boulevard. A Supplemental PSR for the southerly segment was not prepared, but is part of the ongoing environmental analysis on the Highway 1 HOV Lane Project.

Final approved copies of the two PSRs described above are available for public review at SCCRTC offices.

HIGHWAY 1/MISSION STREET WIDENING

Caltrans has completed the Mission Street Widening Project, begun in Spring, 2002. This project widened Mission Street to two lanes in each direction and added several left turn lanes using Regional STIP funds and local funds

Next Steps:

• The City of Santa Cruz is now working on undergrounding utilites along Mission Street. Due to timing issues, the undergrounding project had to be constructed separately from the Mission Street Widening project.
• The City is also installing new streetlights along Mission Street, using a RSTP grant from the Commission, and landscaping the roadway, using a TEA grant from the Commission.
• For more information on the project, visit the City of Santa Cruz Redevelopment website.

Highway 17 Corridor: Completed Studies and Reports

HIGHWAY 17 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT STUDY

The Highway 17 Transportation Improvement Study was initiated to address transportation demand and transportation system constraints and opportunities in the Highway 17 corridor between Santa Cruz and San Jose. The goal of the study is to develop a program of transit and operational improvements balanced with available funds.

At its April 6, 1999 meeting, the Regional Transportation Commission heard the results of the Highway 17 Transportation Improvement Study. This study examined the Highway 17 corridor and looked at options for improving reliability and decreasing congestion.

Recommendations are made for transit service improvements and relatively low cost highway capital and operations improvements.

The Executive Summary is available on-line. Caltrans, the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, the California Highway Patrol, and the Regional Transportation Commission will each consider how to fund and implement the projects recommeded in the study.

HIGHWAY 17 TRUCK CLIMBING LANE STUDY

In Fall 2000, Caltrans completed a Project Report that assessed the operational value and cost of constructing a 1.1 mile truck climbing lane on northbound Highway 17 at the summit.  As a result of the study, Caltrans recommended, and the Regional Transportation Commission concurred, not building the project ("No Build") as the potential benefits of the project were not justified by the high cost and potentially significant environmental impacts.    

As an alternative, Caltrans continued to evaluate other potential safety and operational improvements on Highway 17.  The product of this analysis were two safety improvement projects on Highway 17 at Laurel Curve, currently under construction, and Glenwood Curve, construction expected in Summer 2007. 

Transportation Sales Tax Measure

BALLOT MEASURE J: TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT MEASURE

The Regional Transportation Commission developed a transportation sales tax measure, Measure J, that was on the ballot in November 2004. The purpose of this thirty-year 1/2 cent local sales tax measure was to help fund a variety of projects, including the Highway 1 HOV Lanes Widening Project, because there were insufficient levels of state and federal funds. Also included in the measure were transportation improvements, such as local street repairs, sidewalks and bike lanes, transportation for seniors and disabled persons, and safety programs on Highway 17.