Highway 1 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes Widening Project

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) is working with Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration on a preliminary design/environmental study to widen Highway 1 to six through lanes from Morrissey Boulevard in Santa Cruz to Larkin Valley/San Andreas Road in Aptos. The new lanes, one in each direction, would be freeway lanes that are restricted to vehicles carrying two or more people, including buses and emergency vehicles, during designated times of the day, usually during peak periods. Auxiliary lanes would also be constructed along the corridor, where appropriate, to extend the weaving and merging distances for motorists entering or exiting the freeway. Auxiliary lanes do not extend through a freeway interchange, but extend a freeway on-ramp to connect to the next adjacent freeway off-ramp (ex. between 41st Avenue and the Bay Avenue/Porter Street interchanges).

The purpose of the project is: to reduce congestion; to encourage carpooling and the use of alternative transportation modes to increase capacity; and to improve safety.

Information about the decision to initiate the Highway 1 environmental analysis can be found in a 2003 press release titled "Funding secured only for the environmental study phase in Spring 2003." Media Release: Public Hearing (Rev. 3-31-03).

To kick off the environmental review process, the Commission, in cooperation with Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration, held two community meetings in April 2004 to help define the range of alternatives to be studied and collect information on issues of community concern. A Summary Report-2004 was prepared to document the comments received from the public.

The preliminary estimated cost for final design, right of way, and construction of the HOV Lane Alternative is $325 million (in 2007 dollars). The estimated cost of the Transportation Systems Management (TSM) Alternative is $181.5 million. The anticipated date for choosing the preferred alternative is Fall 2008. The source of funds to build the preferred alternative is unknown at this time.

Information on a previous effort to secure final design engineering and construction funding is available in the SCCRTC archives: Measure J Transportation Sales Tax Measure. A renewed effort to evaluate countywide transportation needs and potential funding sources is the focus of the Transportation Funding Task Force.

In September 2006, three Open House public information meetings were held in Aptos, Santa Cruz, and Watsonville to share information developed to date on the preliminary design plans, traffic performance measures, environmental studies, and project schedule. A Summary Report-2006 was prepared to document the comments received from the public at those meetings. Detailed project design and environmental data is in development and will be shared with the public in the Spring of 2008 with release of the draft environmental documents. In the meantime, preliminary information regarding the project is available below, including preliminary traffic performance data that shows the anticipated shift in traffic volumes from local arterials to Highway 1 with the HOV Lane Alternative, and projected changes in peak period speed, delay, travel time, and trips in the year 2035 under the No-Build, TSM Alternative, and HOV Lane Alternative scenarios.

To receive updates on the Highway 1 HOV Lane Widening Project, including notification of future public meetings, subscribe to SCCRTC's E-news.

ADDITIONAL PROJECT INFORMATION

• Project Information Sheet- Project Description, updated June 2007
• Description of the Project Alternatives Under Study -- (April 2007)
• Traffic Performance Measures -- (April 2007)
• Induced Travel Demand -- Frequently Asked Questions -- (FHWA 2005)
• Executive Summary -- Draft Transit Market Analysis for Highway 1 Corridor -- June 2007
• Milestone Project Schedule, updated February 2007
• Current Progress Progress Report (May 2008)
• For prior studies related to the Highway 1 Widening Project please see Completed Projects/Studies

HIGHWAY 1 CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY

The Highway 1 Construction Authority (HCA) was created in 2004 for the purpose of managing the implementation of the Highway 1 HOV Lane Widening Project. In 2005 the HCA directed that the SCCRTC retain management of the Highway 1 HOV Lane Widening project until funds are secured for design and construction.

For additional information on the Highway 1 Construction Authority see the Fact Sheet: Highway 1 Construction Authority (9/06)