New Auxiliary Lanes Now Open on Highway 1 Auxiliary Lane and Bus-on-Shoulder Project Between 41st Avenue and Soquel Avenue/Drive

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is pleased to announce the opening of the new north and southbound auxiliary lanes between the 41^st Avenue and Soquel Avenue/Drive interchanges, a major milestone in the Watsonville to Santa Cruz Multimodal Corridor Program.

The new auxiliary lanes are a part of Phase I of the Highway 1 Auxiliary Lane and Bus-on-Shoulder Project.This key segment of the project is now fully open to vehicle traffic, marking a significant step forward in improving safety, reducing congestion, and enhancing travel times for drivers in the county.

“The opening of the first set of auxiliary lanes along the Highway 1 corridor is a major achievement for our community and a clear demonstration of our commitment to delivering on the promises made to voters through Measure D,” said Eduardo Montesino, Chair of the RTC. “As part of the Watsonville to Santa Cruz Multimodal Corridor Program, this project improves safety, reduces congestion, and moves us toward a more efficient and connected transportation future for Santa Cruz County.”

The new auxiliary lanes connect the on-ramps with the next off-ramps, creating extended areas for merging and weaving, while improving highway traffic operations, and reducing cut-through traffic diverting to local streets and neighborhoods.

“Opening these auxiliary lanes is a major win for our community,” said Sarah Christensen, Executive Director of the RTC. “This project is about creating smarter transportation infrastructure that will give people more reliable travel options, and make day-to-day commuting safer and more sustainable. It’s a foundational step toward transforming how we move around Santa Cruz County.”

The overall project also includes a dedicated bus-on-shoulder facility and a bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing at Chanticleer Avenue. The bus-on-shoulder facility, the first of its kind to be constructed in California, will increase transit frequency and on-time performance. The Chanticleer Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing will provide a safer and more accessible route for people walking and biking across Highway 1. The overcrossing is expected to open in early summer.

These improvements will work together to support long-term mobility, promote equity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and expand access to safe, sustainable transportation alternatives.

The RTC is leading the delivery of this project in partnership with Caltrans, the County of Santa Cruz, City of Capitola, and the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District. Measure D-Highway Corridor funds and other RTC discretionary funds were used to complete the work necessary to ready the project for construction, and as a match for SB1 construction grants.

This project is expected to be entirely completed in late 2025.